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June 2014 Moms
LaurelJoy91
member
Excessive amniotic fluid
LaurelJoy91
member
First off, I would like to apologize for being basically inactive for over a month! My husband and I just finished moving out of state and now we're going to be working 12 hour shifts for the next 2 weeks. I've been keeping up with reading posts as well as possible during all of this, but I haven't had consistent access to internet, and to be honest, moving at 36 weeks has left me rather exhausted so that most of the time clicking the love it button is about the extent of my efforts. I do love you salty hoes, though, so I hope you'll have me back! It's been very exciting reading about so many healthy babies being born lately, and I wish the rest of you the best as well.
Now to my SS moment:
My pervious providers (that was a typo, but I like it so I'm leaving it. Deal.) ordered an ultrasound at 32 weeks and another one at 36 weeks, knowing that I would be switching and in an attempt to have everything ready for my new OB group. They told me that both looked perfectly normal, other than having somewhat excessive levels of amniotic fluid, which they attributed to me most likely consuming too many sugary snacks and drinks. They didn't give me any exact numbers, made it sound like no big deal and to just try to lay off the soda and candy. Flash forward to today, 37 weeks and having my first appointment with my new providers. As it turns out, they still haven't received my records from the first OB, so they decide to do another ultrasound just to check the growth and get an idea of how things are going while waiting for the records to get sent over. Once again, the ultrasound tech says everything looks normal- until she sees the level of amniotic fluid. She tells me to clean up but won't let me leave the room until she calls the doctor in. Doctor comes in, and the ultrasound tech puts on a very serious face and immediately says to her "Her fluid levels are at 35." The doctor looks back and forth between the two of us with wide eyes and then says, sounding worried, "I'll need you to come back for another ultrasound at the very beginning of next week, and if your fluid hasn't decreased we will need to do nonstress tests twice per week. Such elevated levels of amniotic fluid are indicative of a still birth."
First off, I thought it was rather unprofessional for them to exchange that info right in front of me so dramatically instead of discussing it privately and coming to tell me in a calmer setting. Not that it matters now anyway because I'm already a bit freaked out because of how they reacted.
I came home and looked some info up. What I found is that normal levels are typically between 5 and 25 cm and anything above that is considered high. Also, levels are typically at their peak between 34 and 36 weeks, and then begin to drop. Polyhydramnios (excessive amniotic fluid) is more common in women with GD or high blood pressure, neither of which I have. The only symptom that is listed that I have experienced is swelling of the feet and ankles, but I thought that was fairly common in most pregnancies. The doctor was concerned about whether or not I've been feeling much movement lately, but if anything this little girl is just getting more and more active the closer I get to my due date. She was moving everywhere while they were using the Doppler, wiggling around while doing the ultrasound, and I can feel her basically dancing in there as I type.
So, I'm torn between the nonchalance of my previous doctor whom I trusted and the seemingly overreaction of a new doctor whom I've just met. If anyone has any experience with this complication, I would appreciate your input.
Edit: I suppose I probably could have posted this in the Friday Appointment thread, but I did want to include that first paragraph expressing how awesome I think you guys are, and more people will see it here 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Excessive amniotic fluid
I go in once a week for BPP (ultrasound that measures his movement, size, fluid, breathing etc) and NSTs. It's really NBD and baby hasnt been stressed at all. My doctor explained that we should see my fluid levels go down as I get closer to my due date. He also talked about the fluid rupturing my membranes causing a cord prolapse. This is the biggest concern. I'm not able to leave town and need to get to the hospital very quickly after my water breaks, if it breaks on its own.
I don't Understand why they would have brought up stillbirth. Yes, it's a risk of polyhydramnios but that's really not common. (according to my research) And if they're really that concerned, why didn't they immediately hook you up with an NST?
Have you thought of calling your old OB and discussing the results they have? Perhaps that would give you more peice of mind. I'm sorry you've had to deal with that. No expecting mom wants to hear that!
If I were you I'd get a second opinion. I don't think they were being very professional and that's a pretty douchy way to give potential bad news to an expectant mother.
I'm not new. I just hate The Bump.
I'm not new. I just hate The Bump.