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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

low amniotic fluid at 37 weeks

7 replies

Caitycat · 07/08/2012 18:17

Went for a growth scan today as I am measuring small and relieved that baby is doing fine, however my fluid level is at 4cm which is apparently low. I have to go back in 2 weeks to see if any change. I have two questions which I thought I had asked but either I didn't listen to the answers or didn't ask them at all. Firstly how low is 4cm? I am assuming if they are leaving it two weeks it can't be too bad. Also what will they do if there is no change or if the level has dropped further when I next go? Feeling a bit stressed now as I had been planning a lovely complication free birth - always a silly thing to do I guess!

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MoragG · 07/08/2012 20:15

I had this with DD - midwife thought I was measuring small for dates at around 37 weeks and I was sent for a scan. They were then concerned that my levels of amniotic fluid were dropping, so I had to keep going back for scans. The sonographers were never very specific about exactly how low the levels were and how low was problematic, so afraid I can't say if 4cm is very low or not. Eventually at 39 weeks after about 3 extra scans they decided to induce me - I would guess they might do that with you if they think the fluid levels are dropping. DD was just under 6 pounds when born - she is now 2.5 and has had no health problems whatsoever! If your fluid levels haven't dropped they will probably want to keep scanning.

PS - I subsequently learned that measuring levels of aminiotic fluid is a bit of an inexact science, and read a study that mentioned that women may be being induced due to concerns about low levels when it's not actually necessary...

TittyBojangles · 07/08/2012 21:50

It is an inexact science, and harder to measure as baby is bigger. I agree that if they were very worried they wouldn't be leaving you for 2 weeks before rescanning. 4cm is just below normal, so low enough to monitor, but not so low to require immediate intervention.

I really can't say what they will do if the fluid drops lower, perhaps discuss this with your mw?

Tamisara · 07/08/2012 21:50

4cm is quite low, but you should have been referred if there was a problem they spotted.

They obviously feel confident that it can wait for another two weeks, so unless you'd suddenly lost fluid, then it should be fine.

The one thing to stress is monitor baby's movements. It is (of course) always important to do so, but especially if you have low fluid levels. Anything different for your baby & go straight to L&D (don't waste time lying on your side, drinking cold drinks etc)

Matildaandthematches · 07/08/2012 21:51

I was told this too at 35 weeks. I thought it was rubbish and insisted on another scan at 39 weeks. Was told there was 'no way' it could go back up but it bloody had! Still, though, they didn't want me to go to the midwife led unit and pushed me towards continual foetal monitoring and induction at 41 weeks. I ummed and aaahed and was eventually scared into agreeing after a consultant told me there was a small risk of it causing cerebral palsy.

In the end, my waters broke at home so didn't need an induction. I did have the monitoring and it wasn't that bad in the end. When my son was born he virtually drowned the midwife. So much for low fluid.

My feeling is that MoragG is right, it seems to be a very inexact science, so tell them to stuff it if you feel up to it, but if you're going to be worried about it, it might be easier to go along with it all. I was adamant about using the midwife unit (I was gutted not to be able to have a home birth so midwife unit was a compromise already) but I told the midwives how I felt and they were so lovely in making sure it all felt as relaxed as possible. I still had a lovely birth with low lights, music on, my own photos around the room, not being asked questions etc. It was just how I'd hoped it would be, and having the monitor on didn't mean I couldn't move about at all, which is what I had been scared of.

If you feel strongly about not having too many interventions etc, ask if you can have the pessaries before they just stick you on a syntocinon drip, and if you do have the drip, ask to start it off low. To be honest, I don't think I'd have coped without an epidural if they'd gone straight in with a high level synto drip as it really strengthens contractions.

Just remember it's not one thing or the other. There are plenty of ways you can still have the sort of birth you want without having to go out on a limb and worry about it, and as everyone tells you, you really don't give a toss about any of it once you've got your baby in your arms.

Hope it all goes well for you!

NoComet · 07/08/2012 22:18

My first MW decided I was small for dates. A scan showed DD1 had low fluid levels. There followed lots of scans and lots of monitoring. The consultant decided to induce her at 39 weeks when she seemed to have stopped growing.

She's a bright girl, she decided it was time to start her exit 12 hrs before I was due at the hospital.

27 hrs latter she appeared with no great fuss weighing 6lb2oz. Small and perfectly healthy

(at 14 she is a curvy size 12 and taller than meGrin)

I suspect that DD2 didn't have a lot of fluid either. I still didn't get very big and she was 6lb5oz at 39+4.

But I will never know because I had laid back MWs who never sent me for any extra scans and she was born at home without ever meeting a consultant.

MoragG · 07/08/2012 22:34

Funnily enough I am now at 23 weeks with DD2 and at my 20 week scan they were already muttering about 'small for dates' - here we go again Hmm Like StarBallBunny I reckon I'm not that likely to have a big baby!

Caitycat · 08/08/2012 09:50

Thanks for all the advice, I guess I'll play it by ear and hope there's no change when I next go so I can stay as midwife led as possible!

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