Midwives- "Low amniotic fluid levels" a reason for induction?

[dizietsma]

My cousin in the states was told yesterday that she had low levels of amniotic fluid and that the baby had stopped growing so they were going to induce her before term (the 6th). Sounds to me rather like the doctor wants her out of the way for the weekend. Apparently the baby will be born today one way or another which I'm assuming means a c-section if the induction fails- so far it has.

From the studies I've read, low levels of amniotic fluid aren't an indication for induction and how can you tell accurately that the baby has stopped growing when scans late in pregnancy are so unreliable? I personally was told at 36 wks that I'd have a babe in the 99th centile and she came out exactly 50th.

Am I right?

They can judge the growth by scanning each week and comparing the results

It's not the same as when they do one scan and guess the size

Hello dizietsma

When I was pregnant earlier this year, my consultant was concerned about the growth of my dd, in particular the abdominal measurement, which is the main indicator for IUGR and I had several scans, which showed it to be under the centile graph.

I was also under the threat of an early delivery if the baby's abdominal measurement didn't improve during my 2 weekly scans - fortunately they did (a little )so I could carry her to term.

However, my fluid didn't start disappearing until the last couple of weeks, and that was the indication for a section - I was told that labouring with little fluid causes the baby to go into distress, plus the fact that the abdominal measurement was showing that growth had stopped.

My daughter weighed 5lb 2oz at 39+ weeks and was extremely skinny, so they were right about the measurements (my 4lb, 5 week early ds born 5+ years earlier had been more filled out). I had also had my doubts, as I'm very small myself, but she was obviously underweight, not simply small IYSWIM.

In your cousin's case, it's the combination of the lack of growth together with the low fluid which is the indication for early delivery.

HTH.

oops, just noticed your thread title - I'm not a midwife - just someone with recent experience.

Hi

oligohydramnious is potentially dangerous, and increases the risks of complications in labour and during delivery including cord compression and it is an indicator for inductions, certainly in the unit I work at. AFI (amniotic fluid index) is an indicator of fetal well being.

I really dont think it is a case of the doctor wanting her delivered before the weekend.

Hope your cousin has a lovely delivery and a lovely baby