Low amniotic fluid?

[MilosMommy7]

Has anyone dealt with oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid)? How low was yours and what ended up being the outcome? What was the cause for having the low fluid? And do you know how much you were drinking before, and then how much you added to help the fluids increase?
Yesterday started a routine growth scan with the specialist and ended up turning into spending all day in the hospital. My afi was only 4.8 and during the stres test, baby's heart rate would dip with movements. Typical days I get at LEAST 50oz of liquid. I'm ordered to rest and try to add as much extra liquid as I can through the weekend, then getting ultrasounds on Monday and Thursday of next week. I'm on pins and needles and will be until Monday!

 

[EleriT]

Hi,

Just wanted to share with you my oligohydramnios story, as when I was going hrough it I remember desperately searching the internet for info and not coming up with much which is very frustrating.
I had my 20 week scan and fluid was a little low but not enough to be worried, by 30 weeks I was referred for a growth scan because my bump was measuring 4 weeks behind and I was getting very little movement from lo, it was there that they picked up on very low fluid (i can't remember the specific number now) and I had to go back for weekly scans to check her growth and my fluid levels.
We were warned that there could be various things wrong with our baby, from chromosomal abnormalities to club feet from being squashed in such a confined space, but we just wouldn't know until she was born, this was terrifying for us because we couldn't prepare ourselves for what might happen.
I was induced at 39 weeks by which point I had no fluid left at all and discovered that my placenta was calcified, so baby needed to come out straight away, there was a place ready in the special care baby unit for her, she was born 5lb 8oz and absolutely perfect, no need for any help from the pediatricians. They could not explain a definitive reason why my fluid was so low, so we don't know if it will happen again next time, what I do know is that several doctors told me that no matter how much I drank it would not affect my fluid levels, I drank gallons of water anyway and my fluid levels continued to drop, there's no harm in trying though!

I've tried to keep this quite short so if I've missed anything or you have anything else to ask I'll do my best to help

The best thing you can do is go for weekly scans and pay close attention to movement, don't worry about ringing the hospital non stop, with a diagnosis of oligohydramnios they will take you seriously!

 

[MilosMommy7]

Thanks for your reply! I've tried searching and not coming up with much either when I went for 21 week anatomy scan my fluid levels were 8.9, so nothing too alarming at the time. I was having the growth scan last week because I had gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy, and was running borderline this time. So far the baby is estimated 6.2 lbs. I've been drinking (and peeing) nonstop, and resting is proving hard to do with two other younger children and their father working evenings. Doesn't help that my ultrasound on Monday isn't until 3:30 pm! I'm really hoping I can make it to 38-39 weeks.

 

[EleriT]

It's really scary when you can't find any information to reassure yourself, and my doctors kept trying to prepare me for the worst which is a horrible thing to do to a first time mum!
I was also ordered to rest and had to take early maternity leave but it's easier said than done when you're moving house and preparing for Christmas (she was born 29th Dec)
At least you know that baby is already 6lb 2oz so if he/she does have to make an early appearance that's a really good size How far along are you?
Try not to stress, the outcomes for babies born with low fluid are almost always fine if the fluid is only low in the third trimester, which it seems is the case for you, just be extra super vigilant about movement! xxx

 

[MilosMommy7]

Baby's movement is all I can think about. Every time I wake up at night I try to wait for a little wiggle (at the least) before falling back asleep. I just turned 36 weeks and hoping it can be something to wait out over the next week or two before delivering. But of course trying to prepare myself for delivery to happen at any day, given baby has already failed 1 stress test. I think the only thing that worries me is that we don't know when exactly the fluids went low. So we can't tell how long I've been walking around with low fluids

 

[Sweedot]

I had dangerously low amniotic fluid with dd, discovered routine growth scan at 32 weeks, went back every two weeks but fluid dropped from 11 to 9 to 4 to less than 4! Her growth stunted and she was lingering in the 5th percentile for weight and growth. I was admitted for induction when my level got below four and after a week of induction failures, finally went into labour, delivered my daughter at 40+1 weighing 6 pounds. She had meconium in her lungs a little, but otherwise was perfectly healthy. When they delivered my
Placenta, the said it was failing and was very small.

50oz isn't enough fluid, I was drinking over 120oz everyday of water...I am in this pregnancy and so far, so amniotic fluid problems, so definitely increase your intake and rest.

 

[MilosMommy7]

i haven't updated in this thread (other stuff with my blood pressure came up). 2 weeks after my levels were at 4.8, i got them up to 10! but yesterday they dropped to a 3.9 out of no where i've been on bedrest since the initial scare and have been living on water (i've lost weight with not eating as much so that i can have room for as much liquid as i can get). i go back monday to recheck and if they dont improve, will be induced. nothing has changed from last week to this week, so i'm really confused why they've dropped again but grandparents are stepping in to help watch the kids this weekend since my hubby is working all weekend.