Low amniotic fluid at 21 weeks & worried.

[citybranch]

Hi, I wonder if there's anyone who could help..
I had my 20 week scan on monday and was diagnosed with low liquor/amniotic fluid... the doctor i saw on that day examined me, and went down the route of leaking/PROM, so I was put on bedrest + antibiotics, told to take temp every 4 hours.
Eventually I was sent home terribly worried, she had explained the serious risks of infection/miscarriage/stillbirth etc. BUT the thing is, i haven't had any leaking! I have not noticed any wetness at all!

Went back in to Antenatal clinic yesterday and was seen by another doctor, I explained again that I was completely dry. She looked at my notes, and told me that monday's doctor had not found any evidence of a rupture during the internal exam, but we were going to do the program of antibiotics etc just to be on the safe side. Have been booked in for a scan in 4 weeks to reassess the fluid levels. I asked what might be the cause of the low fluid if there was no leak, but she was pretty vague and didn't seem overly concerned.
I'm just a bit confused as one doctor took all of this very seriously and really worried me, now this other doctor is kind of brushing me off.
I did ask how low was low, and was told 5cm. But my scan report says 4 mm. I don't know what any of this means though!!
Am drinking plenty of water and trying to rest, but just feel in a bit of a spin. Has anyone else been in this situation at just 21 weeks, or have more knowledge?
I had just started planning my homebirth too...
thanks all

[brettgirl2]

I don't really know anything about the medical side of it, but my gran boasts of carrying 'hardly any water' when she was pg (60 odd years ago). She seems to think it was a bit of a bonus because apparently she 'hardly showed at all with her pgs' (and she isn't very big!) I can't help thinking that these days it may have been picked up as a concern but her children were born perfectly healthy. Back then however, no-one seemed bothered at all.

[WorzselMummage]

Hiya.

I lost all my waters at 22 weeks, i posted ont he other post yesterday but incase you missed it i ruptured completly at 22 weeks and had no water atall untill ds was born on nye at 27 weeks. My situation was different to yours because i'd had an obvious prom, i'd had surgery a few days before and had an infection so we knew why my fluid was low, Have they not given you any reason why yours might be ? The proper name for it is Oligohydramnios if that helps, makes googling easier. The site i put on the other post www.kanalen.org/prom/ was great for me too, a lifeline infact.

I dont know any reason for low fluid without prom i am afraid or even if it means the same think in terms of prognosis. Our Consultant was very grim about it all but i found the midwives were must more positive and the neonatal staff even more so and ds is 2 weeks now and doing really well.. we were told his lungs wouldn't be developed but he was born breathing for himself so whatever the drs tell you isnt always right.

I will be thinking of you x

[Chaotica]

Had this later than you (30w), although there might have been a very slow leak. I was told that either the waters had gone or there was a problem with the placenta.

Good luck. I hope it's nothing serious.

You'll probably just get a lot of monitoring and scans although I don't think they can do much at your stage (as ctg monitoring isn't accurate). My fluid levels went up slightly then back down - FWIW DS was delivered by CS at 39w (although the real date was more like 37-8). He was fine, although he did have to be treated for a stiff neck and shoulder (no fluid to move in).