Everything You Need To Know About Polyhydramnios (extra fluid) in Pregnancy

An unborn fetus in the womb develops its lungs, digestive organs, and limbs with the help of a special fluid known as the amniotic fluid.

Polyhydramnios is a condition where the amount of amniotic fluid is much higher than what it should be. Amniotic fluid is known to support and cushion the baby, and insulate it so that it stays at a suitable body temperature.

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The general amount of amniotic fluid that a normal pregnant mother should have is around 500 to 1000 ml but if it exceeds more than two liters, then it leads to severe discomfort. This condition is what is known as Polyhydramnios.

The chances of having Polyhydramnios are just 1%.

Symptoms of Polyhydramnios

Here are some of the symptoms of Polyhydramnios that you should know about:

1. Excessive and fast weight gain

This is something that is associated with Polyhydramnios. A pregnant woman under normal circumstances is expected to gain around 10 to 16 kg (30lb) of weight over a healthy pregnancy.

But if you have Polyhydramnios, you may notice a steep rise in the bodyweight that can go up to 22 kg (45lb).

2. Swelling in the legs

The body of the pregnant woman, especially the legs will start swelling excessively. Women do have slightly swelling legs when they are pregnant but patients with Polyhydramnios have puffy legs all the time.

This is largely due to the excess pressure the uterus is putting on your pelvic veins.

3. A big belly

While women do experience some discomfort at different levels of pregnancy, the feeling of Polyhydramnios is quite different. You will not feel like sitting in one place because there is a combination of pain and excess irritation.

Your fundal height will likely measure several weeks ahead from where it should be. It is not uncommon for your belly to be the size of a pregnancy 4-8 weeks ahead of your own.

4. Shortness of breath

Women with Polyhydramnios will experience shortness of breath almost all the time except when they are sitting or standing upright.

This is because of the increase size and pressure of your belly. It pushes on your diaphragm and squashes your lungs. You may find sleeping upright in a chair easier.

5. Tight abdomen and less feelings of baby moving

With your uterus acting more like a giant swimming pool, it might prevent you from feeling the baby’s limbs and movements as you would normal expect. It will be as if there is a lump inside that you know is your baby but you cannot feel it by poking it.

It is important that you consult your gynecologist as soon as you experience any of these symptoms. Polyhydramnios shouldn’t be left unattended because it is your baby and your health that will be in danger.

Diagnosis of Polyhydramnios

The moment your symptoms are associated with Polyhydramnios, your gynecologist will suggest a fetal ultrasound to test the stage of Polyhydramnios that you are in.

This test will is operated using high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) that produce images of the baby from different angles.

The fetal ultrasound will prove if you have Polyhydramnios or not. This will lead to more detailed ultrasounds to check the estimated amount of amniotic fluid volume.

The tests will assist in finding the largest pocket of fluid that is surrounding the baby.

Your health care provider may offer additional testing if you have a diagnosis of polyhydramnios. Testing will be based on your risk factors, exposure to infections and prior evaluations of your baby. Additional tests may include:

Blood tests. Blood tests for infectious diseases associated with polyhydramnios may be offered.

Amniocentesis. Amniocentesis is a procedure in which a sample of amniotic fluid — which contains fetal cells and various chemicals produced by the baby — is removed from the uterus for testing. Testing may be used to screen the baby’s chromosomes for abnormalities which are at a higher risk with pregnancies with excess fluid.

If you’re diagnosed with polyhydramnios, your health care provider will closely monitor your pregnancy. Monitoring may include the following:

Regular nonstress tests. This test checks how your baby’s heart rate reacts when your baby moves. During the test, you’ll wear a special device on your abdomen to measure the baby’s heart rate.

Biophysical profile. This test uses an ultrasound to provide more information about your baby’s breathing, tone and movement, as well as the volume of amniotic fluid in your uterus. It may be combined with a nonstress test.

Risks involved with having Polyhydramnios

It is better if Polyhydramnios is diagnosed at the early stages of pregnancy so that doctors have the chance to treat it immediately.

There are several risks involved with having polyhydramnios, these include:

Placental abruption
Premature birth
Premature rupture of the membranes
Post-delivery bleeding
Cord prolapse
Abnormal size of the baby
Stillbirth
Genetic abnormalities of the baby

Treatment of Polyhydramnios

Unfortunately, there is no surgery or instant treatment that can get rid of Polyhydramnios. Women with mild Polyhydramnios can simply monitor it.

Ensuring you are eating enough protein to keep your water bag strong is one of the best proactive things you can do. The increased fluid levels puts extra strain on your bag of waters, and you want to keep them intact until baby is due to be born.

One very common process of dealing with this problem if you have more extreme levels of amniotic fluid is draining the excess amniotic fluid using amniocentesis.

This procedure carries a small risk of complications, including preterm labor, placental abruption and premature rupture of the membranes.

Your health care provider may prescribe the oral medication indomethacin (Indocin) to help reduce fetal urine production and amniotic fluid volume.

However, Indomethacin isn’t recommended beyond 31 weeks of pregnancy. Due to the risk of fetal heart problems, your baby’s heart may need to be monitored with a fetal echocardiogram and Doppler ultrasound. Other side effects may include nausea, vomiting, acid reflux and inflammation of the lining of the stomach in the mother.

Polyhydramnios is a rare condition. Get in touch with the doctor if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above. Because a healthy you is key to a healthy baby!