Amniotic fluid

[Summersunx]

Hi ladies basically I had 4d scan done today. Baby all ok and measuring right at scan and measures right at all my midwife appoin too. The only thing that concerned me and I can't stop googling is sonographer said AF was 5.1cm she said that was fine and she said all is fine. Shpuld I be worried that I'm 5.1cm at 32.3 days pregnant.

Hi @Summersunx I don't want to worry you, however I think you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. I will tell you my story to give some perspective. When I had a growth scan with my daughter just past 38 weeks my fluid had dropped from above average percentiles to a level where I was diagnosed with Oligohydramnios and I was referred to another hospital to be induced straight away. Looking at my growth scan curves (which could differ to yours as I believe they are individual to everyone), that level of reading in cm would have you in low percentiles similar to what I was. Did you go for the scan at one of these private places which just do baby scans? If so and you haven't spoke to a midwife or doctor about this then I would ring your local service first thing in the morning (or even now), explain to them and ask them to check if you have Oligo. They may well book you in for a growth scan straight away to check and give you advice from there. Please let me know how you get on! Best of luck and well wishes x

Hi Zeeha thanks for the reply. Yea I had a 4d scan and I just wanted to check allow as well as its my first pregnancy and had the last scan being the 20 weeks one. The sonographer was happy with what she saw but when I left and read the report I thought hmmm 5.01cm of AF seems low and although it's in range I still think is time to be concerned as its literally .1 cm over the lowest range. Il attatch the report on here if I can and when I've had midwife apps she has been happy with his growth says it's on point for what I should be at so not overweight or underwwight. I also feel baby hiccup a lot like 3 times a day so I know his drinking the fluid. Sorry to hear you had low amniotic fluid, how did you get on, was baby born ok and did you have any signs of amniotic leaking etc. I will definalty ring my midwife in morning x

These are the growth reports from the scan

Was that an average measurement? I remember at my growth scans they'd measure 4 areas and look at the deepest or shallowest pool and then have an average measurement, for me I had too much fluid and my deepest pool was over 30cm from memory. I'd call your midwife for peace of mind and they'll probably refer you for a scan to check the levels

I'm not sure she didn't say I just read the report and saw this. I have emailed them to verify of this was amniotic fluid index or wether it was a deepest pool of amniotic. Hope all is well with your pregnancy

@Summersunx you're welcome. I do recall having an average took too. I'm not sure from your report if that is an average value for AF or just one reading. Do you have a chart for AF? I had one from the NHS and it's not like the other growth charts, where it's not as smooth and it reduces near the end of the pregnancy.

Will you ring your local hospital today? I think as your 6 weeks behind where I was they'll likely want to rescan you so they can check your levels and then if they find them to be low I suspected they'll wish to closely monitor the baby to ensure they're not reacting to it, as I think they'll want to keep them in there as long as safely possible.

Yes thank you. She's a lovely, healthy one year old now, but it did make for an interesting labour! I went to the hospital where I'd planned to give birth and they then did checks on me. I was placed on the induction list and they deemed me safe enough to be started through balloon catheter. There was a waiting list but I was near the top due to it being for medical reasons. I had to attend each day for monitoring, however within a couple of days the catheter was fitted. The balloon fell out later that same evening and I went in the next day to be checked. When they examined me the sweeping motion seemed to bring on my contractions and I went into labour on the way home. Later that night I went back to the hospital and was admitted. It was sadly a long and painful labour where they were worried the fluid remaining was developing an infection which I believe is linked to the Oligo. I think they suspected this as I started to get a temperature and from monitoring baby's heart tracing. After a couple of days I progressed in hospital to 9cm but she started to turn her head so stopped putting pressure on my cervix, then she was getting distressed so I had to have an emergency c section. Both baby and I had to have IV antibiotics due to the infection risk and she was slightly jaundice at first. Other than this all was well, but it was a scary experience to go through and the c section had complications due to her positioning. She did have to go off with my husband to neonatal for about three hours before I could see her x

Im not sure I have emailed the scanning place to ask what kind or measurement this one. No i havnt got a chart of the nhs for the amnitoic fluid levels I've had a check through my notes from previous scans and can't find a range for the amnitoic fluid. I'm really anxious as it is with this pregnancy being my first and I do worry anyhow but I think when you get to the third trimester your nerves and excitement all kick in and you want baby out so you know there safe and sound. I'm glad your little one is healthy and well so nice to read although you did have a bit of a time of it and having to have antibiotics and a c section gosh. Was you actually leaking amniotic fluid or was your amniotic fluid just really low? x

I know this is the image she done of the AF I don't know If looking at it if it is a measurement of a single deepest pool of amnitoic fluid.

I'm sorry I can't really tell. I thought I felt a bit wet but they checked and I wasn't leaking at all. They had to burst my waters for me at 5cm to help the labour progress. They've never been able to explain where the fluid went or what happened and it was so strange as beforehand my levels were above average so they literally dropped out of nowhere. If I was you I would ring your local maternity service and ask to speak to a nurse as a minimum to explain what's happened. I'm not sure what services you have, but I can ring a local hospital and speak to a nurse or midwife without waiting for a call back no matter the time of day. Hopefully they'll be able to give you some reassurance and let you know of any next steps (if any). I do suspect they may want to recheck themselves by scanning you as to have confidence in the results, so they may book this in for you over the phone. Hope all goes well for the remainder of your pregnancy and you have a safe delivery! X

Thankyou so much you have been great help! I will keep you updated on how I get on x

The scanning place replied and said it was a deep pocket measurement of amnitoic fluid so I think this is correct if between 2cm.and 8cm. I will still ring my midwife to check x