Polyhydramnios (extra fluid) - 37 weeks?

[bear1991]

Hi all! I went for a presentation scan today at 37w as they were concerned baby was lying breech (turns out she’s not!) but on the scan they picked up that I’ve got a lot of extra fluid - on the high side, not just borderline. I’ve seen the consultant but between that and good old Google I’m now absolutely terrified of cord prolapse, potential issues with baby at birth as well as how labour is going to go. I’ve been booked in for an induction at 39+3. GD test came back normal earlier on in pregnancy and today. Any positive stories would be welcome for this anxious mumma!

Hello! I had this detected much earlier in pregnancy so ended up having about a million scans! Despite having the fear of God put into me about it, the impact of my polyhydramnios was...absolutely nothing. Waters broke while I was bouncing on a birthing ball in the hospital waiting to be induced at 41+3. Had my baby in my arms after about 3 hours with no intervention, the placenta flew straight outta me after the baby. Didn't even see a doctor, barely saw a midwife until the end! Baby had a 10 Apgar score for everything. Its good they keep an eye on these things but positive birth story right here!

That’s so good to hear, thank you! I know they have to err on the side of caution with these things but I just really wasn’t expecting it, plus my first pregnancy and labour with my son was very straightforward so I feel like the rugs been pulled from my feet a little! Glad to hear it all went well for you

@bear1991 I'm feeling worried too I went for a growth scan at 32 weeks (last week) due to measuring a little off at my midwife appointment and they told me I have polyhydramnios too. They have booked me for another appointment in 3 weeks and said they will test for gestational diabetes soon too. I googled and worried myself with the possible issues with baby or what can go wrong like the placenta detaching or cord prolapse too 🙁 did they say how much above the normal range your fluid was? I'm about 9cm and they said 2-8cm is the normal range. Just worried it's going to increase as the weeks go on!

My sister had it with both pregnancies and although uncomfortable for her, there were no major complications and she has two beautiful healthy babies. The main difference was lots of scans.

Hello I had extra fluids in the end they found I have GD but the baby been completely fine I give birth after induction only with gas it last 2 hours after they brake my water

I had this - my bump was measuring off the scale. The main difference for me was because there was so much extra fluid my baby was having a great time swimming around but I couldn't feel much of those movements. I gave birth at 37 weeks and the last week of pregnancy spent a while strapped up to monitors just checking how she was doing - she was born with no problems at all. When my waters did go it was pretty epic!

I had this but with the added complication that ds was a transverse lie. I was admitted to hospital at 37 weeks because of that and spent 2 weeks there as if my waters had broken there would only be a few minutes in which to get ds out. I had a c section at 39 weeks. Ds was fine.

I think if your baby is head down and engaged the risk of cord prolapse is very low. In my case DS was floating across me, face down, so risk of cord prolapse was really high, plus there was no way he could be born naturally. Hence needing to be an in patient. Had he turned and engaged, it would have been fine but he was having far too. much fun swimming around.

Ah ladies thank you, I’ve had a sleepless night worrying about it and your replies have made me feel so much better!

@2020mission I’m sorry to hear you’ve been diagnosed with it too. They mentioned 12cm to me which seems a lot, I haven’t really googled much about the different fluid ranges as I don’t want to freak myself out! Sending a hand hold, it’s good they’ve found out early so you can have extra scans etc.

Just bumping in case anyone else has any positive stories they can share. Still feeling horribly worried and anxious about the whole thing

Thanks @bear1991 I think I was only 1cm above the normal range probably because I was only at 32 weeks I'm expecting it to increase as the weeks go on. My belly does seem to be constantly rock hard... is yours the same? I can feel him moving around still though. Everything I've been reading on threads online, the vast majority of ladies seem to have had a baby healthy baby and it was mostly just a bigger baby, excess fluid and lead to C sections or more restrictions with birth. Hopefully we will be fine!

@2020mission it’s so hard not to Google isn’t it. Doing my best not too! Had another little wobble this afternoon. I looked up online and 12cm seems only just into the moderate range - I think 8-11cm is classed as mild.

My belly isn’t often rock hard but I have been having a lot of Braxton Hicks and with those it goes rock hard! Have they talked about options for your birth plan yet? The more I think about it, the more I think I might push for an elective c-section as I’m worried about the risks that come with labour.

@bear1991 I think I'll be leaning towards a C section too if it continues through the coming weeks! They haven't mentioned anything about my birth plan yet. I think they are just focusing on ruling out diabetes first so I've got the glucose tolerance test coming. My husband is diabetic and is sure I don't have it but I think it's possible to have it without symptoms? I am worried baby is struggling to swallow fluid or pass urine easily but he does get hiccups fairly often so he must be taking in some fluid 😕

I've had severe polyhydramnios with this pregnancy and am now 39 weeks. At 28-37 weeks I measured 35 cm consistently and my deepest pool was 11cm. No GD. No reason for it. Doctors all worrying about all sorts, but I've just had my 39 week check today, and the fluid has gone down to 25cm so it can reduce again!
The main danger they worry about with polyhydrarmnios is cord prolapse.

In the last few weeks, I did some research via Google Scholar (for published academic papers on scientific studies written by doctors rather than general articles) and found out that the risk of cord prolapse isn't from the polyhydramnios but from if you end up with unstable fetal lie (from the baby not being head down because there's so much fluid) or if the baby is low birth weight, e.g. if you go into labour before 37 weeks, so if you've made it to week 37 that already isn't on your list of complications. 60% of cord prolapses happen due to ARM (artificial breaking of waters as part of an induction) when baby's head isn't engaged enough.

If the baby's head is straight down (doesn't matter if back to back or not) and engaged properly when you labour, there's no room for the cord to prolapse because the baby's head will press on the cervix and the cord can't get trapped. Another risk factor for cord prolapse is badly positioned placenta (the placenta's position could be written in your notes from your 20 week scan? IDK if you get given that in England).

I couldn't feel my baby move much for most of this pregnancy but about two weeks ago, I bought an exercise ball and did exercises a few mins a day to get the baby to engage and stay head down and today I found she has engaged past my pelvis, so although I still have mild polyhydramnios, I'm now cleared for a VBAC and they're going to let me go over my dates if necessary (they spent about 10 weeks trying to pressure me into repeat early CS which I didn't want).

Good luck and I hope yours goes down too!

Sorry just realised I assumed you were in England! :O

@PeekabooAtTheZoo thank you, that information is super helpful. I can’t make up my mind at the moment between induction or an elective c section so it’s definitely something I need to consider over the next couple of days. I’ve got an anterior placenta but it’s high up so they haven’t got any concerns there.

Brilliant news that you’ll get your VBAC, you’ll have to come back and let us know when little one has arrived!

I’m in England so all relevant info!

@2020mission it is possible to have GD with no symptoms - I’m sure you haven’t got it but it’s better to get checked! I was tested at about 28 weeks ish as I’ve had reoccurring thrush throughout this pregnancy which can be a symptom. It came back negative but they did do a finger prick test on Tuesday when they discovered the extra fluid which also came back fine. When’s your test? Hope yours comes back fine too! 🤞🏼

I had it with last pregnancy. Caused endless Braxton Hicks to the point I begged to be induced.

Midwife broke my waters and put this little puppy pad down. I asked if that would.be enough and she said it should be. She broke my waters and they just kept coming, went up my back and waterfalled off the sides of the bed. She had to ask me to stop laughing as it made it worse.

So take a spare nightie if you're wearing one.

Birth was fine, he was physically healthy. No GD or anything. Just one of those things.

@gamerchick the Braxton Hicks are unreal! Glad to hear your son was born healthy and I’ve heard that when they break your waters they go with a real gush! Will be taking a spare nightie 😂

I have just been told I have this earlier this week too so no positive story from me yet but it's comforting when others are experiencing similar. Mine is only mild currently but baby's head is 99th percentile and abdominal circumference is off the chart it's currently measuring that big!

They are suspecting and treating me for GD as I have had 3 high readings since Monday although all others have been fine. I now need to wait to see a diabetes nurse as well as another scan and consultant appointment in a couple of weeks.

I am so scared and I think it's mainly the not knowing....I haven't been given much information yet and have scared myself more by googling (I know I shouldn't!) - hopefully all will be well but I am wondering if I am likely to end up with a section.

How are you feeling today? @bear1991

[quote bear1991]@gamerchick the Braxton Hicks are unreal! Glad to hear your son was born healthy and I’ve heard that when they break your waters they go with a real gush! Will be taking a spare nightie 😂[/quote]
The relief when all that water is gone is something you'll remember for ages. Mega uncomfortable experience being pregnant with all that inside of you as well as a baby.

@bear1991 just got my glucose tolerance test appointment through yesterday and it's been booked for the 2nd December, I'll be 36 weeks that day! Seems a bit late to be testing me? A little worried I'm waiting for weeks possibly with diabetes and not doing anything about it 😬 my belly still feels rock hard all the time and I think I do look big for 33 weeks.

Sorry to hear you've got it too @bama4 how far along are you?

I had it but wasn't diagnosed until my elective csection for a transverse lie. I had estimated 1.5 litres of fluid so that was why baby never got in the right position as he was floating about like a wee fish. I had awful breathlessness, and acid reflux in pregnancy and it took a bit of time after he was delivered to get my uterus to contract as he was quite big (9lb) and all that water made it very stretched so I did lose 1.5 litres of blood. I had oxytocin drip and lots of massage and got it sorted. But baby is absolutely perfect. They checked his swallow at birth as that can be a reason for polyhydraminos, but otherwise nothing. All the best, it's a fairly common pregnancy complication. They'll just keep an extra eye on you.

@2020mission that does seem late to be leaving it! I am 32+4 and my scan which noted the excess fluid was on Tuesday when I was 32+1 and they wanted to do my glucose test within a week! I refused it as last pregnancy I failed it twice due to it making me vomit so couldn't complete the 2 hour wait! So on the same day they gave me the home testing kit.

I then had 3 high readings so am now presumed to have GD, a dietician called me today to chat through foods to avoid/cut down and I have a diabetes consultation on Monday....so all moving fairly quick for me!

If I were you I would call them and ask if you can be seen sooner for the test!

@2020mission also with you on the rock hard belly and feeling huge! My belly measurements haven't been big when measured by the midwife every 3 weeks but I feel massive and especially in the evenings just feel ready to burst! Don't know how I'm going to get through another however many weeks with him growing bigger

@bama4 sorry to hear you’ve been diagnosed too! Such a worry how many weeks are you?

@2020mission 36 weeks does seem quite late to do the GTT but I suppose it’s better they know! Can you call up and see if you can push it forward a bit?

@HalloHello I’ve been getting a bit of acid reflux too but it’s so hard to know if it’s just normal pregnancy symptoms or due to this condition. Thank you for sharing your experience, I’m glad baby was ok!