Polyhamdramnios

[ShirleY43]

Does anyone know anything about polyhamdramnios? Has anyone pexperienced it? I was diagnosed with it on Monday. Borderline as my AFI is 25.4 and the cut off point is 24. I am 34 weeks pregnant. Initially I wasn't too concerned but have googled (stupidly) and now v worried as it is associated with so many scary things, including fetal abnormality and still birth.

[mum2be88]

I was diagnosed with this at 30 weeks - I'm now 35 weeks. I've had 3 scans since then, AFI went from 28 down to 26 and now 25. I was really concerned at first as well, but have since seen a really helpful consultant who put my mind at ease a lot!
Our baby is quite big - 97th percentile - eek! - and she said that the amount of fluid is consistent with the size of the baby.
So my experience of polyhydramnios has just been extra monitoring really. I also have to see a consultant next week to discuss the birth plan, there is a chance that they may want to induce early. From what I've been told, the main risk of poly is a prolapsed cord during labour, so I have to go straight in as soon as I start to have contractions.
I know it's hard not to worry, and google is dangerous!!

[ShirleY43]

Thank you so much for getting back to me, mum2be88. Very good to hear that your fluid levels have gone down and that you've been reassured. It does sound as though you're being taken rather more seriously than I was if you've had 3 scans in
5 weeks and seen a consultant. I was told little, other than that I have the condition. I wonder if I should contact my consultant's p.a. And ask to be seen? I am under consultant care due to a previously small baby and my grand age of 43.

[AgathaP]

Hi, I was diagnosed with this at around 34 weeks pregnant. I was also told that the risk was cord prolapse - the baby kept changing position (due to having extra space to move around in) and was transverse for some time. I was hospitalised in case contractions started but eventually discharged with a warning not to travel far from the hospital (I live behind the hospital) I was also warned that they intended to induce me on my due date. Three days early labour started spontaneously and my daughter was delivered safely and without incident. She weighed 10lb 9ozs! That was 10 years ago now and she is a healthy girl with no problems. I was so stressed by what I read during the pregnancy that I sobbed with relief when she was born. I hope your pregnancy proceeds smoothly.

[AgathaP]

Sorry - should add that I was scanned weekly and seen by a consultant regularly. My increased level of care was reassuring so perhaps you should ask if that is available for you. Good luck!

[mum2be88]

Yes definitely get in touch and enquire about extra scans. They should also do an internal scan at each appointment to check the length of the cervix, as the extra weight from fluid can cause it to shorten and bring on early labour.
I felt exactly the same as you at first though, wasn't given any info and just told to call an ambulance if my waters broke! Which obviously sent me into a bit of a panic. I had to wait a couple of weeks before I got any real info. So hang in there!
And yes, my baby is constantly on the move too! Got another scan tomorrow so really hoping she is head down now 😂

[Yankeedoodledickhead]

I have it too. Was told at 25 weeks, I'm 32+5 today. Like you they didn't tell me very much except to scare the living daylights out of me. I've been tested for diabetes amongst other things but everything has come back normal so they're not sure what's causing it. The biggest scare I've had is that it could be an oesophagul blockage in the baby, but every single medical body I've spoken to says it's a rare thing and not to worry. Most of the time, there's simply no reason for it.
I have to have twice weekly monitoring in maternity triage, fortnightly scans and see the consultant to look at the fluid levels and my baby's growth. At my last scan at 31+4 they told me the baby is over 5lbs. Also lying in a stupid place, transverse with feet in my pelvis. Really common that they don't settle into a normal position I've been told.
The advice they've given me is to go to the hospital immediately when labour starts or my waters break (which could be early apparently) there's a risk of cord prolapse and placental abruption with polyhydramnios, if the cord was to drop out, get on all fours, bum in the air and call an ambulance.

[insan1tyscartching]

I had polyhydraminos with dd now 13. I had to have a glucose tolerance test even though there was no trace in my urine as gestational diabetes can be a cause. I was also scanned by a consultant to check dd's mouth as cleft lip and palette means the baby doesn't swallow as much fluid and got the all clear. Dd was born at term plus 3,when my waters went it was spectacular .
Dd has autism and polyhydraminos can be a marker for neurological disabilities although I have a son with autism and didn't have polyhydraminos during my pregnancy with him.

[bonjovigirl]

Hi OP, try not to worry. My consultant said the vast majority of polyhydramnios cases turns out to have no route cause, just one of those things. I was diagnosed at my anomaly scan and had additional testing for Gestational diabetes and extra scans booked in for monitoring. Similar to another poster I was told to call an ambulance if my waters broke but it never came to that. They are just being (rightly) cautious, but please don't worry too much. I ended up being induced at 38 weeks as bump and baby measuring very big but baby born without issues.
I don't want to alarm you but my daughter has since been diagnosed with a mild condition which meant she was slower to develop crawling and walking skills. All fine now but she didn't walk till she was 2 so a little concerning early on.
Like I said though, most cases of polyhydramnios are statistically random and unexplained. If you are not getting additional scans/monitoring then I would push for that. Hopefully that will re-assure you as your pregnancy progresses. Good luck!

[gamerchick]

I had it with my last pregnancy. Ended up with a 49 inch waste, incredibly uncomfortable, begged to be induced on my due date because of constant braxton hicks during the last 2 months. Mega relief when waters were broken.

He was physically healthy.

Lots of scans and extra checks which was reassuring. Try not to stress too much but if your waters go go straight in in case of cord prolapse due to the sheets amount of water.

And if they break your waters for you.... one pad is not enough to soak it up and take another labour nightie to change into.

[ShirleY43]

Thank you so much, all of you, for your advice, support and reassurance. It is at times like these that mumsnet really comes into
Its own as it is so comforting to hear from others who have been in the same situation and can share their experiences. I do feel a bit better, although I wish I was getting a bit more medical attention. I spoke to my consultant's pa, who said it is fine just to have a scan in two weeks, as planned. All was ok at my anomaly scan at 20 weeks, and my risk of Chromosomal abnormalities was low (1 in 3000 I think) so I'm trying to remember that, but of course none of it is 100% reassuring. Thank you for the advice about what to do in labour; was told none of that, but will definitely get help swiftly and go on all fours!

[mum2be88]

Forgot to mention that the fluid peaks at around 34-35 weeks, then starts to decline. As you are borderline anyway, you might find that you're back within normal levels at the next scan!
Fingers crossed for you!
We are due around the same time so I will update you if anything happens with me!
Good luck

[AerodactylsAssemble]

Hi OP, I did (presented itself at 26 weeks) and it wasn't a good outcome, but several fetal abnormalities had already been picked up in 20 week scan, so it wasn't a big surprise for us and actually helped us to decide that it was best to let our son go (we were pregnant with twins and other baby was healthy and in danger of being born very premature due to extra water in other twin's sac so sadly decided for tfmr). In my case my son was not able to swallow, but there are less awful reasons why this occurs and many cases are idiopathic, ie no known cause/ no issues with baby or mum. For now stop googling, and focus on the fact that your 20 week scan and all other tests leading up to now were ok.

[ShirleY43]

Aerodactyl, thank you for telling me about your experience, which must have been extremely difficult and traumatic. But very good to know that your other son was healthy. Mum2be, thank you: also good to know that fluid peaks at this point. And yes please do keep me up-dated in your news.

[lorelairoryemily]

I was diagnosed with it at 36 weeks, probably caused by gestational diabetes, I went back a week later for another scan and all was normal again, my baby was born at 39+4 perfectly healthy