Bad news at 36 week scan - so scared

[worried88]

I had a routine 36 week scan this morning and it picked up some problems. I've been diagnosed with polyhydramnios (deepest pool was 10.6cm). The baby's head is also measuring just above the 97th centile at 355mm, abdominal circumference just below the 97th (although this was not deemed a problem) and everything else was in the normal range. The baby appears to have fluid in the stomach and bladder which means they're swallowing, both kidneys were identified and the heartbeat was normal.

After the sonographer identified the polyhydramnios, I was given a blood test at the hospital and have now been asked to monitor my blood sugar with an AgaMatrix machine for the next three days to check for gestational diabetes.

Eight weeks ago my regular midwife detected a trace of glucose in my wee sample at my 28 week appointment, but it was all clear again at 32 weeks so I assumed it had just been a blip. My 34 week midwife appointment was cancelled due to the coronavirus and was done over the phone instead, so there was no test done at 34 weeks.

I also had a private wellbeing scan done three weeks ago and at that scan, my amniotic fluid was in the normal range. Head circumference was 319mm (compared with 355mm today). I wasn't able to give this information to the hospital today as annoyingly I didn't have my notes with me.

Following today's scan, the hospital have asked me to come in for another scan next week with a consultant at the fetal medicine unit. I'm waiting to hear back from them with a time.

In the meantime though I'm going out of my mind with worry about what all this could mean. It was such a lot to take in that I think a lot of what they were saying went completely over my head as I wasn't really thinking straight.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? I'm so frightened that something is badly wrong.

Also, does anyone who has had polyhydramnios know what happens after the birth - does the baby have to be taken for tests or anything like that?

I'm sorry, I can't get over telling you not to trust FMC. I had first 2 in London, with all scans at FMC. Always top quality care. Had third near NYC and fetal medicine specialist here mentioned FMC reverently -- Dr. Nicolaides is world famous!

I had polyhydramnios with DD2. In fetal medicine, they often look for things that aren't bad in and of themselves but can be a marker for a bad thing, and I think polyhydramnios is one of those things. They'll now check you carefully to exclude certain things. With me it was borderline and turned out not to mean anything.
I just had a big tummy. DD2 is a bright, strapping 7 year old.

I wouldn't think FMC would be better than hospital consultant unless they can see you sooner, for peace of mind. Also consultant at FMC might be able to take more time to speak to you. Good luck, OP.

They'll now check you carefully to exclude certain things.

Thanks @Teapot13 - do you know what sort of things?

Yes, I’ve been really happy with all my FMC scans (I’ve had a couple there).

I had a similar problem with scans with my now 3 year old. They also said he was going to be off the scale huge and had me going for scans every two weeks after finding out. They mentioned some possible health problems that might be the cause. I was terrified for every 2 weeks waiting for another scan and ended up having an early section for a completely different reason and he was smaller than average! Scans don’t always get it right.

I also read how rare it was, I'm not sure exactly what these articles are relating too because every single person I spoke too said how common it was.

Once the baby is born he/she has a little test (in the same room) where they feed a tube down the throat to ensure there isn't a blockage in the babies gut.

My friend is a midwife and says this has only ever once been the case in the whole time she has delivered babies!

Please step away from google; like PP have said, they are very good at quickly getting the baby out if they need to. I don't think it's particularly rare either - of my friends who have given birth in the last couple of years, I'd say half have had it and it's never caused an issue and always just been one of those things.

Far from being terrible, the FMC is probably the best Fetal medicine clinic in the world (not exaggerating). Can you call them and see what they have to say about the hospital scan? They might get you straight in or be able to put your mind a little more at rest.

Just to add, DH and I had an horrific experience with scans of first baby. At 20 wk scan, 2 radiographers carried it out and managed to transpose both DS1’s arm measurements. He also had little legs. Together on the chart these pointed strongly to DS and they had a serious chat to us about termination, which we agonised over for 24hrs. At about 5am, DH was looking at the notes from FMC scan we had done a week or two before NHS and noticed that arm measurements were longer at earlier scan! Obviously didn’t make sense and next day we called FMC, who told us to come straight in, we saw Prof Nicolaides who told us all was well (or as sure as anyone can be)! Similar sort of story with DC3 between NHS and FMC.

My goddaughter has such a large head they were referred for paediatric investigation after birth. She is absolutely fine, a happy healthy 12 year old. Her head looks totally normal!

Hi OP
I had a GTT at 28 weeks and it was fine, then glucose in wee at 32wk midwife appointment, sent to the hospital for GTT and was then diagnosed with gestational diabetes. It really can come out of nowhere. Had a normal delivery and a normal 7lb14oz baby. Have they given you instruction as to when to test your sugars and what the numbers should be?

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences - it really helps. I watched the sonographer measure the head - she drew a circle around it and it looked accurate. She actually finished the ultrasound and then after doing the results, she asked me to lie back down so she could re-measure the head and then said all was fine. But 97th percentile sounds very worrying to me.

@sleepwhenidie yes, the FMC are great and very reassuring. DH called them last night and they’re booked until Easter unfortunately, but they added us to their waiting list. I might email this morning and reiterate that we’re available any time.

@District26 yes, they’ve given me a little machine to do a finger prick test four times a day for three days. I need to work out how to use it this morning - it looks a bit tricky. I have to record the results and if they’re over a certain level I have to call the hospital, but if they’re below that level then I do nothing.

I also read yesterday that polyhydramnios can be a marker for Down’s or Edward’s syndrome. But I had a harmony test done for both of these in early pregnancy and the odds came back 1/10000! Would they have spotted anything at the 20 and 33 week scans if the baby did have either of these? I know I need to step away from google now.

I’m also rhesus negative blood group which I think can cause complications.

BG test machines are really simple to use, the ones they give out at the hospital are the ones designed for elderly people just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes so they're really simple. You literally just pop a test strip in a slot and put some blood on it.

Just make sure you fully wash your hands with just soap and water, alcohol hand gel and some soaps can give a false low if you still have some on your fingers.

Thanks @Fettfrett. This one has a lance that you clip into the machine. I think my head was in such a spin yesterday that I was completely overwhelmed by the instructions and panicked! I will give it a go this morning.

Ffs polyhydramnios!

Just to say to TheFutureMrsHardy - if my daughter hadn't have had a private scan at 30 wks she wouldn't have found out about the difficulties she was facing as these wouldn't have been found otherwise on the NHS as she was 'measuring' NORMAL and her 12 and 20 wk scans were NORMAL.

Her baby is currently in NICU - thanks to the PRIVATE scan the problems were discovered and premature birth was anticipated - which spontaneously happened last week.

One complicating factor was polyhydramnios. There were others for which the baby required immediate surgery - again this was anticipated because of the PRIVATE SCAN.

So NO - private scans should most definitely NOT be banned.

Why on earth people should look down on others who choose to have these scans? It's beyond me.

I've been praying each and every day for my daughter and her poorly baby and have hardly slept since she had that PRIVATE SCAN 6 weeks ago.

So ladies - please continue to have PRIVATE SCANS because they make a huge difference - the end of my daughter's pregnancy could have been far worse.

I dread to think.

@worried88 just read all the other comments since I posted. I was/ am worried about poly indicating a genetic problem such as edwards or downs as you mentioned. My consultant suggested the low risk nipt and the fact there are no soft markers/ physical signs on the scans is a good sign. However, I did ask a few weeks ago if we should prepare ourselves for something bad (dd1 died last year so I feel like I need to be prepared...) and she said she couldn’t promise either way. This isn’t meant to scare anyone, I am just repeating what she said.

One other thing, my deepest pool was 10.9 last week (33 weeks so a bit behind you). She said if we were in Europe this wouldn’t actually be classed as high at this stage (so maybe reassuring).

Robs20 - my daughter had an amniocentesis at 30 wks because of the connection to chromosomal defects after it was discovered she had polyhydramnios and the baby had another condition. She was given a huge information pack on these potential conditions - which was upsetting to say the least.

During the test the membrane sack was damaged and collapsed around the baby which contributed towards premature labour.

The wait for the results of the test was agonising. The results were clear.

My daughter had a swift labour. He baby remains in NICU.

I'm so sorry @Robs20 for your loss

And @Iknitknickknacks I hope your daughter's baby is out of NICU soon.

DH is trying to encourage me to be positive but I keep breaking down. We were going to do some more baby prep today and I can't face any of it.

It's going to be an agonising wait until we see the consultant - at least then we will know more about what we're facing. I've also emailed the Fetal Medicine Centre to ask if they have any advice and/or if I can book another scan after Easter.

One other thing, my deepest pool was 10.9 last week (33 weeks so a bit behind you). She said if we were in Europe this wouldn’t actually be classed as high at this stage (so maybe reassuring).

That is reassuring, thanks @Robs20

@worried88 I completely get it. I haven’t got organised at all either. But, DH keeps telling me that if the worst happens, the biggest upset is not going to be that we packed a hospital bag/ organised a nursery. I am trying to enjoy the last few weeks of being pregnant and remember that the chances are, things will be ok. Hope you get some positive news next week, and remember all of the encouraging stories on this thread.

I can't offer any advice on the polyhydramnios but DD had a head and abdominal circumference above the 98.5th percentile at my 37 week scan and her weight was estimated to be huge. Born two weeks later completely fine and healthy at 8lb12. She's very tall but a little skinny ribs and I don't think her head looks especially large I think it would be worrying if the measurements were well off the scale but they are still within the norms.

Thanks so much @TrashKitten10 - that is so good to hear.

I've done two finger prick tests this morning - the pre-breakfast result was below the threshold but the second one (an hour after breakfast) was above. If I get three or more high readings than I have to contact the hospital.

Please don't worry. My daughter had the same measurements and there was a lot of tutting. She was perfectly fine. When the second one came along she also had a big head and big tummy. I guess I just make them like that! Both perfectly healthy normal babies!

Re polyhydramnious, I don't know enough about it to give useful advice, but I do know that several of my friends have had it and all has been well. If they are concerned enough to suggest inducing you, remember that you can always also push for an elective c-section if that is your preference.