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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Does anyone else have/had excess amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios)?

13 replies

Mintie190 · 11/02/2013 10:12

I went to the maternal and fetal assessment unit of my hospital last week as was feeling so uncomfortably huge, had these 'bearing down' feelings in my pelvis and was a bit sore. I am 31 weeks.

Dr suggested I go back the next day for a scan given the size of my bump. The scan revealed that I had a bit more than the normal levels of amniotic fluid (27 cm). Baby's head and abdomen was also measuring in the 95th per centile.

This is my 2nd baby so I was expecting to be bigger but it's a bit of a shock to be told baby is that big - and disproportionately so. I'm only 5ft 1cm (163cm) tall and petite and am feeling really uncomfortable with such a big bump.

As a result of the scan, I had the blood TORCH test to check for infections and it came back fine. I also had the GTT to check for gestational diabetes and am waiting on the results. Previous blood tests and urine haven't been normal for sugar.

The Dr said baby looks fine, has good movements and that I shouldn't worry too much but I will need to be monitored. I left the hospital feel reassured that I was in good care.

And then on the weekend, I started googling... Now I am scaring myself into thinking the baby has a chromosonal abnormality etc.

I had the NT scan at 12 weeks and got a low result for my age (I think it was 1:2500 and I'm 39).

From my googling, I know that excess amnio fluid can just be an unexplained thing.

Does anyone else have experience of excess amnio and big head and abdomen measurements?

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mistlethrush · 11/02/2013 10:15

My midwife diagnosed this when I was pregnant and her comments made me really scared - until I spoke to a friend who is a gynacologist who said that excess fluid was generally 'just one of those things' and that it might go down again for no apparent reason too... (Oh, it turned out that DS was just very large and that I didn't have excess water after all).

However, you're being monitored - they'll keep an eye on things and make sure that all is well, so stop googling!

Original poster

Mintie190 · 11/02/2013 12:56

Thanks mistlethrush. I guess the Dr telling me not to worry is the greatest reassurance I can get at this stage. Damn google. Was hoping things will have settled down by the time of my next scan in 2 weeks but think I have grown even bigger over the weekend. I felt like a ripe watermelon ready to burst and yet I still have ages to go. I'm guessing I won't go full term. I'm hoping that the only legacy of it will be a saggy baggy stomach.

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Pinkbump3 · 13/02/2013 20:42

I suffered this in my 1st and 3rd pregnancy they told me the baby was huge etc sent me for gtt everything was fine but they decided to induce me a week early with dd3 as the fluid was "in excess" well I got I induced and my waters popped it was the most embarassing moment of my life!! Sorry to scare you but I was so glad to be in hosp as it was gushing everywhere! they said it was 3ltrs plus! And my dd was big but 9.8oz but as I was told to expect an 11lber I was more than happy with her weight! She is a healthy girl and I suffered no problems throughout my pg just big! But the relief when my waters went was fabulous! Good luck with your little one and give google a miss just deal with things as they happen there's no point worrying yourself ill x

olaybiscuitbarrel · 13/02/2013 21:09

I had this, and it did turn out to be an indicator of a congenital defect in the baby. However, DD is now a totally fine, developmentally normal and healthy 3yo so all was well in the end. As you'll have seen on Google, it doesn't always have to mean there is anything wrong, so I don't want to scare you but you are obviously aware of the various possibilities. I'm happy to talk privately about my experience so if you want to pm me please do.

Kiriwawa · 13/02/2013 21:15

I had about 2.5 litres of fluid and had to have a CS because of the danger of the cord prolapsing. The baby also measured very big but was under 7lbs when he was born - probably because of all the exercise!

I also googled and really wished I hadn't. I got excellent support and care from the hospital - the main issue was being so ungainly as you say. I could barely walk and ended up with quite bad SPD

razzdazz · 13/02/2013 22:00

I suffered with this. At 32w I was measuring 42w! Baby also had large abdomen measurements. I also had to have a cs at 35 w as I was about to burst. Baby boy was totally fine so all was well. Good luck x

Mutley77 · 13/02/2013 23:14

Yes my ds, second baby, measured big head and stomach and I had excess fluid . I had a Cs at 37 wks and he was 8 3 so not massive for the gestation. No other problems. He does still have a big head but so does my first ;)

lageo · 13/02/2013 23:29

I had this too and DS was 10lbs 11 so not a little baby! He's now a very tall toddler and the only issues he had were talipes and a minor kidney problem (but I dont think they were anything to do with the polyhydramnios). I also had a CS at 38 wks and was left with a very stetched, striped tummy! Due again in 6 wks and while it's definitely another big baby, fluid levels don't seem to be a problem so far anyway. Do think it contributed to rotten SPD though!

TwuntingCrow · 13/02/2013 23:37

I had it too -emergency c section as cord prolapsed - nearly lost ds but all fine in the end - he's now almost 18! I have never quite gotten over my amazement at how fast they can do a crash c section when they need to - was a bit like ER !!

ledkr · 13/02/2013 23:46

Me too. Three times out of five. When my waters went it was as if bucket after bucket was pouring on the floor. I flooded the ambulance with dd1 and theatre with dd2 I was enormous and measured 47 weeks at 36 wks babies were all under 8lbs and perfect.

Original poster

Mintie190 · 15/02/2013 12:36

Thank you for your replies. I thought all had gone quiet and was pleasantly surprised to see more responses.

It sounds like most of you have had to have a planned CS. I'm not adverse to having one and I did ask the Dr when I had the scan that revealed I had excess amnio and a big baby whether I would need to have one and she said no as 2nd time round, a mum can normally push a large baby out without too much trouble. She didn't mention the risks of delivering naturally if I've got excess amnio. But, I'm scared about the cord prolapse risk, particularly as I have a 20 month DD who will probably be at home with me when I go into labour, and neither my DH or I have family near by (closest is a 5 hour plane ride away...) so not sure I will be able to get to the hospital really quickly. DH also has a tendancy to not hear his phone, for it to be out of battery etc so scared I won't be able to contact him in an emergency and will be a bit stuck waiting for him to get home so I can go to hospital.

When I see the Dr next time (Monday week after another scan) and assuming I still have excess amnio, should I insist on being scheduled for a CS or at least have that as a possibility? I'll be 33 weeks when I see her so still time after that to decide what's best and I guess I will have more scans and Dr's appointments.

OP posts:

Daiso · 15/02/2013 13:16

I had this. I was massive ( no - really!) early on and as I got later in the stages of my pregnancy, I kept saying to people that I felt soooo stretched and that if even the tiniest pin touched my stomach then it would pop! It was super heavy too. At my 37wk MW appt, she couldn't find baby's position so sent me up to hospital for a scan as worried if was breech. Anyway, it was there that they diagnosed Polyhydramnios and I was then under a consultant, but as already so far gone, only had 2 appts but was in and out of hospital for bloods etc and eventually they induced me at 39wks and broke my waters - well it just wouldn't stop!! With each contraction, more and more came gushing out and they had to change the bed 3 times MW went out the room saying "ooh, I think we need a LOT more towels"
My little boy was born weighing 7lb 14oz and considering DH is 6ft 7in and was mahoosive at birth too, we expected a whopper. There was nothing wrong with him and I think I was one of those where it was just "one of those things" I was told thought that if my waters were to break at home then I should phone an ambulance and get on all fours with bum in the air. Lovely.

Mutley77 · 15/02/2013 14:56

Sorry just to confirm I didn't have the ELCS as a result of the excess water. I am not sure you will be able to insist on a Section as the consultant will have their own view and may consider there is no significant risk, in which case they won't give you a section as the risks of that could well be higher.

Hope it goes ok.

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