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!

How is everyone getting on? I’m still awaiting blood test results for possible infection which is apparently standard procedure for a diagnoses of polyhydramnios. Been waiting for them for a week so I’m getting anxious now 😩

Also decided I want to go for a c section rather than induction having done a bit more research. So trying to organise that at present as well!

I had it. My waters popped like they do in films so don't go out to Sainsbury's unless you want a layette from Tu!!!!

And yes, I had a strep b infection

@DontBeADodo I’m doing my best to stay at home as much as possible - only really leaving the house to go drop DS off at nursery which is a 30 sec drive from the house!
Can I ask if baby was ok when they arrived in your case? I’m just so worried

@bear1991Just stumbled across your post! I had growth scans throughout pregnancy as was under consultant led care due to fertility treatment. In the latter scans, extra fluid was picked up for me too and they were heavily pushing for me to be induced. I decided on an elective c section at 39+5. It was wonderfully calm, I recovered quickly and my LO was absolutely fine. I too did a lot of googling and worried about it all but there was nothing to worry about at all in the end.
Wishing you lots of luck!

I had severe polyhydramnios with my now 8 year-old. I was huge and he was only 7lb 2oz in the end. I was measuring 10 weeks ahead at one point. In my case it was because he had a cleft palate so couldn't swallow properly.

@sittingwaitingwishing thank you, that’s so reassuring to read. So glad you had a positive experience with an elective c section - I had a natural birth with my first so this is all new territory for me!

@elliejjtiny thank you for sharing your experience, I hope your little one is ok now?

Hi @bear1991
Hope you're doing ok? Have you spoken with midwife/consultant about having a c-section?
I'm 33+1 today and had a scan to check fluid and blood flow through cord. Fluid is still mildly increased but hasn't increased since last week so they don't seem to worried?
I still haven't been given a great deal of info and they didn't measure baby today. I have another scan next week and then first consultant appointment so I am hoping I will learn more then and be able to figure out my options.

To be honest just the fact he may be big and mainly worrying about shoulder dystocia is making me lean towards asking for a section but I will wait till I have all information before deciding!

@bama4 I’m still waiting to hear from my consultant! I’ve texted my midwife today but haven’t heard anything back, getting a bit concerned as I’m 38w today and I don’t know if I can request a c section if I go into labour naturally?! Will call the antenatel clinic tomorrow if I haven’t heard anything!

Glad the scan went well, my baby is measuring ok on the scans but I’m more worried about her flipping around during labour which apparently is more common with polyhydramnios and would require an emergency c section - would rather it was as controlled as possible!

@bear1991 yes I can understand your concern, I'm worried and 5 weeks behind you so they should definitely be letting you get a plan in place ASAP! I think if you get booked for a section then go into labour first as long as it isn't super quick you still get your section....but it would be better to get it scheduled so you know what's happening!
Hopefully you get further tomorrow! If not I would suggest calling labour ward triage to see if they can help

@bear1991 I'm still waiting for anything to happen labour-wise. If you're wanting an ELCS I can't imagine them refusing it as they were really keen to try and book mine in. I'm trying hard to stand my ground on what I want this time as my first birth was awful due to me being too easygoing about it all, so I hope you can get your ELCS organised. I think it varies from area to area but I was told if I had an ELCS booked and went into labour they would go straight to section unless the baby was imminent (but this is in Ireland). Good luck!

Hello, can I join in please?! I'm 33+3 today, had a growth scan last wed as DS, now 3, was huge at birth and been told I've got polyhydramnios, the baby is breech and currently just over the 97th centile. So a bit worried tbh!

I've got another scan at 36 weeks which will decide things for delivery, but I can't help but worry. The sonographer and midwife we saw straight after were very, very brisk as it was late evening so I didn't get much of a treatment plan was,other than just wait for the next scan.

I didn't even catch many of the figures, other than my waters are measuring at 32, which from googling is the high end of moderate polyhydramnios. I've got a routine midwife appointment tomorrow morning so hopefully i can get a bit more information then.

Hi all
I'm 32 +4 weeks
And got my gd test tomorrow
I have heard horrid stories about the drink tasting vile
Any advice?

The drink is fine, its just very sweet, ask for water to help wash it down after

Had a text from my midwife this morning saying she’s going to call me this afternoon, fingers crossed I can get a c section date booked in today for next week! 🤞🏼

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee sorry to hear you’ve been diagnosed with it too 😣 let us know how the midwife appointment goes today.

@tashx the drink just tastes very very sweet, it’s not awful but it doesn’t taste great. The worst past is the fasting and the waiting! Hope it goes well.

My stomach rumbles so much in the morning lately don't know how I'm going to cope without food for my GTT in 2 weeks! I have a bad feeling the 2 hour wait in the waiting room will be longer too... I can see them just thinking next midwife free after the 2 hours can call me for bloods and waiting for someone to be free is never a quick wait! I waited for an hour and 45 mins in a waiting room between my 12 week scan and the screening bloods 😔 let us know how it goes @tashx

@2020mission in my hospital they let me come home for the 2 hour wait (although we are only a few mins away) but she also gave me the option to wait in the car - might be worth asking when you go in!

Thankyou
@bear1991 and @2020mission

I had this but not diagnosed.

Keep an eye on movements. If baby moves less go get checked. If baby moves more in a frantic way go get checked.

We were lucky and it was only by complete chance my baby survived. Certainly not due to care

Hi all,

I’m now 37+1 but was diagnosed with this last week at 36+1. I had actually seen my midwife a few weeks before and she wanted to refer me for a scan as the baby was difficult to palpate. She said she’d make the referral that day (at 33 weeks) and if they wanted to scan me, I’d get a call. I didn’t, so I assumed they were ok with it, but it turns out she forgot to refer me.

Anyway, post-diagnosis I had a call with a consultant who told me to take this week to think about c-section v induction. I have the follow-up appointment tomorrow to confirm the decision and get a date in place for this.

Been checked for GD and it’s negative, baby’s fine too so it’s not clear what’s caused this to happen.

Reading all of your posts about acid reflux, breathlessness, fatigue…it’s all so familiar. I can’t eat in the evenings due to bloat, sleeping is virtually impossible.

The baby is estimated to weigh 7lbs 4oz so I can only imagine how much fluid I’m holding. Keen to get this LO out at the earliest opportunity!

Have any of you felt very uncomfortable lying down? Not in the tummy area but in your head. The only way I can describe it, is if you were to lay on a bed or couch and dangled your head off of the side. You know that blood-rushing feeling that increases the pressure in your head after a few seconds? I get that when lying flat. I’m pretty sure it’s related to this extra fluid.

Also in my case baby was expected to be 9-10lb. He wasn't even 7lb.

So, that was an unexpected morning visit to Triage! Raised blood pressure, but was fine by the time I got to the triage clinic.

Baby is measuring above the 97th centile which means they will offer induction between 39 and 40 weeks. But if baby is still breech, I might be offered a ECV to turn the baby, it depends on a few things like placenta location, fluid levels, and if that doesn't work then it would be a CS then.

Its a lot to take in tbh and it all hinges on the scan in a few weeks, but I feel better knowing what the path way will be for the different outcomes. I might end up with a 2021 baby yet!

Hi all,

Joining this chat as I'm in the same situation!

I was diagnosed with Polyhydramnios at 34 weeks after being sent for a growth scan when my measurements shot up, fluid had gone down at next scan at 35 weeks. They had me back 3 weeks later at 38+2 (yesterday) and fluid levels are back up. I was tested for GD at 34 weeks and blood sugars were fine, but they have asked me to test again for another 3 days.

I've been booked in for a balloon induction next week at 39+5 as they don't want me to go over 40 weeks. Has anyone had a balloon induction as a result of Polyhydramnios? I hadn't even heard of balloon inductions until yesterday 😳

I asked if I could have a sweep 1st and the consultant initially said yes at 39 weeks. Then part way through the appointment he changed his mind and said don't get a sweep, the cord may drop (I realise now he means cord prolapse) you don't want your waters to break not in hospital (followed by 'but if they do break don't worry'!) so I came away very confused.

On googling it a lot last night, baby's head is engaged and has been for weeks now, so I think I'm pretty low risk of a cord prolapse? So I'm really unsure if I should ask the midwife for a sweep at my appointment next Tuesday or not which is 4 days before my induction is booked in. Has anyone had a sweep with Polyhydramnios?

@bear1991 thanks for starting this thread, and I hope you managed to get a date booked in yesterday? 🤞

Hi @bear1991 just came to give you another positive story. I had severe polyhydramnios with one of my twins last year. Deepest pool was 16.8cm. I was convinced there was a problem! He is now 18 months old and totally healthy. I was told to stay at home/ not do anything active due to the risk of cord prolapse. I ended up in hospital at 36+3 (first day of mat leave) with pre eclampsia and c section at 36+6.

Our 2nd had very high fluid levels. They refused to break my waters when I was 5cm (40+4) due to concerns of cord prolapse (I was 1cm at 39+6 so was quite fed up at this point). I was admitted to ward and couldn't sleep because of contractions, a lot of nagging and they broke waters the next evening. He was born 2hr 19mins after waters were broken with just 14mins unassisted pushing. No GD, I was tested twice in that pregnancy. He was 10lb 12oz, they put the high fluid levels down to his size. Our 3rd was also big with extra fluid, super easy birth 2 days labour just a few pushes to get her out 11mins after waters broken (9lb 10oz). The larger of our twins (8lb 5oz & 8lb 11oz) had high fluid and our recent singleton did too (10lb 15oz), had c-sections with them. Had GTT with all and well within normal ranges. All of ours that had high fluid levels have the same blood group as their dad, the other 2 that didn't have it have the same group as me. Think may be a genetic link there for the condition but who knows.