Leaking amniotic fluid???

[Jobean]

My friend, a non-mumsnetter, is currently going thorugh a torrid time.

She miscarried some time ago but when she went back for tests two days after she was told she was still carrying the twin of the baby she miscarried. She was obviously overjoyed and I think it heldped her get over the pain of the miscarriage. However, she has been spotting ever since.

She went for her routine 12 week scan and they told her the sac was rather small and so they made an appointment to see the consultant 2 weeks later. The baby's heartbeat was fine although they thought the baby a little small for the dates she had given.

She has just seen him amd he has told her she is leaking amniotic fluid. The baby seems to be developing fine but they have advised her to come back to be re-scanned in three weeks time because the fluid level measurement is critical at the 18/20 wk mark. They have told her that should it be too low she will have to terminate because the baby's lungs won't be able to develop sufficently for it to be able to breath when it is eventually born.

I feel so sorry for this girl, she doesn't know whether she is coming or going and if it goes badly she will also have to break the news to her five year old son which will be hard.

I tried to comfort her by saying they must be thinking positive to put her throufh another 3 weeks of uncertainty - has anyone had experience of this? I have never heard about it before.

I'm so sorry for your friend, what an awful thing to be going through. I'm sorry I have nothing helpful to add, just wanted to say that I'm thinking of her. I suppose, to be philosophical, what will be, will be. Thinking of you both.

I remember a girl at work having this same problem. It wasnt found until the 20w scan. She was also told that she would need to terminate but refused. She was offered another scan 2w later and was told to decide from there. I remember her being very stressed, none of us could do anything to comfort her.

She started acting strangly at work and would drink HUGE bottles of water through out the day. She told us that she was doing this as a last resort, hoping that it would re hydrate her body and give the baby more fluid .

When she went back for the 2nd scan she was told that the amount of fluid had increased, although it was still low. She was then scaned very quite often after that.

I dont know if drinking all that water helped but at least it made her feel better and like she was doing something. It may sound mad but it might worth a try for your friend too.

My collegue is now on mat leave and due to pop anytime now if she already hasnt, so cant ask her the ins and outs.

Hope that everything works out for your friend.

Natalie xx

Thanks Miss Natalie I will mention this to my friend God knows she'll try anything right now.

Good luck to your friend I hope the baby turns out just fine x

drinking a lot of water can help replenish low fluid

she needs to find out more about this and to get more info and a second opinion, especially as baby is developing fine except for being a little small

she needs to get as much knowledge about what is going on as she possibly can

how awful to have this hanging over her head