Polyhydramnios

Bellodomani · April 2016

I'm 36 weeks, and I had a position u/s today because I've been feeling kicks all over the place and midwife wanted to see that she was head down. Turns out I have A LOT of excess fluid, which explains why I've been measuring 4-5 weeks ahead, got stretch marks this time when I didn't last time, feel sooo much more uncomfortable, and generally look like a whale. For reference, the max amount of fluid they want you to have at this point is 24 (mm? cm? Not sure what the unit of measurement is)- many women have way less than this when you get to the final weeks. I'm at a 45!

My midwife told me the main risks of polyhydramnios after 37 weeks are increased risk of cord compression/ prolapse and stillbirth. She's having me come in 2x/ week for BPPs and NSTs, and if I notice any decrease in movement I'm supposed to go straight to the ER. I forgot to ask her if they would allow me to go overdue if necessary.

I guess I'm just curious if anyone else has this same thing. It seems like I shouldn't be too concerned, so I'm not freaking out, but at the same time all this increased monitoring is a total pain when I'm still working plus I have a 2.5 year old who comes to all my appts with me. Anyone else have experience with polyhydramnios?

BebeOnBoard · April 2016

Hi! I had poly. It seems like you have a lot more fluid than me, but Eitherway. I too measured ahead and got stretch marks when I didn't last time (and I gained less weight this time). I went in once a week for NST and monthly growth spans cause little one measured at 95%. My doctor did not want me to go overdue and suggested we induce at 39. However I went into labor at 38+5 on my own.
all I can suggest is trust your midwife and don't google anything! It will make you crazy. Best wishes!

hellogoodbye2 · April 2016

I was diagnosed at 29w, but my level was at 25. Holy cow I was so uncomfortable, I can't imagine how you're feeling! I went in for NST's twice a week (which were perfect each time, baby looked great). I had a follow up u/s at 33w and my level had gone down to a normal range. Honestly, I feel better now at 37w than I did with high fluid at 29w.

When I was first diagnosed my doctors only concern was going into preterm labor, I read up on all the other dangers online :-/ She said high fluid is much less concerning than low fluid.

Good of luck to you! You'll have some piece of mind with all the extra monitoring....I had to bring my 2.5 year old daughter too.

ETA - when looking online about why this happens, the majority of the time it's just a random fluke. I don't have GD, not twins, and baby has measured within the 50th% at each u/s.

and_peggy · April 2016

Hoping all of you who are dealing with this are doing well and don't have any complications with your LOs. I had to comment though....not to make light of the situation but every time I see the name, it makes me think of a Pokemon.

jenashawn · April 2016

I too have this. Although I'm at around 25 units. (Seriously, what "units" are they???) I can't even imagine how uncomfortable you must be at 45. My doc does not seem overly concerned. She said the main risk was preterm labor, and that I might have to get some of the fluid drained off if I started to go into labor too early. I've hit 37 weeks now though, so I'm guessing that won't be happening even if I go into labor today.

Bellodomani · April 2016

@hellogoodbye2 @jenbkc So nice to have someone understand how incredibly uncomfortable this is! I've been seeing a chiropractor and kept telling my midwife, I swear it didn't feel like this last time, and they just didn't have any answers for me until yesterday. It feels like my back muscles are just going to give out every day at like 1:00.

hellogoodbye2 · April 2016

Please keep us updated! I really hope you can find some relief within the next few weeks.

I did a ton of google searches on the topic and almost every story I read had a positive outcome with very little complications.

jenashawn · April 2016

Yes, it's terribly uncomfortable and heavy!! Let us know how you are doing! How much longer do you have?

wsgjmw1 · April 2016

Thank you for sharing this. I am starting to think this may be my case and I am going to talk to my midwife next week. I am now 37 weeks and I gained 11 pounds in 3 weeks, which caused my midwife a lot of concern. I had all the tests run, and everything came back perfect. I am swelling, but no other symptoms of Pre-e. I am still being monitored for pre-e because of the rapid weight gain, so it could just be my body is retaining a lot of fluid, but it doesnt hurt to inquire.

anng23 · April 2016

I have it- my levels got to 45 at 33 weeks as well- it was pretty uncomfortable. I'm now at 36 weeks and down to 33 which feels way better! My doctors were concerned that because it got so high, there is a possibility that it is a swallowing problem with baby that we can't see on ultrasound. They have checked baby via ultrasound and can't find anything but the possibility is still there. However, most times it is nothing! They are having me go for NST's and fluid checks weekly now.

anng23 · April 2016

Bellodomani said:

I'm 36 weeks, and I had a position u/s today because I've been feeling kicks all over the place and midwife wanted to see that she was head down. Turns out I have A LOT of excess fluid, which explains why I've been measuring 4-5 weeks ahead, got stretch marks this time when I didn't last time, feel sooo much more uncomfortable, and generally look like a whale. For reference, the max amount of fluid they want you to have at this point is 24 (mm? cm? Not sure what the unit of measurement is)- many women have way less than this when you get to the final weeks. I'm at a 45!

My midwife told me the main risks of polyhydramnios after 37 weeks are increased risk of cord compression/ prolapse and stillbirth. She's having me come in 2x/ week for BPPs and NSTs, and if I notice any decrease in movement I'm supposed to go straight to the ER. I forgot to ask her if they would allow me to go overdue if necessary.

I guess I'm just curious if anyone else has this same thing. It seems like I shouldn't be too concerned, so I'm not freaking out, but at the same time all this increased monitoring is a total pain when I'm still working plus I have a 2.5 year old who comes to all my appts with me. Anyone else have experience with polyhydramnios?

Forgot to add- I'm being induced at 39 weeks as long as the fluid stays high. Had another check yesterday and still stable at 33. Are they talking about inducing you? They seem a little less concerned now that my levels are out of severe range but they were more worried when I was in the 40's

jenl1681 · April 2016

Just had an US today at 38w4d and I have excessive fluid as well. Dr said this was the reason that baby boy hasn't dropped yet, he is just hanging out up high and won't drop because of the fluid, which puts me at risk for prolapsed cord if my water were to break outside of the hospital etc. I will be induced Sunday at 39w2d eeeeekkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!

Bellodomani · April 2016

@anng23 @jenl1681 So my midwife who originally diagnosed me didn't say anything about induction weirdly, but she was also having a crazy day during my appt and had 2 women in labor down the hall that she was rushing back from to see me. I'm guessing it was an oversight? She told me I'd need to come in for all this extra monitoring, and because of my work schedule my first monitoring appt yesterday was with the doctor in the practice. My fluid had gone down to a 39 (still severe but at least out of the 40s!) and he said if I was his patient he'd recommend induction at 38 weeks, which would be this Monday for me. I'll see my midwife again tomorrow for another BPP + NST and ask her for her opinion. I feel really guilty for hoping this, but I kind of hope she recommends 38 weeks too because I'm in constant pain and sickness from my stomach & intestines being squished.

jenl1681 · April 2016

@Bellodomani I have to go for more monitoring Friday, and then induction Sunday. When you go tomorrow I would just bring it up to her. I have been getting cervical checks since my group b swap and I'm still only 1 cm, which I thought was so weird because this pregnancy has been my strongest contrax and I was more dilated with my other two babies. As soon as the dr saw my US report she said oh, this makes so much sense! Baby hasn't dropped, I am super comfortable and measuring large, with pain right under my boobs. She basically said because of the fluid baby won't drop and that is what helps to dilate my cervix and get it soft. None of that is happening.

I hope you get some answers!!

Bellodomani · April 2016

@jenl1681 Yeah my contractions with this pregnancy have been so much worse than with my first! My midwife says it's because the uterus is so much more stretched out that it becomes irritable and contracts with any sort of pressure (full bladder, driving on a bumpy street, etc). I had high-ish fluid with my son too, more like a 25 around my due date, and I took forever to dilate with him because my water bag was bulging and his head wasn't able to bear down on my cervix and dilate it. Are you nervous about having a super long induction since you're not very progressed? I'm worried if I get induced at 38 weeks and I'm still like 0 cm, 0% that the induction is just gonna be like a 3 day nightmare

jenl1681 · April 2016

I am a normal amount of nervous I would say, inductions and pitocin stink, and I was hoping to avoid that route, but I'm ok with it too. I would be much more nervous if I didn't have a "proven pelvis/cervix." I have given birth twice, both times I was able to do it vaginally-I dilated and was able to push both babies out, that is a giant plus! If I were going for a VBAC I would probably skip it and go right for the csection, because I am 1cm and 50% effaced, which isn't that great. My doctor did mention taking things very slow. Cervical ripener on Sunday, hopefully that will get me contracting and dilating, then break water, then pitocin on Monday. She seemed pretty confident that once my water is broken things will progress like normal. She was thinking maybe 24 hours? Total guess though.

Was as your first birth vaginal @Bellodomani that may play a part. My first I was contracting on my own, but labor stalled and I had to have pitocin anyway at 41w4d that was 25 hours. Second labor was a ER induction because I was 42w, had no fluid, with the chord wrapped 3 times around DD's neck. Without the fluid there is risk of cord compression, and of course I had an aged placenta. They pushed the pitocin and DD came is just about 3 hours. Compared to DD this lil guy will be born about 3 weeks earlier, so that part scares me a little bit, but I can't imagine waiting another 3 weeks and wondering what's happening to him lol. I was always so worried at the with DD and my MW kept brushing it off.

hellogoodbye2 · April 2016

I was only 1/2 cm dilated (I forget how effaced) when I was induced at 40w3d and my L&D went really well. Like you said, we took things really slow for the first 18 hours and then it went pretty fast once they broke my water and I dilated really fast. 24 hours in all.

Bellodomani · April 2016

@jenl1681 @hellogoodbye2 Thanks for your stories, that feels reassuring. My first birth was vaginal, he came on his own at 41 + 5, the day before my induction was scheduled. It was a crazy long labor (~30 hours) but was able to do it med-free so I think I'm just feeling anxious about having a super different experience with all these interventions. Although frankly at this point I'm pretty much down to just be like, give me all the meds ASAP and get this baby out.

anng23 · May 2016

So I had my 38 week fluid check and I'm down to 21cm! I feel so much more comfortable- my OB came in the room and said "woah- you look like you shrunk!" Hah before she knew that the fluid decreased so much. Now measuring at 40 weeks (fundal height got to 45 at 33 weeks). So I guess I'm out of poly range now which has helped me calm so much! Just wanted to let you guys know that fluid decreasing is a possibility

Bellodomani · May 2016

@anng23 Lucky! Mine has decreased ever so slightly (I'm at a 37 now) but it's still in the severe range and I still feel like I want to die. I'm continuing to have the weekly BPPs to check it, but unless something drastic changes this week they'll induce me on Monday when j hit 39 weeks because my midwife doesn't want my water to break outside of a controlled setting.

Rawa1416 · May 2016

Lurking from June. Just got diagnosed with poly yesterday. Only slightly above average (24.8) but baby is estimated at almost 7lbs and I'm only 33+4 so they're going to keep an eye on things. I wasn't diagnosed with it during my last pregnancy but pretty sure I had it (they had to change the sheets and mop the floor an hour after they broke my water in the hospital and I was severely swollen my entire third tri) and I feel better this time around. Glad to find this thread and hear some other stories of mama's dealing with similar things.

jenl1681 · May 2016

@Bellodomani my doctor was the same way! And all I can say is that holy crap she was right!!!! I'm so glad my water was broken at the hospital. She broke it and it was like a waterfall! I was having contrax one on top of the other and I would gush for each of them. Then once he was born a gigantic splash that covered doctor and a nurse.

Bellodomani · May 2016

@jenl1681 Oh man, that sounds crazy! That's how I keep imagining it's gonna be. Reeeeaaally hoping it doesn't break in like, a coffee shop or something this weekend because that would be extra mortifying.

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