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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Low amniotic fluid- doc says unlikely to have natural birth

17 replies

madmumNika · 24/05/2007 22:17

Hi ladies,

I am one of those annoying high-risk pregnancy people... Had severe PE with DS who was delivered by emergency c-section at 30 wks. Being monitored closely in current pregnancy & have made it to 31 weeks! However, for the past 3-4 weeks at each scan they have been concerned over me having low amniotic fluid. Today I asked if everything is ok with regard to LO & PE, and we get to term, would I be able to go for a VBAC....but the doc sadly said if the amniotic fluid stays this low it is VERY unlikely. I am gutted

Anyone else had low amniotic fluid but managed a natural delivery? Any advice?

Thank you xxxx

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teafortwoandtwofortea · 24/05/2007 22:20

Low fluid can be quite serious - have they given you a reason for it at all?

Original poster

madmumNika · 24/05/2007 22:27

They are monitoring it quite closely (weekly for past 3 weeks) and think it could be a very early sign of PE as think it's related to either BP or placenta issues...(although BP is still within normal limits). But as it hasn't got any worse, baby is growing ok & blood flow is good then they are just keeping an eye on it. I haven't been leaking any fluid so we know that's not the cause... It is not critically low (deepest pool is 3cm) so hoping it stays stable or even increases. My next scan is in 2 weeks time so they have just said to keep an eye on baby's movements & midwife will be taking my BP twice-weekly.

I had hoped if I get to term (which looks possible) that I could try for a VBAC (sort of set my heart on it) but that was before they found the low amniotic fluid.

OP posts:

teafortwoandtwofortea · 24/05/2007 22:44

I hope you get some +ve experiences. I had a 2nd trimester m/c following a diagnosis of low amniotic fluid - our baby's lungs hadn't developed properly because of it. In your situation I'd be googling like mad but above all listen to the health professionals around you.

I know it may be a disappointment to you but if there's a significantly greater risk to you and/or baby by going for a VBAC then I'd put my feelings aside and the baby's health first. Sadly we just don't always get that perfect birth - but if your baby is alive and well at the end of it you will be over the moon, regardless of how they arrived. However from this article it looks as though there is the possibility of natural delivery.

Good luck with the rest of the pregnancy. x.

ChipButty · 24/05/2007 22:51

Best of luck. Having another C-section would not be the end of the world.

Muminfife · 24/05/2007 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

fearscape · 25/05/2007 08:23

Oh madmumNika, no advice I'm afraid just lots of sympathy - my ds was born by em-cs at 34 weeks because of sodding PE (then spent two long months in SCBU). Have not contemplated TTC again yet but am desperate for VBAC, or at least labour, just want to know what a contraction feels like! I feel very cheated out of a normal birth and somehow a bit of a fraud for ending up with a baby with no labour. Congratulations on avoiding PE so far though, at least if you get to term you may not get the birth you want but hopefully you will miss out on the SCBU bit this time round and end up with a beautiful baby no matter how it comes out.

Sorry don't expect that was very helpful, just wanted to send some heartfelt sympathy! Good luck!

DaisyMOO · 25/05/2007 08:28

How low is it? A friend of mine who I doula'd for had low amniotic fluid with her last pregnancy - it was just on the very edge of normal rather than actual oligohydramnios. She was under a lot of pressure to have an induction at 38 weeks but she held out and had a completely natural birth, labouring spontaneously. Have they done dopplers to look at the blood flow through the placenta? What did this show?

twoplusone · 25/05/2007 09:26

mmn- I have posted on the July thread re this, I had to have a c-section with DD because fo this, the deepest pool was only 1cm. Thinking of you hun.xx

lulumama · 25/05/2007 10:59

birt trauma support fearscape have a look at the links on the thread, i think that you might find them useful re your feelings after your c.s

madmum...no advice futher to what Daisy said...do you have oligohydramnios? or are they just muttering about low levels..IFYSWIM

Klaw · 25/05/2007 11:54

Hi Nika, a lady on another VBAC board I post on just mentioned having this scare at 36weeks, although she didn't seem as serious as you... just low levels rather than definite oligohydramnios.

so I'm looking into this a fair bit, You do know that amniotic fluid is self replenishing, don't you? Are you taking enough salt? You need more salt during pg and salt helps with fluid retention so don't cut it out all together, OK? Keep a bottle of water with you all day and sip constantly so that your hydration levels are good.

I do hope that you can continue to plan your VBAC but strongly suggest that you plan your preferred CS also so that you retain some semblance of control over this birth.

Stay strong and please keep us posted about this as I am VERY interested! HUGS!

DaisyMOO · 25/05/2007 11:58

Just to add, my friend did find that drinking lots of water did help a bit with fluid levels, although it didn't make a major difference.

Original poster

madmumNika · 25/05/2007 13:56

Hi folks, thank you for all the messages

Fearscape- I feel/felt just like you regarding DS' birth (had always dreamt of a natural birth preferably in a pool!) which is partly why I really, really hoped this time if all seemed well we could at least try for a VBAC. I am though of course not going to take any risks & if it is REALLY deemed necessary to have a c-section then so be it. Maybe I am just one of these ladies who just isn't too good at going natural or carrying babies normally!!

I am borderline between 'low normal' and officially oligohydramnios- which gives me some hope. But as it has not increased at all (& in fact decreased slightly) over the weekly scans since 27 weeks they are not holding out hopes that it will replenish. I am drinking loads & do crave salty foods so eating quite a lot of toast with marmite! But it seems this may be to do with the placenta & yesterday they said no matter what I do they can't guarantee it improving But at least it's not critically low.

They have been doing doppler scans for blood flow every week and so far all is well on that front. Next one in 2 weeks.

Will keep you posted! Think I just need to get my head around another c-section In a weird way I just hoping in my life I'd experience a natural birth, all the pain & reality of it! Find it tough sometimes listening to mums who have at least laboured & realising that might never be me. Will get over it though- healthy children is all I want really!!

Fearscape- have you used the APEC forum at all- I find it v helpful: www.apec.org.uk/forum/

OP posts:

fearscape · 25/05/2007 15:01

MadmumNika, I was planning a home birth! Never going to have one of them now . . . Thanks for the APEC link, I've never looked there before. So sorry that the cs seems likely, have you seen the posts on here before about what you can do to make cs births more natural? At least you will be prepared this time and know what to expect. Of course you are good at carrying babies, look at your ds, I'm sure he is gorgeous! I have beaten myself up with that as well but even if we didn't quite cook them long enough look how great they turned out.

Lulumama - thanks for link - would feel a bit of a fraud there as well though really as the birth itself wasn't traumatic at all and I'm sure I don't have PTSD. Just a bit empty and sad at how it had to happen. Sorry am hijacking thread

Klaw · 25/05/2007 15:06

reassuring article worth looking at?

DaisyMOO · 25/05/2007 15:21

Although I think it's worth preparing yourself for another CS, don't completely rule out a VBAC. What are the plans at the moment if the fluid stays the same and doesn't get worse? Would you consider an induction rather than an elective CS?

Original poster

madmumNika · 25/05/2007 20:41

Thanks for the article Klaw- that is actually very reassuring. Not ruling anything out at this stage!

Apparently they don't want to induce me due to that increasing the chance of my c-section scar causing problems - this seems to be my particular hospital's general guidance as I know of lots of women who have had induced VBACs which were successful....

I shall ask lots of questions when I next see my consultant anyhow! Thanks for giving me lots to think about (& annoy the docs with!). For the moment LO has turned head down and is wriggling around quite happily so trusting myself that all is fine!

OP posts:

Klaw · 25/05/2007 21:45

It is not recommended to have an induction for a VBAC due to the increased risk the process places in the uterine scar. Never mind that induction in any case can be traumatic, hard to bear and leads all to often to further intervention up to and including CS.

The very protocols that are set in place for induction make VBAC labour difficult and it is far better to wait for labour to start spontaneously, even if that means waiting to 42+ weeks, with expectant management to ensure mum and baby are still well.

Keep glugging the water, I've got my fingers crossed you can go for your VBAC, the high of achieving it is the best feeling in the world!

Stay strong

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