polyhydramnios worries

[AuntieJay]

Hi all,
First time poster but long-time lurker here and looking for a bit of reassurance.
I had my anomaly scan at dead on 21 weeks yesterday and was told baby is big (85th centile but symmetrical) and I have mild polyhydramnios (largest pool measures 8.6cm).
I’m booked in for gestational diabetes test next week and a follow up scan in two weeks’ time but I’ve got myself focused on the risks of early labour which is terrifying me.
Has anyone else dealt with this and can offer advice or reassurance? I’m naturally quite anxious so I know getting into a google hole doesn’t help but have become a bit fixated.
Thanks!

I was diagnosed with mild polyhydramnios later (38 weeks) so not so similar but fwiw for me they didn't seem very concerned.

Sent me off for a totally pointless GTT (clear) and it eventually was the trigger for me to be induced at 39+1, which I was fine with. Everything was completely perfect with bb.

Thanks so much! Glad all was good with baby!

I was also diagnosed later (around 32 weeks I think?) and they weren’t bothered. Was scheduled for induction at 38+5 because of it and she was big (9lbs 7oz) but other than that she was fine 🥰

I was diagnosed with polyhydramnios at 31 weeks, deepest pool was 9.8, which went up to 11 on follow up scan. Was referred to consultant lead care, who didn’t seem too worried. GGT was also clear. Had a C-section at 39 weeks as baby was breech. Your deepest pool measurement is just over the threshold for my trust, try not to worry too much, easier said than done! Good luck!

I had PH with my second. When I read about it, I am sure I came across people saying that the extra fluid can make baby look larger than they are, and a quick google seems to confirm this, so I honestly wouldn’t be too concerned. I was told my second was on track to be a big baby and he was smaller than my first!

I had some extra monitoring which I was grateful for and I was induced on my due date, though this was more for my concern over reduced movement.

I was actually told in a follow up scan that my PH had corrected itself, but it was a big group of students interpreting the scan. I can categorically tell you they were wrong, as during my induction they broke my waters and it was absolutely bloody unbelievable how much water came out of me, I don’t think the midwife had seen anything like it! So um, just prepare yourself for that 😁

Oh sorry just to reassure you, baby was absolutely fine, as was I. I would err on the side of caution with a PH baby, my biggest concern was the additional movement space PH can give babies.

and sorry to spam your thread, but mine was much more than yours, I remember deepest pocket being 14 or 15cm and being sent straight from my routine scan to a consultant scan across the hospital. Yours does not sound as severe but it’s always good to just keep an eye on!

I was diagnosed with polyhydramnious at 34 weeks. The midwife at a routine appointment had measured me as being 43 weeks so I was sent for a scan and that's when it was diagnosed. I had all the tests for glucose, diabetes etc (can't remember all the tests/details as it was 13 years ago). All came back negative. At 35 weeks I had the steroid injection for baby's lungs. It wasn't too bad but I was very red the next day.

At 36 weeks I was admitted for hospital bedrest as I was so HUGE - the midwife said it looked like I was carrying a twin pregnancy. I could hardly walk and all movement was a challenge. I didn't want to be away from my other children but I was glad I'd been admitted as when I had been told the risks associated with PH I was scared.

Google is NOT your friend right now - it's good for basic info & being prepared but it's also awash with horror stories that you just don't how reliable they are. You'll be monitored closely from now on, which is reassuring.

I was scheduled for a CS at 38 weeks, but I was struggling so much they brought it forward to 37 weeks - they wouldn't do it any earlier as then the baby would be classed as premature.

DD was 7lb 5oz when born, I do remember seeing a poor member of staff absolutely soaked with amniotic fluid in the operating theatre! They take baby away for tests straight away (I had been warned about this beforehand) I think they test the throat/swallowing/stomach? To see if baby has normal physical functions. No cause of PH was ever found, it was just 'one of those things'.

Good luck with everything, just rest as much as you can, let everybody else do everything for you! Talk to your midwife/consultant about any worries or questions you have, they'll be able to reassure you.

I had PH, and we were pretty sure of the cause. Bit of a different situation as was not glucose related, and baby was measuring small and given what we expected, an early delivery was not in baby’s/surgeons best interest as the bigger and more developed they are the better the candidacy for surgery and then subsequent outcomes. So the aim for me was to get as close as I possible could to term. I was HUGE and if one more person (who didn’t know) asked if I was carrying twins and was overdue I would have smashed them in the face. I was assessed 3 times a week as it was presumed I’d need drainage but in a fascinating twist turns out I have the stretchiest uterus anyone had ever come across including ob’s who had been practicing for 40 odd years.

When baby was born every medical professional anywhere in the vicinity was physically drenched and 3 of them ‘lost’ their shoes, non salvageable after being completely soaked (and I mean soaked) with fluid.

The result of my miraculous stretchy uterus was that it never went back to what it should have been post partum so I spent the rest of my childbearing years with people asking me when I was due🤣🤣🤣, but was a small price to pay. That could only be fixed by a hysterectomy and who could be bothered . Now at my age people just think it’s another part of my fat as what previously looked like a pregnancy bump now looks like the middle of the Michelin man🤣🤣.

Both my babies had polyhydramnios. 2 very healthy happy babies. It’s nothing to fear, just roll with the advice,

Thanks all, it's so reassuring to hear everyone's stories and glad you're all doing well! I'm a twin and was convinced I was having twins too because I was big early on but just the one apparently!

Mine was just like that, half the mums at school had bets on him being undiagnosed twins. I was measuring 52 weeks at my 34 week midwife appointment and I was so uncomfortable. My waters broke at 35 weeks and I shrank down to measuring 39 weeks. I was begging the Drs to get him out quick because I was gushing fluid constantly and it was so much I had to wear a nappy. They still sucked loads of fluid out during my c-section and the baby was only 7lb 2oz. Out of my 5 dc he was my smallest baby but my biggest bump!

I was diagnosed at 38 weeks when I was cut for a c section and flooded the theatre.

Please keep an eye on your baby's movements. If they increase or lessen then go and get checked out. Please.

I was diagnosed at 28 weeks. I was quite worried about it at the time but if I was diagnosed again I wouldn't think twice about it. I had to go to hospital several times for reduced movement, I think because the fluid stopped me feeling it so much (that and an anterior placenta). I had a GD test at about 32 weeks and it was positive so I had to monitor my diet but that was all. Was induced at 39 weeks as he was measuring big, but when finally born via EMCS at 39+5 he was only 7lb 8oz!! Healthy and happy baby.

Thanks so much for all sharing, it's really reassuring! Just been winding myself up so much about baby coming immediately or something when it's so early but I've had treatment for anxiety before so I know it's that. Got my diabetes test on Weds too. Thanks again 😊