Polyhydramnios diet?

DahliaFlower

Hi Ladies,

My AFI has fluctuated in the normal - high/normal range for awhile (around 20 or so).  Last week at one scan I was measuring in the high range, about 26-28.  Baby is big, measuring about 1.5-2 weeks ahead according to growth u/s.  I passed my GD screen with flying colors, if anything, my glucose runs a little low (early morning fasting in low 70's).  

It is my understanding that high carb intake, even in women who do not have GD, can lead to excess fluid.  My doctor has recommended high protein diet and decreased carb intake.  Has anyone had success in decreasing AFI with low carb diet?  I would like to have fluid in normal range to decrease risk of preterm labor, cord prolapse, etc.  

TIA!

Stephanie2167

I am in the exact same position as you. I don't know what my levels are but my MFM doc has me on a high protein low carb diet to try and decrease my fluid (I'm having twins so double the amount of fluid). I'm interested to see if my levels go down much by the time I see him again in October.

5becca2013

Glad you posted this...I've been diagnosed with polyhydramnios. I do eat a lot of carbs. Ima try to switch my diet up.

kld43d

Hello!
Any luck with the diet and decreasing your fluid? I have severe polyhydramnios and have not had anything that seems to help! My uterus at 24 weeks was measuring at 33 weeks due to my high fluids levels so any little bit would give me major relief!
Thanks!

DahliaFlower

My fluid has generally been in the low to mid 20's, sometimes lower.  It seems to vary a lot.  I am being monitored, so I usually get two readings a week.  

I have tried not to have too many carbs in my diet, so not sure if that is helping, but my efforts have been sort of limited, b/c I have been having problems with LOW blood sugar especially when I wake in the morning.  So I am not sure how the low carb diet would be working if I were really able to do it.  

GL! 

Stephanie2167

Just an update on me. I went in for my 27-28 week appointment this morning with my OB and because I said I haven't been feeling the girls as strong as I had in the past, they sent me to L&D for an NST and BPP. The NST was great and the girls were super active. Then we did the ultrasound which was stressful because the tech can't answer ANY questions. So after I waited in my room for about 45 minutes to hear the results. I was really nervous. They passed with flying colors. I was so relieved. I asked about my fluid level and she said that they both are right around 15 and they want to see them between 10 and 20. That really made me feel even less stressed. I'm not sure what my numbers were exactly from my MFM, I'll find that out next week. But the fact that they said my fluid looks great makes me feel like this stupid low carb/high protein diet may actually be working.

Sorry for the novel.

DahliaFlower

@Stephanie2167 That's awesome!  Hope all continues to go well.  

Stephanie2167

Just wanted to give another update.

I saw my MFM yesterday and my amniotic fluid has gone from 29 to 24 on the low carb diet. Some of it can be the girls size but my MFM was really happy with their fluid level and said to keep it up.

Obviously the numbers used in the hospital are different from what my MFM uses. But if you want to work on lowering your AFI, give the low carb/high protein diet a try.

Kaymee

That's really awesome! Mine has been fluctuating between 25-29. I had poly with DS1 as well, and my highest ever with him was 32. I was so huge at the end!