High Amniotic Fluid

amtay825 · August 2014

Anyone else have high levels of amniotic fluid? I had my high risk appnt this past Monday and my fluid level is continuing to rise. It was at 25cm then, and the median for 24 weeks is 14 cm. I feel extremely uncomfortable, like I'm past full term. My belly is HUGE and people can't believe I have until November when they ask when I'm due. I seriously don't know how much bigger this belly can get; it feels like its just going to rip open. The high levels are due to the condition the baby has, he's not able to swallow and 'breathe' in the fluid like a healthy baby would; yet his kidneys are still producing it. Symptoms include: swelling of the extremities (check), shallow breathing (check), uncomfortableness (check), excessive weigh gain (check). Risks are preterm rupture of membranes, preterm labor, high blood pressure, urinary tract infections, placental abruption, still birth, heavy bleeding after birth... NO fun

25cm is considered polyhydramnios so they'll be monitoring that at every ultrasound as well. I may have to have it drained (amnio), possibly even multiple times. I'm praying, praying, praying that baby boy will just start swallowing and breathing this fluid in like any healthy baby would. Some days are better than others....yesterday was pretty miserable....today feels like it too

mockingjay1 · August 2014

I don't have high fluid levels, but I wanted to say I'm sorry you're going through this and that it's making you so uncomfortable. Praying that Brody starts swallowing that fluid, so you don't need an amnio to reduce it.

musicalmommy3 · August 2014

Praying for you and your precious babe!

silverwings72 · August 2014

I'm so sorry. This must be very stressful. Prayers for you and baby.

absolutelymaybe · August 2014

No experience but wanted to say sorry you are going through this. That sounds scary...and uncomfortable.

Loopyseven · August 2014

Mine was right at the high end of normal with my first at the A/S. I was told high fluid levels can be a marker for GD, which I ended up having when I did the GTT at 28/29 weeks. It never got worse, just stayed at the high end of normal. I had to be induced at 40 weeks and they had to break my water. I was told the biggest concerns with too much water are labor/delivery complications cause there's more room for the cord to move around and it can end up coming out first or more likely to be wrapped around the baby, but I didn't have any of those issues. Luckily they know and are monitoring it and I'm sure they'll do everything they can to make sure you and the baby are both healthy through the rest of your pregnancy.

AnnieRoo13 · August 2014

I don't have any experience with this either, but I wanted to say I'm sorry you're going through this. It sounds like it must be worrisome and very uncomfortable. I hope LO starts to swallow some of that fluid soon.

SarahHeck · August 2014

I feel your pain! I had high fluid my last pregnancy. I lost 35lbs just when they broke my water! The doctors told me my contractions would get worse after they broke it but they didn't, with each contraction I lost more fluid and felt so much relief! I was moving around so much, they were all shocked. I even fell asleep afterwards. Sleep is impossible when you are THAT big!

It sounds like you know what's going on with your little man. I was warned that high fluid wasn't a good thing, but my OB was very reassuring and told me she had high fluid with her son and he was perfectly healthy. I wasn't worried, but wasn't prepared for my daughters health issues either so that was a bummer. Fingers crossed your little one starts eating/breathing and being more healthy! My daughter ended up having a g-tube placed a couple months after she was born, but that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Believe it or not there were a lot of positives about having a baby on a feeding tube. Not that you want that, but it isn't all that bad! Good luck! Praying for you and your little one!

jj0313 · August 2014

No experience here either but wanted to say you're in my thoughts and I wish you luck. That can't be fun.

eyes on the prize!

amtay825 · August 2014

Thank you all so much! Yes, the reason is because of his condition, congenital diaphragmatic hernia. I won't be having a vaginal birth so no concerns with that at this point. Hoping it doesn't cause me to go into labor before my scheduled c-section though! I'm really trying to make it to 28w before talking to them about draining it. My original plan was 34w for the amnio, just in case it did cause labor. But now the swelling is so bad and so uncomfortable I don't know if I can make it that long. I seriously feel and look for that matter like I'm 40 weeks! 8-/

amtay825 · August 2014

SarahHeck said:
I feel your pain! I had high fluid my last pregnancy. I lost 35lbs just when they broke my water! The doctors told me my contractions would get worse after they broke it but they didn't, with each contraction I lost more fluid and felt so much relief! I was moving around so much, they were all shocked. I even fell asleep afterwards. Sleep is impossible when you are THAT big! Omgoodness 35lbs of fluid?!?!?! Wow! You had to be absolutely miserable!!

It sounds like you know what's going on with your little man. I was warned that high fluid wasn't a good thing, but my OB was very reassuring and told me she had high fluid with her son and he was perfectly healthy. I wasn't worried, but wasn't prepared for my daughters health issues either so that was a bummer. Fingers crossed your little one starts eating/breathing and being more healthy! My daughter ended up having a g-tube placed a couple months after she was born, but that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Believe it or not there were a lot of positives about having a baby on a feeding tube. Not that you want that, but it isn't all that bad! Good luck! Praying for you and your little one!

soulcupcake · August 2014

*Visiting D14er*

I had mild idiopathic polyhydramnios with my first daughter. I began measuring 6 cm ahead by 26 weeks, and continued measuring ahead throughout the rest of the pregnancy. She was suspected to possibly have other problems (brain related), but they weren't associated with the excessive fluid.

I had very severe polyhydramnios with my second son. It was mild right around 25 weeks; my AFI measured 21 cm. The higher side of average for that gestation. However, by 30 weeks I was measuring 40, and developed edema. It kept getting worse. By the time I had him, at 35 weeks, I was the size of a mama carrying term twins. I measured 14 cm/weeks ahead. Unfortunately, in his case, he had a tracheoesophageal fistula, and other heart/pulmonary related problems. I was very uncomfortable during those last weeks, and I had a lot of BH-type contractions from the overdistended uterus (it contracts more when it becomes too distended and irritable).

amtay825 · August 2014

aeonlux said:

*Visiting D14er*

I had mild idiopathic polyhydramnios with my first daughter. I began measuring 6 cm ahead by 26 weeks, and continued measuring ahead throughout the rest of the pregnancy. She was suspected to possibly have other problems (brain related), but they weren't associated with the excessive fluid.

I had very severe polyhydramnios with my second son. It was mild right around 25 weeks; my AFI measured 21 cm. The higher side of average for that gestation. However, by 30 weeks I was measuring 40, and developed edema. It kept getting worse. By the time I had him, at 35 weeks, I was the size of a mama carrying term twins. I measured 14 cm/weeks ahead. Unfortunately, in his case, he had a tracheoesophageal fistula, and other heart/pulmonary related problems. I was very uncomfortable during those last weeks, and I had a lot of BH-type contractions from the overdistended uterus (it contracts more when it becomes too distended and irritable).

Thank you for sharing your experience! I am already at risk for PTL due to IC so I don't know how my dr is going to handle this. I'm already measuring 11cm above average, at 25 weeks and I assume it just keeps climbing from here. I have mild edema that comes and goes as well. I am just praying for a miracle at this point, that he miraculously begins to do what he's supposed to with the fluid so it will help with his lung development as well as give me some relief. A friend of mine had a baby boy about 8 years ago and at full term measured 62CM! Looked as though she was carrying full term triplets. Oh. my. goodness.

DoubleUp8 · August 2014

No experience, but I wanted to say I am sorry you are going through this and I am thinking of you and yuor LO.

Maybeyesmaybeno · August 2014

I just had my sonogram today (28 weeks 3 days) to keep an eye on a marginal placenta (umbilical cord is attached to the side instead of the middle). Baby is measuring 2lbs 10oz, moving a ton, and as far as they can tell developing fine. However, the doctor reviewing the images explained that my amniotic fluid measurement should be around 24 and it was 29. I have been having contractions for the last 8 weeks but my cervix is still long and closed. I did pass my glucose test, but was told today that plenty of people pass the test and can still go on to have GD. So, I have to go back in two weeks where they will measure the fluid levels again. I also have to cut back on carbs and sugar in case I am at risk for GD even though I passed the test. I also still have a few pounds to gain back to reach my pre-pregnancy weight due to my fast metabolism plus the baby's. I was really surprised since I don't have edema, haven't gained a lot of weight, baby is measuring normal, and have been eating healthily. I do have an uncomfortable stretching feeling at night but I really think that's normal for the third trimester. She also told me, of course, to "take it easy". Thought I would add what I was told today since we have the same thing but are experiencing pretty different symptoms.

amtay825 · August 2014

Sorry you're going thru it too, its no fun! I have another ultrasound on Monday, looking forward to seeing what the measurements are then. Take care and take it easy!

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