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Original poster

Help please oligohydramnios

67 replies

scaredbaby2 · 04/08/2023 21:46

At 20+2 weeks pregnant I was told I have oligohydramnios (only 20+6 now). Doctor has said there is nothing they can do and won't know if baby will survive until born as lungs may or may not develop. They do not want to monitor and I'm told no tests to at least get an idea if lungs are developing so I can prepare. Offered no emotional support either.

Has anyone got any experience with this? Should they monitor? Are there any tests?

Basically been told my baby will likely die when born. Am I just supposed to go through the rest of my pregnancy with no answers or support? What do I tell my two existing young children if I come home from hospital with no baby in a few months time?

OP posts:
delilabell · 05/08/2023 08:49

Totally agree with another poster this us barbaric. I would phone drs first thing Monday morning to get an emergency drs appt. They may not be able to do anything until the baby is born but they can still support you throughout your pregnancy.

Calvinlookingforhobbes · 05/08/2023 08:46

I didn’t want to read and run. Thinking of you and sending positivity to you little one.

Hibiscrubbed · 05/08/2023 08:43

The way you seem to have been abandoned with this, with no information, is barbaric.

calmcoco · 05/08/2023 07:05

Hi @scaredbaby2 you must be in total shock. I think not talking much yet to your partner is completely understandable.

I also think https://www.arc-uk.org/ may be able to help you.

You can request an urgent GP appointment and an urgent midwifery appointment to ask how you can be supported.

ShatteredMum23 · 04/08/2023 22:55

I am so sorry you are going through this. I can't understand why they aren't monitoring you and your baby further?!

I had this condition. I delivered at 31 weeks (also had eclampsia and hellp syndrome). But this oligohydramnios wasn't diagnosed until around 29 weeks so didn't have long to wait until delivery and it was a viable stage

Original poster
scaredbaby2 · 04/08/2023 22:52

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We've spoken about it but only superficially, neither of us know what to do really. I feel like I need more answers

OP posts:
OwlBabiesAreCute · 04/08/2023 22:13

Hi op, offering a hand hold. Hope your baby is OK.

Shardonneigghhh · 04/08/2023 22:12

Hi OP. I'm really sorry to hear you are going through this, and that you have received such little support. I would really encourage you to contact ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices). Their phone number is 020 7713 7486. They also have a text number on their website.

Keyworks · 04/08/2023 22:03

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Original poster
scaredbaby2 · 04/08/2023 22:02

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I see a midwife at my doctors surgery but it is someone different each time, and they only work Mondays 9:30am to 11:30am. I haven't had a midwife appoint since the news either

OP posts:
Keyworks · 04/08/2023 22:00

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Original poster
scaredbaby2 · 04/08/2023 22:00

Muckysmucky · 04/08/2023 21:59

Goodness I’m so sorry OP this sounds incredibly difficult and upsetting .

Has your midwife offered any extra support at all?

I haven't seen a midwife since and I don't actually have a regular midwife. It's whoever is on duty at my doctors for that appointment. I have no idea where I am supposed to get any support

OP posts:
Muckysmucky · 04/08/2023 21:59

Goodness I’m so sorry OP this sounds incredibly difficult and upsetting .

Has your midwife offered any extra support at all?

Original poster
scaredbaby2 · 04/08/2023 21:59

apapuchi · 04/08/2023 21:55

I'm so sorry you're going through this, and not being supported which I think is very wrong. I had oligohydramnios but at a later stage post 30 weeks and was induced early. I know it isn't the same thing at all.

Have you had any leaking of amniotic fluid, or do they think it's more likely an issue with baby's kidneys and/or bladder meaning they're not swallowing and then passing the amniotic fluid back out again? At this stage the lung development does depend on this too, so I can see why they're saying they'll need to wait and see if the level of oligohydramnios affects lung development to a critical level.

Increasing your fluid (water) intake can help increase amniotic fluid but I don't know if that can help enough at this early stage, however it's worth trying. I would speak to your midwife about additional support, monitoring and scans for your own mental well-being even if it isn't clinically something they usually do. It's so distressing you're just being left to wait and see yet only actually waiting without any further seeing.

Please keep talking to us and I will be thinking of you and baby, this is such a difficult and upsetting situation to be in without feeling nobody wants to help you gain further insight or updates as your pregnancy progresses. Sending you love and strength.

I've had no leaking that I'm aware of, and I did have a test to check for amniotic fluid which was negative. The consultant in fetal medicine said that the baby has kidneys and a bladder so it must be a leak despite me not noticing any and negative test

OP posts:
Original poster
scaredbaby2 · 04/08/2023 21:56

alszq · 04/08/2023 21:53

This seems crazy, why wouldn't they monitor this throughout the pregnancy. Sorry I don't have any experience but bumping so hopefully someone else can come and help.

I have no idea why they don't want to monitor, this was a consultant from fetal medicine. She said as there is nothing they could do anyway, they don't need to monitor the level of fluid and it's just wait and see when the baby is born. I have managed to get them to agree to see me in 2 weeks but that was difficult and I'm not sure if they will see me again after that

OP posts:
apapuchi · 04/08/2023 21:55

I'm so sorry you're going through this, and not being supported which I think is very wrong. I had oligohydramnios but at a later stage post 30 weeks and was induced early. I know it isn't the same thing at all.

Have you had any leaking of amniotic fluid, or do they think it's more likely an issue with baby's kidneys and/or bladder meaning they're not swallowing and then passing the amniotic fluid back out again? At this stage the lung development does depend on this too, so I can see why they're saying they'll need to wait and see if the level of oligohydramnios affects lung development to a critical level.

Increasing your fluid (water) intake can help increase amniotic fluid but I don't know if that can help enough at this early stage, however it's worth trying. I would speak to your midwife about additional support, monitoring and scans for your own mental well-being even if it isn't clinically something they usually do. It's so distressing you're just being left to wait and see yet only actually waiting without any further seeing.

Please keep talking to us and I will be thinking of you and baby, this is such a difficult and upsetting situation to be in without feeling nobody wants to help you gain further insight or updates as your pregnancy progresses. Sending you love and strength.

alszq · 04/08/2023 21:53

This seems crazy, why wouldn't they monitor this throughout the pregnancy. Sorry I don't have any experience but bumping so hopefully someone else can come and help.

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