32 weeks. Polyhydramnios, big baby, testing for GD and poss PE. Experiences??

[GoT1904]

I'm hoping this comes out coherent, but we will see.

At my 20w scan baby DD was measuring on the 50th percentile.

I had a GTT test at 26w, the result was that I don't have diabetes.

28w growth scan showed mild polyhydramnios at 8.2 deepest pool (>8 is abnormal so almost normal). Also showed DD was weighing approx 3.3lbs, had jumped to 99th percentile.

30w growth scan showed fluid was 5.6 and within normal parameters, although it was a 'technically difficult' scan due to babies position. She had jumped to above 99th percentile and weighed approx 4.4lbs.

Today's scan (32w) showed fluid at 10.6, so confirmed polyhydramnios and baby had gone back down to 99th percentile and weighs approx 5.4lbs.

I know the consultants have to give you the worst case.. but it has left me feeling anxious.

• induction warranted between 38 & 40, due to accelerated growth and excess fluid. Wanting to negate risks of cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia and manage incase of post partum hemorrhage (I had PPH with my son 9lbs, but no water with him. Dr said that with my womb being so expanded it may struggle to contract as efficiently and I may bleed more and require transfusion).

I'm also being re-referred for GTT test and to check for some infections that can cause excess fluid.

Does anybody have experience of a big baby and/or polyhydramnios? How were your deliveries?

Secondly.. I have protein + in my urine and pitting edema up to my calves. So my urine has been sent for PCR and additional bloods taken to rule out pre-eclampsia (my mother had it with me so I'm higher risk), my BP is fine however. I usually have low BP and today it was 121/89. I'm to monitor my BP at home now.. I just thought high BP was a definite with P.E? I have previously understood that you needed protein and high BP to warrant that diagnosis. I have had episodes of high BP (151/99), but it's settled within a half hour and not stayed raised.

Any experience or advice much appreciated.

Hi Op

I didn't have excess fluid, the viruses or Gd in the end but didn't want to read and run

I had a similar experience - measured 8.2ml fluid at 32 weeks during my consultant referral for planned section (previous bad tear with first baby delivered vaginally) - redid gtt and had parvo test. All came back negative.

Midwife reassured me during parvo bloods that in 12 years she had only ever seen one positive case of it and that I'd most likely know if I'd had it in pregnancy as I'd have felt so so unwell but they test to be doubly sure.
If it's GD then you can be supported by the specialist midwives and either manage with diet or finger pricks. Not fun but you don't have long to go now and knowing is better than not.

Re. Delivery of a bigger baby - just gather the data and the options. If the prospect of "potentially...xyz" is too daunting - and that's both normal and ok to feel that way - then what delivery options would make you feel better?

I'd recommend writing down questions in your notes app ahead of the results / next appt with midwives or consultants as I personally found being given the info really overwhelming and it made me forget some of the things I wanted to ask.
I took DH with me and ran him through the questions the night before so he understood my thoughts / worries etc and could step in and ask if I went to pot!

From personal experience I’ve found the scans to be wildly inaccurate, and you also have a good 6-8 weeks for things to change before you’re due to deliver.
My advise would be to read research articles, NICE guidelines and trust policies and inform yourself to the max.

I had poly with 2 of my pregnancies but that was caused by problems with the babies (you would know now if your baby was the same so don't worry). I had sections with both and told to get into hospital asap when waters break. Do you know the position to get into to prevent cord prolapse? My DD was transverse with gallons of water but luckily put her bum in my cervix when the waters went so it didn't happen. It can be scary but just get all the info you can and be as prepared as possible. Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks for your reply. I do feel I've come away with a lot of questions. The doctor was very thorough but the sheer amount of information I was given has left me spinning. I always have DP with me, but I will definitely brief him and ask him to suppose me with my questions or worries if they go out of my head in my appointments, as they often do.

Thank you, I have read about how inaccurate the scans can be and I'm hoping that may be the case tbh. I know as long as she's healthy that's the main thing. I will look up trust policies, I've been reading the NICE guidelines etc.

Thank you for you reply. She hasn't briefed me on what to do if my waters go, but I expect that's because I'm still relatively early for that. I have read about it though and it honestly terrifies me.

This is DC #4. (Gap of 7y between pregnancies though and new partner) and I've never been high risk before. I couldn't sleep properly last night for fretting about cord prolapse or shoulder dystocia, even though I have weeks and weeks left and both things are relatively rare. I was just expecting another straightforward pregnancy I think.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat. I remember the fear of waters breaking and being so scared but luckily it was ok in the end.

I have my fingers crossed for you.

I had my baby last month and was diagnosed with polyhydramnios at 37 weeks. My deepest pool was 10.5cm. All my testing came back negative so no GD or infection etc.

Baby was measuring perfectly between 50 and 75th centile on 37 week scan then at 39 weeks had jumped past 75th and was estimated at 8lbs 11oz. Deepest pool was also over 11cm so they induced me 2 days later due to accelerated growth/fluid etc at 39+6. At 40 weeks exactly baby was born after a 4 hour labour and still in the amniotic sack so they didn't even rupture!!! Born weight 8lbs 14oz so the growth scan was pretty accurate.

There was so much fluid once it popped. Literally everywhere. As soon as his body was out the sack broke.

I remember being petrified because they told me about cord prolapse etc if they broke at home and that I couldn't go to the birth centre (still so sad about that) but midwife reassured me that if I felt anything drop into the birth canal if they broke to get on all 4s with head on the floor and arse up 😂

I had DD2 in August and had polyhydraminos plus she was measuring big, I was induced for those reasons at 39 weeks and also due to my age. Labour was straightforward in that it was quick, and she was 7lbs 9oz, so not the 9lbs plus that was projected. They broke my waters in theatre due to the risk of cord prolapse, I was offered an epidural before this, because If the cord did prolapse they would have had to do an emergency c section. Without an epidural, if cord prolapse occured they said I'd have to be put under general anaesthestic. I did risk it without the epidural, and thankfully didn't have prolapse. I was also really worried about shoulder dystocia as the doctors constantly mentioned it, the midwife sat down with me and said this can happen with smaller babies too, and if they feel the baby isn't coming down and labour just isn't progressing they'd assume in my case that size was a factor and move to c section.

Hi op,
I’m 37 + 4 weeks and have polyhydramious. My deepest pocket was 13.5cm a few weeks ago but at my most recent scan, it went down to 10.5cm, so still higher than the norm. The consultant recommended my induction be bought forward slightly and I’ve been booked in for when I’ll be just under 39 weeks.

I don’t have GD and my bp has been in safe range at every appointment. Urine fine too.

I’ve been having scans every 2 weeks to check babys growth - tbh they have been abit up and down, one week showed baby was measuring on the larger side, 2 weeks later, they said growth had slowed down, then at the next 3 scans, measurements are on the 50th percentile. The consultant did say she suspects the first 2 scans were incorrect and there can be discrepancies with growth scans. Dd was 8lbs ( but was born at 40+5) so I’m expecting quite a big baby anyway.

More importantly - baby is ok, kidney function normal, stomach, cord etc. and the excess fluid ‘is just one of those things’ according to the consultant. There’s often not a reason for it. I had it with my dd too, but fluid levels went back to normal when I was about 35 wks. I suspect it came back though , as when my waters broke, there was so much fluid, it wouldn’t stop. It was epic. I ended up being induced a day later as dd was showing no signs of wanting to come out!

I found out later, that sometimes because there is so much water, the babies head doesn’t engage properly and push on the cervix, so you may need a helping hand.
There are increased risks, which you have mentioned but these are still quite rare.

I didn’t really want another induction but I feel it’s the safest route for baby and I feel more reassured by the extra scans and care we will receive.