Low amniotic fluid

[Tallgiraffe]

I'm 35w and at my scan today they discovered that my levels of amniotic fluid are low. They did a monitoring and baby seemed happy, but I've got to see the consultant on Thursday and the midwife said I'd probably need the steroids in case they have to deliver baby early. And to be super aware of baby's movements.

Has anyone else had this? Did you have to have the baby early? According to the growth scan he's currently 6lb2, so hopefully he won't be too small if he does come early but I'm now really worried.

I had this with DD. I was monitored every day for a week between 35-36 weeks, baby was delivered at 37 weeks by planned CS. Baby was fine during monitoring but I was scanned at 35 weeks and again at 36 & the fluid levels had dropped quite significantly.

They were concerned that she might stop growing on a consistent line and felt she'd be better out than in. She was just under 6lbs when she was born and was fine (they predicted just under 5lbs, so they can get this aspect very wrong).

DD is now a strapping 3 year old and appears to be unaffected by the early delivery, no respiratory issues at birth.

I'm now due in a few weeks with DC2 and I'm being monitored every week (from 32 weeks) to ensure we don't encounter the same issues.

Good luck, and be assured that there is nothing you can do or could've done, it is unfortunately one of these things that happens to some women. Also this time I have been paranoid about spotting any leaks however the consultant this time told me that the fluid doesn't always leak out, sometimes it's just absorbed into the mothers body, so you'd have no way of knowing (I felt so guilty last time). Also apparently the fluids can replenish, although I'm not sure how that works.

Don't worry. I had this problem too. I was monitored very closely for the last 5 weeks and still manged to get to 39 weeks. My daughter was born weighing 5lb 6 and perfectly healthy. Try to rest lots.

I had low amniotic fluid with DD but it wasn't picked up until 40+3 at which point she had an AFI score of 3 (they said this was 'abnormally low' but I'm not an expert on AFI, etc).

She was born by EMCS a half hour after the scan as she was breech and the cord was in a dangerous position without enough fluid to 'float' it out of her way (she had it wrapped around her legs). She was 7lb 10oz and she's doing great (now 11mo).

The bump measurements the MW was doing started to fluctuate at around 34/35 weeks and the hospital said I should have been referred to them at that point but, for whatever reason, I wasn't. They also said they'd have expected a bigger baby given the size of DS (over 9lb at 40 weeks) and the measurements on her 20w scan but it's impossible to say for certain if this was down to fluid or just a smaller baby.

I know it's scary but the good part is that they're aware of it now and they can keep an eye on you. If you're unsure or worried, ask questions and make sure the consultant answers them satisfactorily.

Good luck :)

I had this - spotted at a 36 week scan. I was recommended an induction but opted for further monitoring and several sweeps and he popped out with no other intervention at 38+4.

I did read somewhere that drinking more might help so went a bit mad drinking loads of water for a couple of weeks but not sure that it made any difference!

Hi everyone,
Thank you so so much, DH and I read these last night, and they were a huge source of reassurement after a long evening of thinking about all the horrible possible problems. I started on the drinking lots policy, even if for nothing else than it makes me feel like I'm doing something! Fingers crossed and thanks again.