does anyone know anything about polyhydramnios?

[lucylookout]

I had a 34 week scan today. Baby is measuring BIG (95th percentile on everything) and weighs an estimated 6lb 7 already (although I know those estimates can be wildly inaccurate). But I'm quite tall and DH is 6 foot 5 so it's not great surprise to have a big baby (although DS was 8lb 1, so not huge). BUT they said I had polyhydramnios. My overall amniotic fluid index (AFI) is 22.1, and from my understanding it needs to be over 25 at this stage to be classed as polyhydramnios, but, one of the amniotic pools was 9.4cm deep (the others were all 4 or 5cm), and it's because of the fact that one of the pools is over 8cm that they have said I have polyhydramnios. So I've got a GTT test next week and another scan in 3 weeks to see what's going on. Just to give a bit of background, we ttc for years to get this one, having lost 2 along the way after DS. I'm 40 and paranoid that something is going to be wrong with the baby (even though the scan was all fine, and the sonographer said it was just probably a case of big baby = more fluid). Does anyone have any experience of this? I'm no expert, but it looks to me like I have only slightly too much, not way too much and if the baby moves and the pools redistribute themselves I wouldn't be classed as having it at all, or is that a bit too simplistic? Anyway, I'm rambling now. Any reassurance would be much appreciated.

I don't know very much about it but I apparently had this with DD2 just before Christmas. My levels were 24, cue panic and polyhydramnios written all over my notes, extra scans booked, induction discussed etc. Went to the next growth scan and it was down to 13 (I think...). No one said a word except to call off the dogs. No explanation given as to why it suddenly would change like that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the situation can change in the blink of an eye with no rhyme or reason. From what I did read at the time, any 'issues' that could cause it are the sort of things that would be picked up at the earlier scans. It's more than likely just big baby.

Thanks Gwendoline, that helps. And congratulations on your DD2.

i had it with my DD. she was 9lb12 at term. in most cases its just associated with big babies. they did rush her to special care at birth to.check her digestive ssystem but all was well. also ended up being induced at term and a cascade of intervention but that could have happened anyway!

Thanks pamplem0usse, we're you induced at 40 weeks? Was that because of the estimated size of DD and the extra amniotic fluid? (I mean, they induced because they didn't want to risk her getting bigger)?

I had polyhydramnios with DD1, I think the AFI was over 30 (I was huge). The scans also estimated her to be huge.

I was tested a few times for GD, as uncontrolled diabetes can cause polyhydramnios and macrosomia. But I always tested negative.

I was taken into hospital at 34 weeks with her, and didn't get to go home again, as she was an unstable lie, and there are risks with polyhydramnios, that if the baby is not head down, that the gush of fluids could pull the cord down first, necessitating a crash section.

The plan was to induce me at term, as long as she turned head down. In the end I had an EMCS as her heart rate went a bit flat with no accelerations.

She was fine though. She did have respiratory distress (due to the caesarean), but was only in SCBU for a couple of hours for obs. I have to admit, at that time that was the scariest thing that had happened to me (how naive it now seems).

It is better that they keep an eye on with you extra tests etc (just for your piece of mind).

Thanks Tamisara, sorry to hear you didn't have a great time towards the end of your pregnancy but glad DD1 was OK. And was she as big as predicted? Seems they quite often get it wrong, (although I would always err on the side of caution too.)

I can't remember my AFI but I had about 3 or 4 pools that were 10cm+ and was massive. I went in to be induced but they couldn't do it because the baby wouldn't engage - he just floated away :o and I was 3-4cm dilated at that point. They wouldn't let me go home and I had to have a cs.

They did take him away to examine him but he had a perfect apgar score and was fine. He was also just a smidge under 7lbs, despite their dire predictions that he would be huge.

They have no idea what caused it but told my mother very firmly that it was nothing to do with the fact that I was 42 :)

Thanks lucy DD1 was 9lb, a lot smaller than estimated. But DS was 6lb 5oz at term, so she was a lot bigger than him, and she still is large (2 in a couple of weeks and wears 3-4yrs clothes), so she is just big I guess.

I had very mild polyhydramnios with DD2, but the fluid levels went down towards the end. I now figure that was because she was in trouble, so wish the fluid levels had stayed with her.

I think it just happens. If the GTT is clear, and they test for viruses, then it's likely to be one of those things. The good thing is that it protects the cord, so if it's wrapped around the baby it doesn't become compressed, so in my experience it's better than oligohydramnios (sp).

DowagersHump same thing happened with my neighbour who has just had her second (and her AFI was around 30). Every time her DS engaged, he bobbed off again and she had to have CS. I'm glad he was fine and that any complication had nothing to do with your age

Tbh, even though I'd like a 'natural' birth etc, etc, I'd also be fine about having a CS. Whatever is best for the baby.

Tamisara Thanks and I hope you don't mind, but I looked at your profile and wanted to say I'm terribly sorry about DD2.

Hi again Lucy
I was induced at term because they didn't want me to go into spontaneous labour.
As mentioned above ^ there are (very slight) risks associated with cord prolapse. They didn't take me in to hospital beforehand but I was told to cancel a holiday I was planning at 36 weeks (only to Scotland, I'm in the SE); I was later told that this was probably unneccessarily cautious as there are hospitals in Scotland ;)
I think there are also risks of pre-term labour just by virtue of the extra weight. I was told I could go into labour any time from 36 weeks. As it happens DD was very reluctant to come out.
I had the GTT and they're making me do so again this pregnancy which is a bit of a bugger. I'm 5"11 and DH is 6foot. We're not fat, but both broad shouldered and quite heavily muscled!! For me it looks like the PH is associated with the big baby. I'm 27 weeks this time around so it'll be interesting to see what happens. Incidentally with GD the concern is shoulder dysocia because of the size of the torso. My DD had a head in the 99.7th centile (someone has to!!), so the fact she didn't ever properly engaged was as likely to be because of this as the excess fluid.
Good luck, but try not to worry too much!

Hi Lucylookout

I just wanted to let you know that I went through a similar thing with my DD. At my 20 week scan they diagnosied polyhydamnios. I had no idea what this was or why and it wasn't very well explained to me with the result that I resorted to looking at the internet. Bad idea it absolutely terrified me!! I went for a GTT but that was fine and was booked in to see a consultant and for more scans. My next scan revealed my fluid levels had gone back down but I was scanned again when I saw the consultant at about 34 weeks and it had gone back up! They couldn't find a reason and left it that I would have to go in as soon my waters broke and if I wasn't in labour by 41 weeks I was to be induced that day. As it was I went into natural labour a day before I was booked to be induced. Although I had been warned a pediatrician would have to be present at the birth and had been told they would do some tests on the baby as soon as it arrived I hadn't been warned that I would have to be on a monitor throughout the labour which essentially meant lieing still on the bed the whole time. My birth plan went completely out the window. No water birth for me! In the end all was well and my DD was absolutely fine.

They never did find the reason and my DD wasn't particularly big (7lb 6 1/2) I think some women just carry more fluid than others so try not to worry about it and definatly don't search the internet for possible reasons!!!!