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 !

How is your child now @hoppingpavlova ? Do the genetics affect your child much?
I’m going to ask for further tests tomorrow at my consultant appointment ! The days are going so slow waiting for these appointments

My child is an older teen now.

Yes, the genetic aspect does affect them as it’s thought to be the basis of all of their issues - numerous congenital abnormalities and unusual health issues. Testing would not have assisted in our case though as their issue is not identified as a syndrome (they are unique, one of a kind profile so no name) so not something that is routinely tested for. It took several months for their genetic profile testing to be processed, it’s not the sort of thing that can be done as a prenatal test. My understanding is that you could test an embryo against their profile but that’s only of use if using IVF to decide if any embryo’s should be discarded as you have unlimited time up your sleeve for testing.

Seriously, I would not worry about it in your situation though. 99% chance it’s nothing sinister causing the polyhydramnious so no point in stressing yourself if there is nothing to stress about.

I had it but diagnosed much later on in pregnancy. DS was big but absolutely problems with him. Because of it they induced me as soon as I became overdue.

I had this, ds was born by ecs at 38wks weighing 10lb 7 and 65cm long. He was absolutely fine though.

Hello,

I was diagnosed at the same stage as you, was low risk all along and measuring normal, then at 36 week scan diagnosed with polyhydramnios. I know what a shock it is and how worried you must be.

My experience....
I was tested for GD, had the blood test, tested for everything basically and they couldn’t find a reason for the extra fluid. Baby measuring normal size and they could see kidneys working. They could see baby swallowing if I remember correctly but they said that one of the reasons for polyH could be that baby is not able to swallow properly.

Consultant was horrible and tried to bully me into being induced at 39 weeks. I had an over riding feeling that actually everything was fine and didn’t want the cascade of interventions. So I pushed to be allowed to go to 41+3 before induction (as is the norm in my hospital). I ended up having her (spontaneous vaginal delivery) at 41+1. She was 7lbs 6 so not big at all.

However here is where I think I should have believed my gut instinct more. They insisted on putting an ng tube down her nose to check her swallowing was ok, straight after birth (meaning I couldn’t feed her first). All fine except it was so busy she had to wait about 3 hours for this, away from me because I was waiting to be stitched in theatre (didn’t happen til 5pm... she was born at 9am). So my husband was sat with very distressed screaming newborn for 3 hours waiting for this test and she just wanted to feed. She got her first milk about 3.5 hours after birth. I really believe this is what made our breastfeeding journey so difficult (and ultimately it failed). The test came back fine and she is absolutely fine.

One other thing I would say, how did they measure the fluid? I only ask because at one of my check ups I asked them and they said they took the measurement of the largest pool of water. My question was well what if the other pools are just tiny. So they brought in a consultant who measured all of them and said the total was not far over normal levels. So she concluded the extra fluid was a variant of normal for me. Which was great but none of the other doctors or the other consultant listened to this, they all wanted to err on the side of caution, which I do understand but which frustrated me at the time, as I was so sure everything was fine.

Just wanted to add my story. Not saying it’s not best to be cautious, I know it is. But I do wonder if we’d have had a completely worry free pregnancy, more peaceful after birth time and smooth breastfeeding journey if I lived in an area which didn’t routinely scan at 36 weeks. I think sometimes it picks up non problems and makes them problems (just my perspective!! Obviously the scans do a lot of good too).

It's nothing to worry about in my experience. I've had it twice and no reason for it at all. Big babies. No diabetes. They check with a tube that they are connected inside at birth but reassured me that there is very low risk of abnormalities and they have no reason why I got it, especially as I had it twice. Just need to be careful if your waters go spontaneously as they go with such a gush. X

So I thought I’d update.
I went to see the consultant today - who was actually a very lovely registra- and apolgised to me that I was not actually considered Polyhydramnios because my fluid was 21.3 not over 25? Although is on the higher end of normal - she said it was normal in relation to the size of my “big baby”

I explained I’d been worrying all week, she told me she had no worries that this was genetic and if anything she thought gestational diabetes but I could not be tested now as too late, and because I had no risk factors and no family history she understood why this was not tested

Regardless she agreed to Torch blood tests which I should have results by end of week.

I still have my scan Monday to see whether fluid has increased - If over 25 then she said about calling ambulance if waters go etc

My plan is to start having sweeps from next week 38weeks following the scan .... every 3 days , and if no luck by my due date to induce at 41+1

I do feel a lot more relieved, and I really thank you all for your kind support.

@magpiefeather that is terrible , luckily I work in scbu at my trust and know that is not our Policy to do trial NG tubes - only if after the first feed they show signs of struggling to swallow or a palette problem is identified ! I did say to dr today I wish I’d not attended routine 36 week scan! But she said they have their place and are good at identifying risks !?!

That's not good @magpiefeather, they checked my two almost immediately after they came out and then gave them straight to me, sorry for your bad experience. I'm glad it worked out for you too. I personally would rather go with their caution and have early but safe intervention than go with my gut not saying that's wrong but I have a friend who waited it out and it ended in the worst possible way. Unnecessary stress is definitely not ideal but if it saves babies I guess the scans must have a place. So pleased your minds at rest anyway and hope you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Xx

I had this. DS was nearly 11lb for no apparent reason. He is now 13 and around the 70th centile for height.

I had this with ds1. I was petrified. I was told he was going to be massive and was so scared about the implications. I Had him 10 days over my due date 8st 13lbs so big but not crazy massive- natural birth with no complications.

He has no genetic problems or any problems at all- other than he can drive me crazy sometimes (he’s 8 now).

Wishing you all the best. Please try not to worry. I wish I hadn’t wasted those last weeks of my pregnancy worrying.

@Frances003 any updates? i'm where you were two years ago!

Hi @father3.
So further on from this I asked for more tests - the torch screening which was mentioned.
I would suggest if your scans have otherwise been normal - no abnormalities on any organs than I wouldn’t worry.
I had the TORCH screening which showed I was positive for CMV virus- which can cause polyhydramnius , which caused me SO much more worry than necessary!!!! It’s a common virus that a lot of people have if you work with children/have other children/come into contact with children as it’s passed through their salvia .....it’s not so much the virus that matters but when you caught it.
If you catch it in the first 12 weeks you’re baby could have disabilities.
However if you had it previous to the conception - (which I did, confirmed by looking back on my booking bloods )
then your body will have built up anti bodies and not affect your baby. Honestly - if you have had otherwise normal scans I would not bother.
It ruined the end of my pregnancy and I spent weeks crying and worrying over nothing.

To go on to have a healthy baby boy, who is now 15 months. Granted when they broke my waters there was ALOT of water , but he was a healthy 7lb 12. Looking back no idea what caused my polyhy.... maybe undiagnosed gestational diabetes. ?!?

I hope this has helped somewhat

Thank you so much for your message. I found it so difficult reading all the messages. As most people like my wife is going through this. She is clearly the strong one plus I don't tell her everything I read but it totally freaks me out. We are waiting for 'special scan' as they said we need this to see the situation. She currently is AGI 29.9CM. which means she is in moderate. And at 35+3 weeks. All previous scan looked normal. This time the said head and stomach is bigger.

That's all we know.plus all my stressing reading. And I'm also worried for her with beach.

Thank you for you message. It made me feel a whole lot better.

@father3, I'm in a similar situation @31 weeks. Can I ask how it turned out for you? Hope all is well!