Polyhydramnios worries

[Frances003]

Hi all.
I went for a routine 36 week scan which my local trust have recently introduced - midwife said she would have sent me anyway as I was measuring slightly bigger.

At scan they told me I had to higher levels amniotic fluid and baby was measuring large for everything , head femur length, abdo - but all in proportion.

I had the Down syndrome testing early and was classed as low risk 1 in 350 odd I think it was and neck measurements fine.
But reading up I’ve read this Polyhydramnios can be due to genetic problems or so on. My friends that I speak to that have had the same have gone on to have children with genetic problems and I just am so petrified.
I can’t stop crying with worry and I just wondered if anyone has had this, or I don’t really know what I’m looking to get from this but .....just I don’t know, I feel so scared .
I am due to see a consultant and also a follow up 38 week scan but this is just so long to be waiting to know !

Also to add to this they told me I’m low risk of diabetes and never tested , due to, age , bmi, no family history ... and babies abdo - although large - was not above the highest centile so have no reason to believe cause is GD

I don't have anything useful to offer but didn't want to read and run.

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this! I hope all will be ok and baby is perfectly happy and healthy xx

Realistically you won't know more until baby is born as you so close to term. Could be nothing to worry about. Take it day by day.

Hi op I had polyhydramnios and they didn't find any reason for it at all. It was just random and my little boy is a delight and completely healthy. I did end up needing a caesarian because of it but that was fine too. Speaking to other people I've found that lots of them also had the same experience so please try not to worry too much

I was polyhydramunous too, they said baby was going to be whopping, had extra scans, she came out at 38+2 at 8lb 4, so not too big really. They'll just keep an eye on you. Might not let you get too far along but even according to measurements she wasn't as big as they said she would be. She's 9 weeks now and is just right for her age

Hi Frances003. I've been diagnosed with Polyhydramnios this week too and am also really worrying about it. I'm 29 weeks. The registrar just told us that it meant risk of waters breaking early, which could lead to cord prolapse so to call ambulance etc. She said it could be connected to gestational diabetes (which I seem to have).

Then I came home and read about it online and am now paranoid about all the other more serious things it could be. My AFI was over 35, so "severe". The registrar didn't say anything about that , I just read it in my notes after.

It's 2 weeks till my next appt and I am really hoping to see the consultant then (never seen him before) but that feels like ages.

Just wanted to say hi and that I know what you're going through.

Hello. I’ve had the exact same diagnosis this week. I’m 33 weeks and due to have another scan & also meet the consultant on Thursday about it. I’ve had a GD test and dont have it. Trying not to think about it too much & not googling it. Feeling a little scared, like you, as baby is measuring the top percentile, and the fluid was also on the top line of the graph so not sure what happens next.
I know it’s easy to say but try not to worry too much. X

Thank you for your responses, I was hoping for peoples experiences on this !
I think it’s unfortunate that the three friends I know who have had this , have had it due to something genetic with the baby!
So I’m just so upset thinking about it all.

I rang day care and they said there’s really nothing they can do until I see consultant and have the next scan - because apparently the fluid can come down. I’m just praying it does. It’s so difficult to stay positive when you’re so worried.

For those of you going through same thing , I will update after my consultant appointment Tuesday! X

Please try not to worry- although I know easier said than done
I was diagnosed about 32 wks with ds1, cried, googled, expected the worst and had loads of tests- all came back clear
I was induced on due date as the scans indicated a weight of almost 11 pounds. He was born 4 days later at 9.11 so big but not huge, and he's absolutely fine (although he does have a big head haha)
My only regret is that I didn't push for a section as Labour was v.slow to progress and ended up in surgery, which I partly blame on the stress . I've spoken to lots of people since who were diagnosed and was just 'ones of those things' hopefully will be the same for you

I had polyhydraminos too nothing was wrong with my son when he was born.

Although from 32 weeks when I was diagnosed I did spend the last few weeks really worrying about it.

A neonatal dr was called to my csection to check ds over after birth bcos of it but he was fine at birth.

You do know your water fluctuates each week? I had weekly scans from 32-39 weeks & each week it had fluctuated with some weeks more than others.

I can find the levels out if you want so you can compare? I've got my old birth notes I can look at which has the info in,

You'll know about it when your waters break though my ds was practically in a swimming pool in there!

Thank you that might be helpful to compare levels @danni0509 ! I didn’t know they fluctuate so that’s also slightly reassuring , I was told they could be reduced if he drinks some of the fluid - he also gets hiccups daily - googling this to see if it was connected didn’t help my worry!

I also work in a special care baby unit - so think that doesn’t help my mindset - as I only see the unusual/additional needs/premature etc
Everyone expects me to know about the pregnancy part but I honestly don’t have a clue - I deal with the babies when they’re out!

It’s so worrying isn’t it @anothernewone - I’ve had a relatively smooth pregnancy and then they bring in this routine 36 week scan and I’m worried as hell now !

It sounds as if a lot of Polyhydramnios pregnancy’s end in section - something else I would have liked to have avoided however I’m fully accepting I may need this !

@Frances003 I only had a section bcos ds was back to back & decided to get himself stuck during labour, it wasn't directly linked to the polyhydraminos.

Just to chip in with my experience if that helps - I know how you feel!
I was diagnosed with mild polyhydramnios at 32 weeks and the doctor didn't explain anything so I had to ask my midwife. She wasn't concerned and I had a repeat scan at 33 weeks to check the fluid. It has gone down and is now normal! I'm going for another scan next week at 35 weeks just to confirm it's gone. I've now booked my homebirth and the home birth team said they see lots of women with polyhydramnios and if it's mild, it isn't necessarily a concern.
I'd ask what your hospital's policy is - if you can use the birth centre or does it have to be delivery suite, how they manage it etc. Remember that the risk of cord prolapse is really small and you have choices in hhow you want to give birth.
Hope it all goes well for you and hopefully it won't be a marker of anything. Mine doesn't seem to be and it's often just one of those things. It's so worrying when you're told something is wrong I know.

Please try not to worry. I had polyhydramnios with both my babies - diagnosed at 20 weeks for both. No GD, but I was measuring big in both cases, as were the babies. I honestly think that the excess fluid must do something to the accuracy of the scans as DD1 was born at 41 weeks weighing 6lb 8oz and DD2 at 39+5 at 7lb 11oz - very far from the 10+ lbs that they were both predicted
My waters broke on both occasions - had to call an ambulance for DD1 and for DD2 I was about to have a sweep, but it turned out that waters had been leaking, so straight to hospital instead. But no massive flood, as I was told to expect, so beware of this (the flooding happened during labour). In both cases I was induced as labour didn't start naturally, and couldn't have the waterbirths I had wanted as the babies had to be monitored due to the inductions. Both arrived and were whisked off for checks immediately, but thankfully both in perfect health.
Best of luck - I hope all goes well for you.

I was diagnosed with this at 30 weeks. I measured about 4 weeks ahead from then. Big baby too. I ended up with a planned section at 39 + 3. She was 9lbs 9.5oz. I'm 5' and was an 8-10 so yeah, a big baby! She's perfect. No worries. Totally understand your concerns though as I was exactly the same ❤️

I had polyhydramnios (unknown until after birth, bump measured average but DS was 10th percentile, the test was water). No reason was ever found as to why, it was just one of those things. DS was perfectly healthy. It can also be linked to gestational diabetes but I know several other women who have had polyhydramnios with no explanation as to why and healthy children. I know it's easy to worry but in the vast majority of cases, it is just one of those things that happen.

Good luck

With regards to delivery, I delivered DS vaginally so not all women with polyhydramnios have sections. I was the same as PP with regards to DS being back to back and I did have to have a lot of assistance due to his position as I just couldn't birth him alone. That's much more likely the reason for a section rather than the excess fluid. Though it is much more likely with polyhydramnios that your waters will break as the first sign of labour. Depending on what type of birth you have planned, be prepared that you may have to deliver in hospital if you need the antibiotic drip.

Frances I know it's not the same, but I have severe oligohydramnios and my baby is measuring really far behind, so the exact opposite to you, and like you I was told that it's likely due to a genetic issue with baby. I had an amniocentesis which came back perfect not just for the trisomies but the whole microarray was completely normal! Try not to stress, I know it's easier said than done!

Thank you everyone , it’s really reassuring to hear that a lot of you have had this for unexplained reasons ! I just hope that’s the same for me. It’s just so difficult not to worry when the few people I know who had it was due to genetical issues with baby.
I’m also considering asking for a TORCH blood test , has anyone had this - I come into contact with a lot of babies and have heard cmv virus can cause this - but then also lead to problems with baby !
Jeesh it’s so hard not to worry about everything

I had the TORCH test last week on the same day as the diagnosis of Polyhydramnios. Just got the results today and came back normal (thank goodness).

I would definitely ask for it if you haven't had it - just to rule out that possible cause.

Yes I was given this the day after it was diagnosed

I wouldn’t worry, generally there is no issue, it truely is just one of those things.

Mine was noticed at 20 weeks. No way I would have got to 36 weeks without it being very noticeable. Mine was due to birth defects which were not obvious on u/s. The polyhydramnios caused them to scrutinise so we had an idea of what we were dealing with but were not certain. Subsequently genetic issues have been identified but that was over a decade down the road and doesn’t match any known profiles.

My situation was also different in that my baby was definitely measuring small at your gestation. Good news is I had a natural birth. C-section would not have been ideal for me as I had to drive a few hours each way from home to hospital every day for several months after birth to visit and this would have initially been impossible with a C-section. DH was back at work plus looking after our toddler and we had no family nearby who could have assisted with driving.