Excess fluid- link with mother’s height and body type?

[katpw]

Hello,

I’m waiting for a follow up scan with the NHS after excess fluid was spotted at a private scan at 27 weeks.

I’m sure I read it somewhere about pregnant women who are taller or have long bodies are more likely to carry more fluid. Has anyone been told this by a medical professional???

I’m 5ft8 and have a long body and shorter legs.. hoping this could be a reason for it.

Thank you!

I'm 5ft and carried so much extra fluid with DD2 😬 the pressure in my ribs was something I can't forget.
Mine was linked the Gestational Diabetes. Even though I didn't have it with DD2, because I had GD with DD1 the midwives said it could still have been that which caused it 😊
I've never heard the whole body type thing causing it.
You may just have a few extra scans/ consultant appointments to keep an eye 😊

@GAW19 thank you. I was tested for GD a few weeks ago as my sister had it in pregnancy but I came back clear so I’m now worrying about the cause as Dr Google is scary!

I had excess fluid which was picked up at the 20wk scan on my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. It wasnt really high but enough to get some follow up scans. I'm 5ft 7 and I would say have quite a long body but no one mentioned that could be a factor. It had reduced a bit by scans at 32wks. They never found an explanation for it. Hope this helps.

@Tree543 thanks. I was told my deepest pool is 8.3cm- not sure if that’s severe or not. I’m sure I read about the height/long body thing online but maybe I dreamt about it.. 😰

I had it with DS2. I'm 5'5" with short legs and a long body.

I was huge. DS was basically swimming around, and ended up.being a transverse lie. He was fine though.

@EmmaGrundyForPM thanks! Did they know the cause?

I'm not sure about the link with womens height but there are many women where they don't find a cause for the excess fluid. 8cm is usually the cut off for 'normal' fluid volume (it varies by NHS trust) so 8.3cm is mild and may resolve itself as you get further into pregnancy. Fingers crossed all goes well for you, and the levels settle. I'm 40 weeks with 2nd baby and had all of this in this pregnancy at the same sort of gestation but it has gone under 8cm and they think it was how baby was lying! Good luck x

@Nursemumma92 thank you that’s really appreciated. Good luck to you too ☺️😊

I had this and I'm 5 ft 3 so not sure about that link.. I was worried but everything was fine. Just a lot of water when they broke (twice!!!)

Good luck!

And yes no idea of cause with mine, no GD or anything I just had a bloody massive bump!

This is interesting! I have exactly the same build as you, but wasn't measuring huge. They thought DD was going to be a whopper baby (turned out was 75th centile) with my measurements, but we're surprised by the amount of fluid when my waters broke.

@GreenTeaTuesdays thanks! It’s really worrying- sounds like it’s a bit of an old wives tale re height!

@SunsetGirl thank you- it’s good to hear people’s experiences 😊

I know nothing about it scientifically, definitely not a Doctor! But personally I am small and had tonnes. As a diabetic they monitored my hugely, always concerned that babies big. They weren't, both times just 7lb. Both times my water broke with a gush just as I arrived at hospital. Both times midwife said it was a large/reasonable amount.

I wonder what makes some women have more amniotic fluid than others. Or rather hush more. I know not the medical reason. Apparently 600ml of amniotic fluid is quite normal. That's about a pint. A reasonable amount. You would think it was more, to surround a baby I guess.

Interesting!

I'm 5' 8" with small legs and a long body and i had to have a number of extra scans due to them thinking I had too much fluid at the later stages of pregnancy. I didn't have GD.

When they popped my waters the Midwife was shocked at how much there were and 13 hours later the CS team were still mopping them up in the theatre!