Please help reassure me - diagnosis of polyhydramnios at 30 weeks

[Lilyabelle]

Hello, a few days ago I was given a reassurance scan after having a very brief spell of reduced movement, which told me that although everything looks ok with the baby (organs appear normal, etc.) I have polyhydramnios (AFI of 28.8). After reading up more about it, quite frankly I am absolutely terrified and feel like I'm going out of my mind with worry. Has anyone out there got any experiences at all with this condition and can offer any words of reassurance? I have had a glucose tolerance test and TORCH screen, both of which I'm currently waiting for the results to come back. I also have an appointment booked with my obstetrician for next week. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. The pregnancy has been progressing normally and I was just starting to get excited about buying things and now I feel like I'm in some nightmare. Thanks so much in advance.

I had polyhydramnios with my second. It's one of those thing that can indicate a problem, but more often than not is just one of those things.

I had induction booked for 40+5 because baby wasn't engaged so there was risk of cord prolapse. They broke by waters (flooding the room!) and baby was born quite quickly after - progressed well and had baby in my arms within a few hours.

I was HUGE by term. I have had two babies since without any new stretch marks!

You need to be extra vigilant about movements as they can be harder to feel I think.

I had this at around the same time with my son who is now 5. I got the impression that it was not a big deal, though mentioned cord prolapse. If anything, it just meant that I got sweeps earlier than usual and was induced promptly at 40 weeks. I guess a lot of fluid came out when they broke my waters but tbh I have nothing to compare it to.

I have since read that the cord prolapse risk can be minimised by getting on all fours (bum in the air) if your waters do break. You should then get someone to ring 999. However, I wouldn't dwell on this... it wasn't ever mentioned to me when I was preggo.

My advice... stay away from Dr Google/ contact your midwife if you are worried.

Thank you - it's reassuring that you both made it to 40 weeks and had healthy babies. The midwives didn't seem massively worried and just said it was something to 'keep an eye on' over the next few weeks, but naturally I'm panicking like mad! I think I'll feel better once we've ruled out infections as that is my main concern. I always seem to have a bloody awful time with pregnancy towards the end!

Yes my son was totally healthy. It was more of a pain that I was 8+ months preggo in a v hot August and huge (he was 9lb 3 so everything was big... even his cord made everyone in theatre go "OOOH!"). I did have some episodes of reduced movement which might have been due to the fluid, but I got extra monitoring and checks as a result. In the grand scheme of things it is possibly not worth wasting energy worrying about it if everything else is normal, but it might be worth asking your OB about the risk of prolapse and what to do etc etc just to put your mind at risk.

*mind at REST, even.

Thanks so much @Daisy. I was so happy that with this pregnancy I have a posterior placenta as with my first it was anterior and it was hard to sometimes feel movement. Now all those horrible worries have come back again because with the increased fluid it can sometimes go a bit quiet in there and then I’ll get an almighty thump! I don’t know how I’m going to get through the next week with all of this hanging over me let alone the next ten weeks. Unless DC2 decides to make an early appointment. Ooh, another worry!

Oh poor you! I had severe polyhydramnios when I had DD. It was awful I couldn't be more uncomfortable. It ended up pressing on the tube you need to do a wee so had to be catheterised too ☹️ very rare though, so don't worry about that!

DD was born by c section a week early and 9lb 11! I dread to think how big she would have been if I'd gone over 😲

I didn't get chance to read whole thread but have you had any growth scans? You might be growing a big one!

Also, I went to Faetal Well Being Unit for a scan and to check heartbeat and movement twice per week, they said polyhydramnios is actually quite common...but mine was very severe hence all the panic.

Please try not to worry. I was exactly the same as you, shit myself thinking something was wrong but at your stage it's more likely you just have a bigger baby

@Lilyabelle how are you feeling now? I'm in a similar situation to where you were a few weeks ago.

How long did it take for your test results have you had to have further scans / consultant appointments?

Hi everyone, thank you so, so, so much for all your kind replies. I'm sorry I went quiet - things went a bit dramatic and at one point I was admitted to hospital as it was thought I was in premature labour! I have been massively reassured by everyone's messages and am so grateful for the time you have all taken to reply to my panic-stricken post!

As a bit of an update, due to the polyhydramnious and my adventure in the delivery ward, I'm still pregnant (have made it to 34 weeks so far), baby is doing well AND fluid levels have returned to normal. I have had lots of scans with an obstetrician and all is looking good. No one has actually stated that baby is going to be a big-un, however, judging by the growth chart he / she certainly isn't going to be a little scrap! So perhaps I'll join you ladies in having a deliciously chunky baby. I bet the cuddles were just gorgeous!

@EL332 I'm feeling a lot better now thank you so much. I hope you're doing ok, I completely understand how you must be feeling at the moment. The initial news is always a bit worrying isn't it, but I hope my experience and that of the lovely ladies who have posted on this thread will offer you plenty of comfort and reassurance that you and you baby will more than likely be fine.

So, I had the glucose tolerance test which I think took about three days and that came back clear. They also did a TORCH test - have you been offered that as well? That took a week. A horrible wait as my pregnancy anxiety has been pretty much focused around two of the infections that TORCH tests for but thankfully they came back negative. How far on are you if you don't mind me asking and how high were your fluid levels? One thing I was told is that sometimes this condition is just one of those bizarre pregnancy things where there is no rhyme or reason. The fluid can fluctuate up and down and some women just produce more.

@Lilyabelle thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

My GTT has come back clear and am still waiting on TORCH results...

I have another scan booked for 01/10 which leaves a two week gap between the scans so they can measure growth/fluid.

My notes say deepest pool was 8.7cm...

I'm 30+2

Did you have any other complications or symptoms?

I tested positive for protein in my urine earlier in the week and have had the most horrible indigestion too...