amniotic fluid

lisamoe

Was wondering...can your OB tell if your amniotic fluid is OK without and ultrasound? I was just watching a baby story on TLC and they said the amniotic fluid was low so she had to deliver. Well, if you don't have an u/s how would they know?

marchbride32407

I'm not an expert, but I guess there are certain things they can look for that might signal that there could be a problem....majorly decreased/lack of movement is one I think. Also, if you're measuring way small, they might suspect that. Otherwise, I think u/s is the main way to know. Or of course, if you've been leaking fluid they would check for it.

COMomma81

I could be wrong, but I think they do have to have an u/s to determine amniotic fluid levels. I had to have one with my first pregnancy because I was measuring too big...turns out my fluid level was on the highest range of "normal".

Gummybear

Fundal measurements can give an indication that something is "off" but not always. I measured perfectly fine last time with DD and it was during a routine u/s that my fluid was declared low and I was induced the next day.

Even u/s can be a bit wonky -- how they do it is they just kind of measure around the baby -- there are these black blob-like shapes which are the pockets of fluid. They measure all the ones they can see and put them into a calculation to get your level. So measuring off by a few millimeters or missing a pocket can make the levek inaccurate as well.

ashleyrsotomayor

They discovered my fluid was a little low because I went in for decreased movement and I was measuring small. They now do biweekly u/s to keep it monitored. 

catie333

I read that if you are leaking AF, you can't hjold it like pee in your bladder. It just leaks and you would know it because you would have wet underwear with fluid that is not pee.....

bensbabe

lisamoe:

Was wondering...can your OB tell if your amniotic fluid is OK without and ultrasound? I was just watching a baby story on TLC and they said the amniotic fluid was low so she had to deliver. Well, if you don't have an u/s how would they know?

 

No.

If they suspected a problem (based on falling growth/fundal height measurements), they would get an US. They probably had an US, but it may not have made it onto the show. I have NEVER seen someone deliver for low AFI (amniotic fluid index) without an US.

lesmanly0506

I went in at 30 weeks for leaking fluid.  They did a litmus paper test to check to see if it was actually fluid.  It is a yellow strip of paper and when it touches amniotic fluid it turns blue.  So then they did an u/s to check my fluid level.  I have to go every week for an u/s and nst to check fluid and baby.  My fluid is low and I'm still leaking, but you could not tell from the outside, not without an u/s.

 I was watching that episode too.  Maybe they did an u/s before and sent her over to L&D for low fluid.