Polyhydramnios- experience or advice

[Starlive22]

Hello ladies, just looking to hear other ladies experiences really, I've been diagnosed with polyhydramnios which has gone from mild to moderate, 32+3 and SDP 15.

Looking for a wee bit of a hand hold or some stories. My GD test came back negative, Harmony test too for all of the trisomy conditions and just wondering how/what was done differently in your pregnancy/delivery I.e normal birth, caesarian section, did they induce you earlier?

I'm a bit scared about cord problems as Dr mentioned this but didn't go into detail. She doesn't seem terribly concerned but I'm still a bit anxious!

Any advice or experiences would be gladly welcomed

I was polyhydramnios. No GD or problems with the baby. My doctor told me to go home, sit down and not move. And if my water broke to ring an ambulance. I had a bit of extra monitoring, and was taken in for induction 2 weeks before my due date, but it took a week and several attempts before I went into labour.
When my waters went it wasn't too bad, but when I got into a labour room it was like Niagara falls ( and quite amusing). DS was a normal weight and now a lovely 6 year old.

My Dr said to maybe bring my maternity leave forward a bit but that's it, and she said that was for my comfort rather than anything to do with the baby.

It's quite uncomfortable at the moment with my chest and breathing but I'm hoping it doesn't get any worse x

I thought polyhydramnios was a trigger for GD testing. The excess fluid is, I think, at least partly caused by maternal diabetes causing the baby to wee more than usual.

When they found polyhydramnios in me I was sent for GD testing straight away. I was slim and fit, so no other signs.

I'd ask for GD testing banana. Sometimes things get overlooked - my MW knew I had a family history of Type II, so I should have been tested earlier in the pregnancy, and then put on a low carb diet. But somehow she overlooked it (maybe based on my slim size, though she shouldn't have made assumptions), and I ended up with polyhydramnios and a large baby and a c-sec, on top of my other pregnancy complications.

Although both my boys measured huge even on scans right up to just before birth - one was 6.5lb the other 7lb - so I always take scans with a pinch of salt

@bananaramallamana oh sorry! Maybe ask for GD test after all, all I know is in my case my MW sent me for the test as the baby had a big abdomen but better to be safe than sorry and I'm sure they will agree to test you if you mention it. Really sorry, didn't mean to give you bad advice there if I did x

Just out of interest, was anybody warned about cord prolapse when the waters went? My Dr mentioned this as being a concern and that it's safer if my waters break in hospital but not what to do to prevent it, she just said if my waters break come in as an emergency.

Sounds horrific and I'm the worlds worst worrier anyway!

I was told to ring an ambulance if my waters broke

I've never had a baby before so have no idea what to expect! She did say the same to me so will do that, I guess if I think I'm going into labour maybe to go in sooner rather than later.

Just feel so anxious about it even though it seems quite rare, but also very serious

@Starlive22 I'd definitely speak to your consultant or midwife but I vaguely remember being told to call an ambulance asap and say you think you've had a cord prolapse (you should be able to feel it) so they get to you urgently and then get down on your hands and knees to take the pressure off. Definitely check with a medical professional though because I can't remember exactly what they said, it was a while ago.
It's still very rare but definitely good to know what to do x

I just feel so nervous, hope and pray that my waters break in hospital where thy can check. It's ruining the end of my pregnancy 😥 probably just me overreacting.

The Dr said she will most likely stay head down now but I felt her turn earlier, so there is no guarantee, just hope she takes my anxiety seriously next time I see her

I know it's easier said than done lovely, but do try to enjoy the last of your pregnancy. I completely understand how you feel as I was the same, but in hindsight I wished I had calmed down a bit and enjoyed it. Although my levels went down to a more moderate level towards full term instead of off the charts, I still was a bit shocked at how my waters going wasn't a huge gush like I thought it would be. I was stood in the shower about to turn it on and could feel a bit of water trickling, I thought it was the tap dripping, then realised it was coming from me! It slowly did that for about 36 hours before I was in active labour and they popped them. It really wasn't like anything you see in the movies, for me anyway!

Take care of yourself x

Also relay how much it's stressing you out to your doctor and they may even induce you a week early. If the baby's measuring a good size anyway and it will cause you a lot less stress do ask if they can and if not if there's any reason why. They should definitely take your seriously, anxiety is a huge deal and can really drain you.

@toomuchangelcake thank you! It's nice to be able to speak to someone who has been through the same experience. I suppose there is time for the water to reduce, really hope it does. They are keeping an eye on me which is of course great and very reassuring. Guess just the thought of cord problems are the stuff of nightmares.

Will try to relax as worrying really won't change the outcome, just had a bit of a wobble today! X

I had it with both of my previous pregnancies with no gestational diabetes. I was induced at 39 weeks with DD1 due to it but made it to full term on both. DD2 came on her own at 38 weeks.

@MonaTheMoaner with the second did you waters break at home or in the hospital? Did they mention anything about getting an ambulance to hospital? X

I've just experienced polyhydramnios with my first pregnancy and I know how anxious it made me so hope my experience will help. I was sent for a scan at 28 weeks after my bump was measuring big. I had three extra scans in total and was also sent for weekly CTGs in the final weeks.

I was tested for GD and that was negative. The consultant was convinced I would deliver early and said they wouldn't allow me to go to term so I was booked for induction at 39 + 2. But I went into labour on my own at 38 + 3. I had my waters broken in labour by a consultant and they manoeuvred the baby's head at the same time to stop a cord prolapse.

Because of the polyhydramnios the hospital insisted on constant monitoring throughout labour. It ended in an emergency C Section.

DS was taken away after he was born and had to have a tube down his throat to check his stomach. He is absolutely fine and is 7 weeks old today.

I had severe polyhydramnious in my second pregnancy. Signed off at 28w due to increased risk of labour (and was told to call an ambulance and get my legs in the air if they went!) but by taking it easy I made it to 39+1 for my ELCS (for other reasons). Daughter was 10lb6oz and masses of fluid but she was absolutely fine.

It was caused we think by GD but it wasn’t picked up at original testing. What was happening was that my sugars were spiking after breakfast so didn’t fit it with the usual way they test. I can’t remember how they worked this out in the end but I was diagnosed with GD at about 37w so had a couple of weeks to get my sugars under control with just my diet!

I was scanned weekly from 22w and spent A LOT of time in the DAU being monitored but it was all worth it in the end and I can’t say I wasn’t looked after.
Perhaps go and ask for another GD test and of you have any concerns just speak to your care team.

Thanks for replies ladies and glad to hear good outcomes. Maybe I was panicking a bit, just kind of wish I knew a bit more but I'm sure Dr will discuss later on. Have a scan on 13th just to check fluid and then another appt 2 weeks after for a growth scan and speak to the consultant. Will probably know more then. Will be 36 weeks then so hoping she will be able to at least make the start of a plan by that time x

@presidentgerbil aww 7 weeks today ❤️ congratulations x

@mrmakerwastespaper do you think taking it easy helped at all? I too have been advised to start maternity leave early, do you think it helped keep you going so long? X

My waters hadn't broken with the second. She basically came out in the sac and the midwives had to break my waters as I was pushing on the living room floor. She was out within 20 minutes so they didn't have time to get me to hospital but I had to go in afterwards for a retained placenta.

@starlive22 yes, absolutely. After any type of increased activity I was getting really bad pains and Brixton Hicks and the Drs were worrried I’d go into labour too early with all the pressure from the increased liquid.

I was signed off sick for a number of weeks and then went on mat leave early. Fortunately I had a very understanding employer. I definitely think it was the right thing for me to do and prolong my pregnancy. Plus I was also nicely rested but the time she did arrive even when having a toddler at home too! 😊 x

I had it in both pregnancies because I'm diabetic. With my first my waters broke at home, I rang the hospital and they said to come in and DH drove me. No-one ever said anything about emergencies or cord prolapse and I was in labour ages without problem (apart from DD not coming out and needing a section in the end!) So it can be completely fine if it happens. And take a massive towel plus a spare with you should it happen - I was soaked. Good luck.

So reassuring to hear all these stories where everything turned out fine (albeit sometimes a bit more stressful than a 'normal' birth), I think looking online lists all the worst case scenarios and it just frightened me a bit, it's just nice to actually hear from real women and hear about real birth experiences.

Ooh just another quick question...my Midwife and doctor both can't feel which way up baby is when they feel manually. We can tell from scans but they said because of the fluid they can't quite feel her because it's all so tight and full of water.

I also sometimes have trouble feeling her move unless I'm lying on my side, did anyone else have this problem? She's my first baby so I have nothing to compare it to, but everyone says the baby really jabs them in the ribs etc and I just don't get that at all. I've been assured she's fine though, she is moving, it's just that I can't feel it x