Have just been diagnosed with excess amniotic fluid at 38 weeks - any advice/reassurance gratefully received!!

[pansyrose]

Have had a scan due to my bump size being excessive. It has always been on the outer scale of large and finally (after badgering) they agreed to a scan as the worry was that the baby was enormous.

The baby is averagely to big, not at all enormous, however they have identified that I have excess anmiotic fluid (polyhydramnios) which is why my bump is huge.

I have done the usual stupid thing to do - Googled and frightened myself to death with all the possibilities. I am only reassured by the fact that all scans and other tests have come back completely clear and the baby appears to be extremely healthy. They never tested me for diabetes as apparently I don't fall into a diabetes risk category but I haven't had any other symptoms of diabetes so hope that's not it. Too late now to do anything about it anyway if it is/was diabetes.

Has anyone else had this excess fluid thing and how did it turn out (only good stories please, I am soooo worried.

TIA.

I was tested for diabetes which was negative. They did tell me it was PH, I think I probably had excess fluid with ds as well but only as they commented in theatre that they hadn't seen so much fluid for a long time.

I can't remember them doing any more tests or even scans of my dd's stomach and other organs.

They didn't use an ng tube when she was born and no other checks. The one thing I do remember is that she was quite 'puffy' for a few days and didn't open her eyes properly until about day 3. No-one was concerned about this.

They never suggested a cause, I know it can indicate problems (was blissfully unaware of this at the time though)but my consultant said that mostly, cases of PH had no particular cause.

I had this diagnosed at 37 weeks and was admitted as baby was transverse. Spent 2 weeks on ante natal awaiting a CS. Though baby went down head down at last minute and i ended up being induced at 41 weeks. Baby was fine though. And it was spectacular when they broke my waters! I remember laughing hysterically.

That's v reassuring LE. (and glad your DD was perfectly well too).

There are so many stories I have read and the one or two cases that were something amiss with the baby, was known about well in advance because it was an obvious and identified condition so the PH was a side symptom amongst many other related symptoms, rather than the only presenting symptom IYKWIM.

See I don't know whether or not to be pleased or annoyed they don't want to take me in straight away for observation, or recommend a CS!

They know I have no objections to a CS as I brought it up as an option when it seemed that the baby was going to be a biggie (before the scan where PH was noted).

Also annoyingly is that every time I have commented on the size of baby/bump/fundal height to ALL the MW, 1x doctor and 1x registrar it has been met with "Oh but you're tall". Erm I'm 5'7", not flipping 5'11". Hardly supermodel height am I. Not even regular model height! The registrar chap made the tall comment at the start of our meeting. I said "I'm not actually all that tall", he said "you're taller than me so you're tall!" (he is a short squat man of aroung 5'5" so not exactly hard to beat in a tallness competition!)

I noted his attitude was far less patronising following the scan result though and he booked the induction in there and then, so perhaps next time he won't write someone off for being concerned about big bump just because they are taller than him.

If I hadn't pressed for a scan I would know nothing about PH, or cord prolapse. My waters could have broken and I'd be none the wiser about getting myself to a hospital sharpish.

(thanks Portofino BTW

You're welcome! FWIW - at my last scan they estimated that dd would be 9 lbs +/- 25%! I was too scared to do the + sum! She ended up at a more reasonable 8lb 2 oz.

One other thing that i hesitated to mention before, but seeing your comment on CS above....I ended up with an emcs after induction after several hours of pushing led to nothing.

That was apparently more to do with the induction rather than PH (% of inductions end up in CS) but dd's head never engaged due to unstable lie (probably aided by PH).

If I was in the same position again, I'm not sure that i would have insisted on the planned CS originally offered, (though maybe...) but I would have insisted on an epidural during induction - so that the GA hadn't been necessary.

Me and dd were both fine, so I don't want to give stuff to worry about. But I had never even read the induction/CS bit in the book and I think I didn't have all the info to hand when making decisons.

I have had the very same thoughts myself Portofino!

I suspect I will end up with an EMCS (not that I am willing it to happen (obviously) just that I can't quite work out how the baby will magically drop into a good position for birthing following an induction.

Surely that would be just luck then, the position the baby "plugs" in, seeing as it has never been engaged? At the scan yesterday it was facing out (ie posterior positioned).

Was it too late in the end for you to have the epidural, is that why you had the GA instead?

I think I will definitely have an epidural. TBH I have lost a bit of faith in the staff I deal with. I don't trust them to do things thoroughly, from recognising the bump was off the scale, which would have led to tests for infections and diabetes (I am so I actually suggested one and was refused FGS, I mean, why?! What's a simple blood test? also earlier scanning/monitoring.

For example, even the regular MW I see, I notice she just puts a tick next to the baby's heartrate box. Last time I asked her what the baby's HR was was and she said "I don't know, I didn't read it. My ear just tells me if it's too slow or fast".

Sort of fair enough but if she never records the rate any more how does she know, unless we are talking extremes?!?!
In any case, why can't she just take the reading and write it down as she's meant to do?

(rant)

I think you need to push to get the monitoring you need. My consultant and all of the mw's took PH very seriously.

On another note, if you do end up with a c-section ime it will not be as uncomfortable afterwards than it is coping with an enormous bump! Towards the delivery date, I had trouble getting out of bed, I had to be in a certain position or else I was like a beaced whale and had to be pulled up.

I AM 34+ TODAY SAME FOR ME THEY SAYING I GOT EXTRA FLIUD AND HUGE BABY (THIS THIRD BABY BY THE WAY AND 1ST 9.04 AND 2ND 9.13. SO UNCOMFORTABLE NOW CANT DO ANYTHING BUT GO TO TOILET AND EAT, MEASURING ABOUT 5-6WEEKS OVER THEY NEVER TOLD ME WHAT THE RISKS ARE BUT ARE KEEPING EYE ON ME GOT SCAN IN TWO WEEKS. I DONT THINK THERES A PROBLEM THEY WOULD HAVE SAID> I THINK???? SO I DONT THINK YOU SHOULD WORRY TOO MUCH.

It really feels like nobody medical really cares, LE. The induction suggestion is the first bit of medical intervention that has been actively offered rather than pushed for or suggested by me.

I have struggled with getting up and down for such a long time too, it's awful, isn't it?! Even getting out of bed, the "roll onto side then swing legs down to floor at same time as pushing up with arms" movement is awkward as my outside arm doesn't reach far enough past the bump, when I'm on my side. Turning over in bed is the very worst, the effort and energy it takes is almost too much sometimes.

My DH has to haul me in and out of the car and off the sofa. I can do it myself but only if I shuffle on my bottom to the very edge of the seat and stand up verrry slowly.

Even the advice to sit leaning forward is awkward, I can hardly breathe as the bump is pushing so hard on my ribs and under my bust. I can see the outline of the bump all the way round very distinctly, like it's a stick-on bump, bizarrely

Hi ticklytum, sorry to hear you have the same thing. At least you are being monitored and they can keep an eye on you. Have they suggested you get tested for diabetes or infections? Because if they haven't already, I would ask

yeah tell me about it know exactly how you feel pansyrose, got two under 6 to look after, im really lucky my sister moving in with me temporarily for 6 weeks till i due
then i moving to theirs after birth most likely to have sec but hoping desp for vba2c.

they tested me for diabetes was negative but not mentioned that it could be infection i will ask them next time in hospital thanks for that.

just read one of your earlier posts you 5.7ft im just short of 5.2ft if thats any concillation? i just dont think it is when you feel the way you do! i had big baby before but never felt this immobile, even when i went over two weeks. when you due? and is this your first baby?

pansyrose, I remember exactly that feeling! I was huge! Getting on and off a hospital bed was so hard. Yes, the reason for the GA was that it was too late.

I was pushing for ages, and aparently dd never moved into the birth canal fully. I managed the whole labour on g&A and pethidine and the pain wasn't that unbearable. I was really tired though and kept asking for an epidural at one point, but they said i was doing fine and didn't need it.

There came a point where dd just seemed to be stuck so then they came to discuss the epidural and asked me if i wanted to go for forceps or a cs. I was so knackered I said i wanted the CS. The rest all happened so quick. I was wheeled to theatre and DH got all gowned up. He initially put the scrubs on over his clothes so me and the MW laughed at him. (See i couldn't have been suffering that much).

Then the consultant turned up, decided the baby was in distress, and that was that - out for the count. Really, the whole labour, even with the drip, wasn't that bad. I was only disappointed not to be awake when dd was born.

Hi - I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 19weeks, tested early because DD1 was 8lb at 36week and I have a 6'5" hubby! All pregnant mothers are tested routinely for GD in Jersey at 28wk. So I have been scanned 4 weekly since then to check baby size etc. I also had am amnio at 18week with results all clear (phew!) Baby is very active, squirming around all the time, full turns too so it seems! Heartbeat yestetday seemed fast to me but consultant didn't seem concerned.

BUT - I had my midwife & consultant appoint yesterday (next scan in 2 weeks - last one 2 weels ago) and the consultant measured my fundus manually, which they do every time but usually because scanning too the don't really pay that much attention to the manual measurement - anyway - yesterday I measured 45cm! 2 weeks ago (32wk) it measured 36cm and baby was estimated at 5lb. So that is an enormous growth. Admittedly I have an enormous bump compared with DD1, everyone has commented on and I am beyond uncomfortable almost all the time.

Nobody mentioned polyhydramnios. The consultant has booked me a scan for Friday and a review at the diabetes clinic as they are concerned that I might now need insulin to aid my sugars (I'm 35w+2) and I am back in to see the consultant next Wednesday.

My waters did break with DD1....an enormous gush and continual flood for over an hour - believe it or not I was on the loo when it happend - how convenient - and because only 36wk I went into hospital, labour started about 3 hours later.

I am reassured by all your posts on here which have provided me with more info than I currently have. I have not 'googled' - too much information especially during pregnancy is not necessarily a good thing I have found!!

Though not officially diagnosed with this condition my symptomspoint this way - my minor concern now is the risk of a cord prolapse should my waters break this time....guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Cheers!

Hi,
I have this too, noted on my last scan at 25 weeks. I am scanned regularly as I also have cholestasis but my fluid levels put me in the 99th centile.

I have GTT testing next week.

My baby is also measuring very big, joy! DS was 9 lbs 1 oz so I am terrified that this one will be 11lbs!!! They are suggesting I may have to have a c section anyway as a result of the combined (and seemingly endless) problems I have had this pg.

Good to hear about other peoples experiences.

My MW decided I had too much fluid at about 32 wks and scared me with the consequences - didn't even need to google it!!!! . However, had a scan the following week booked anyway so she didn't arrange an earlier scan. After several sleepless nights spoke to a friend who is a consultant in the business, who told me that, even if there was extra fluid, most probably it was just 'one of those things' and could have been caused by a number of things and would not necessarily result in any problems. As it happened, MW was wrong and I was just having a large baby (10.5, at 39wks).

Hi,

I was diagnosed with this from a scan at 28 weeks, I'm now 31 and frickin' huge! How on earth is everyone else managing to move?

Really can't see me going to term, even going up the stairs has me panting and I dare not venture outside to get some exercise/fresh air in case I fall and pop like a water balloon. Also I can't get to see the MW to talk about it due to the snow so all I have is google and mumsnet!

I was tested for GD at 26 weeks (due to size of baby) and told I didn't have it then the sonographer who told me about the PH said she thought I probably did as it was a symptom of GD. Got an anc next week so hopefully will be able to get to it (!) and then get some answers....

My maternity jeans won't do up! cries breathlessly in a corner

Any tips?