why would too much amniotic fluid be a problem?

[whatsmyname]

This came up at my scan today and the sonographer said it looked like I had a high amount of amniotic fluid. Further tests suggested the amount was borderline and I'm due back for another scan in 4 weeks time to monitor it. I was just puzzled as to why too much amniotic fluid would/could be a problem and what it might signify. Any ideas?

B/c it can cause the baby to remain high up in the uterus instead of dropping down into the pelvis and triggering spontaneous labour.

Do you know what would cause it? There is some talk of going for a glucose tolerance test but each time my results are borderline so they haven't done so yet. Would there be any link between too much amniotic fluid and potentially gestational diabetes or is this just another, separate thing to worry about?

Thanks

I have never heard of it linked to gestational diabetes,but i think the main threat from excessive fluid is a risk of premature labour,the excess fluid stretches the womb so much that it can trigger labour.

I had this with both my children whatsmyname and I was told it can be linked to gestational diabetes - my GTTs were upper range of normal both times.
In rare cases it can also be linked to some syndromes and conditions in the baby BUT usually this isn't the case.
And expat has pointed to the chief hassle with polyhydramnios - the baby bobs around, does not engage, and there is an increased risk of cord prolapse. Polyhydramnios plus failure to engage was the reason for my second elective. Both babies were fine, and love swimming
Also, polydramnios diagnosed by scan can be "skewed" by the baby's lie - ie, an awkward position influencing the distribution of the waters. So the sonographer may not be right.

Thanks for the information. A bit alarming but at least I understand a bit more now what the doctors are checking.

Marina, were you treated for gestational diabetes or was it left because you were borderline? And did you have an early elective or was your condition monitored until full term? Thanks.

I was scared witless too wmn, there is a lot of information around on the rare complications associated with polyhydramnios :(
In both cases it was detected by scan at 34 weeks. With ds although my bloods were higher than average, I never needed a GTT. I had a scan for him at 34 weeks because he was persistently transverse, and an elective at 39 weeks because he hadn't turned. I do remember the surgeon yelping "ar*e" or something similar and a huge splash! Ds was fine.
Dd it was more complicated because I had an early stillbirth in between (NOTHING to do with polyhydramnios, just rotten bad luck it seems) so I was being monitored for everything! I was borderline GD at 37 weeks but they left it and she was an elective at 39 weeks too. She had a dip post delivery, possibly because of the GD. But she was fine afterwards.
Because of my colourful history I had a debrief with my consultant later and he thought I just produced lots of water. Some people do. Although they felt I had it both times at 34 weeks, it didn't keep getting worse IYSWIM. I stayed on a curve that was right for me. Real, significant concerns from polyhydramnios are rare, and they are just being cautious and double checking everything is fine.
Let us know how you get on.

It sometimes is just a lot of water. I was borderly polyhydramnios with DS1 (although not with DS2? I think?). My mom had a lot of fluid with all her pregnancies, too. They used to diagnose polyhydramnios by touch, pre-ultrasound, and I never had polyhydramnios at all by those standards.

I suspect the ultrasound metrics are a bit off, frankly.

borderline.

Apparently maternal spelling issues can be a long-term side-effect?

It used to be more sinisiter because it could indicate things like anencephaly - but that would be picked up on a scan these days. Can indicate gestational diabetes. I wouldn't unduly if borderline though - I was told by one person I had too much fluid, and by another I didn't have enough- all in one week. At that stage I decided to tune out :o

Thanks ladies. I quite agree Jimjam. this whole pregnancy has been really tough because everything is borderline without ever being conclusive. Obviously, I don't want there to be a problem but I never feel totally given the all clear either IYSWIM. B/p has been borderline throughout - lots of breath sucking followed by "well let's monitor it", and so have many of the results that have followed.