Shocked by news at appt - big baby, but low fluid!

[julezboo]

Hiya all

brief history

DS aged 4 was born weighing 2lb at 31 weeks due to severe pre eclampsia. Hes absolutely fine though
Ive had 4mc's since then all early on.
diagnosed with factor V leiden clotting disorder
started heparin injections at 4 wks with this preg
Now 32 weeks!

Apart from alot of bleeding in the beginning this pregnancy has been fine, BP is behaving itself and despite my uterine artery doppler scan showing large notches baby is growing well!

In fact too well, and now Im scared shitless!! Hes already measuring the size of a 36 weeker, they estimate around 5/6lbs! I will go into hospital next wed for a GTT test. Never had one before what happens?

Also my fluid levels are low, 8cm if i remember rightly, they should be closer to 25 the cons tells me. They asked me if Id had a gush or felt my waters broke, I havnt but I have had leaking since xmas day! I will have another doppler scan next wed after after the gtt test and they will make decisions from there!
Im scared, does it mean early delivery, when I asked for me elec c/s date she wouldnt commit, said I could go anytime!

Do I need to avoid baths (my back is killing me and I have a tender tummy, a bath is my answer to everything lol)!

Anyone got any wise words to give or advice?!!

Hi!

I was in the same position as you - had a growth scan at 32 weeks and was given an estimated weight of 5 and a half pounds and was booked in for a GTT test.

I had to go into hospital early in the morning and my blood was taken straight away. I was then given a glucose solution to drink - not the most pleasant thing, but nowhere near as abd as I thought it would be. I then had to wait around for 2 hours before they took more blood to see how my body had metabolized the sugar.

Test results came back as normal for me - just a big baby! Now, having a CS due to SPD so not that worried about the weight anymore TBH!

i think once the fluid levels are 3 or less, then you really need to worry..so you are a long way from there yet..

baby is a good weight...i take it you are being tested for gestational diabetes next week?

try drinking lots of water..have they diagnosed oligohydramnios or just said fluid is low?

if your waters have been leaking, avoid the bath....try a shower, with the warm shower directed onto your sore back or tummy

if you show signs of prem labour , you will most likely have steroid injections to help baby's lungs get ready for birth, and steps can be taken to stop the labour..

if consultant not whipping you in for an elective, that is a good thing, no?
try to rest as much as you can !

just try to take it easy..every day baby is in utero is a bonus

Hi

My levels for both my previous pg's have had average 1 - 2.5 cm fluid levels, i think 8 cm isnt too bad, safety levels are between 5 - 25cm, I did have gestational diabetes, you should be being closely monitored, I went into labour 5 weeks early but she was fine and 4lb 15

Good luck, Lisa xx

The glucose test is not too bad. It is not a very nice drink. A large glass of very thick sugar water is the best way to describe it. You will have it drink it all (and keep it down)You will have a blood test before and then one about an hour after, this way they can see how your body is coping with the high sugar. I also have one in two weeks, I live in France and they are routine here at around 20-24 weeks. Last time with dd, I had the test at the lab and then the results were not good so they sent me for a day in hospital for more tests. These results were fine, they then realised there was no problem in the first place and my midwife had read my first results wrong and sent me for a high dose of sugar for no reason. Yumm! Good luck, fingers crossed for you.

Were you given a list of foods to eat in the morning b4 your blood test, i got a sheet of paper this time round with a long list of breakfast foods on 2 groups, have to eat 5 in total from both groups, apparantly its kinder to pg ladies than starving us then giving glucose drink

with my dd at 28weeks a scan revealed my fluid leveles were less then 2cm.. I was kept in hospital, until I had her by c-section at 36weeks checked for infection every week via bloods and high vaginal swabs, I still had baths..
It was susopected that my waters had been leaking from 21-22 weeks as I was measuring 6weeks to small, and she had dolicophilous!!! (p) due to pressure in womb. I was just monitered everyday and scanned every 3 days.. The section was performed at 36weeks due to my placenta failing not the lack of fluids..

That was 10 years ago and she is a perfectly healthy 10year old

HTH>

I was given dexamethasone (sp) to help dd lungs mature..

Hello,

I am on my first pregnancy & I had a scan at 18 weeks because my AFP had come back as high and then I had to go back in again for a 20 week scan because consultant was concerned that the baby is the size of a 16 week baby even though I was 18 weeks.

At the 20 week scan the baby had grown but is still small for it's age, but the consultant has also noted that I have oligohydramnios and notching on my uterine artery that is reducing the blood flow. She has made another scan appointment on 11th Jan.

I have had an amnio to rule out a chromosomal disorder and it is looking more likely to be that the placenta isn't functioning as well as it should be because of the uterine artery notching.

I am currently 20 weeks and 5 days and I feel thoroughly worried and stressed! The consultant has been really unhelpful and when I asked if there is anything they can do if it is placental, she just said 'no' and didn't give me any advise or info!

Julezboo, after reading about your experiences & everyone elses, I feel like I'm not alone! I'm just sorry that I can't give you much advice. Although I would say that it would probably be best to avoid having a bath and have showers as lulumama suggests. It also sounds like baby is a good size but the longer it is inside you the better.

Can I just ask if anyone has any advice for me? Only I am so worried especially being only half way through my pregnancy. I just so hope this little one hangs on!

Good luck Julezboo!

Flumpytigger, I've just seen your thread. Hope you have had good news in the intervening weeks.

I was also diagnosed with oligohydramnious at about 20 weeks and was in a state of shock as it was also my first child. DS is now 5 years old and perfect!

When I had a scan at 20 weeks they complained that the baby would not move into the correct position to get good scan shots. I was made to go for a walk and when I returned for a re-scan the baby had barely moved. As they were giving me my notes I asked if the lack of movement was normal. So they checked the scan shots again and said that they thought I had very little fluid! I was sent to a consultant in the fetal care unit who also did some checks. I then mentioned that I had had some leaking and thought it was normal! It appears that it was leaking fluid. I was told to avoid stress and rest. I gave up work immediately and spent alot of time flat on the sofa. In retrospect I am sorry I did not rest more.

I went for scans every few weeks and the baby grew very slowly. On the day he was born, I was not feeling well and went early to the hospital for the scan appointment. I had DS 3 hours later. He was 8 weeks premature and weighed 1.4kg. As his lungs were underdeveloped, he had to stay in hospital for 10 weeks. Now he is a bright and cheerful 5 year old.

My advice is lots of rest. Best of luck.