Oligohydramnios

[Louise N]

Can anyone help please I had this with my LO only it wasn't discovered until I self-referred to hospital at 39weeks. I'd always measured slightly small (about 2-3cm's) but the CMW's were never concerned so I didn't make any fuss. At 38wks my LO's movements were barely anything each day and it took me about a week before I finally realised that this wasn't down to my baby having no room left to move and got myself checked out.

My Amniotic fluid levels were really low and I was induced that afternoon. Thankfully my LO now is a very healthy and happy little girl although she was born on the small side - between 2nd & 9th percentile.

I asked everyone (the sonographer, the MW that induced me, the one at the birth, my CMW's, my gp at my postnatal check) why my fluid levels were so low but no one could give me any answers and the day I went into hospital and was given the news haunts me every day to the point of feeling physically sick and i'm terrified that it will happen again. Is it something that can re-occur?
I need to know why and no one will give me any answers

 

[AndyyMay]

I had my usual midwife appointment last friday (28 weeks)
She had a chat with me as she always does and then measured her bump....i could tell by her face something wasn't quite right...
She told me that my bump was measuring abit on the small side and made an appointment for me at the hospital that afternoon.(2.30p.m)

As you can tell up until the afternoon i was starting to get abit worried

2.30 P.m i was at the hospital and gave my details,they were expecting me >.<
I was sent in for a scan to check baby was okay and to check the placenta was working the way it should...turns out she's growing okay and is an average sized baby..and the placenta was working good too....a sigh of relief.

The person doing the scan (the sonographer) will check your fluid levels by looking at the whole amniotic sac. She'll measure the depth of the largest pockets of amniotic fluid in four sections of your uterus. By adding the four measurements together she'll work out your score on the amniotic fluid index (AFI). There are established normal levels of fluid for each week of pregnancy, so your levels will be compared with these.

But that was when i got told i had low amniotic fluid levels =/
I had no idea at the time what that actually meant.

I got told that amniotic fluid levels change all the time due to baby drinking it...
so one day it could be low....the next it could be normal again

It could be due to a number of things...the placenta not working properly,ruptured membranes or even baby might have a health problem.

But like i said it can change from day to day.
I got told that nothing i was doing was wrong...and that there is nothing you can to increase the amount of fluid it's all down to your body.

if the low amount of fluid was picked up when you'r in your first tri...it could lead to a misscarridge

wheereas if your 3rd tri the most they can do is to keep an eye on you with regular appointments

This is what is happening to me...i have an appointment everyother day to monitor movement and the babys heart to keep an eye on if anything goes wrong

Around the time you were at 38 weeks amniotic fluid starts to decrease ready for birth..

I'm sorry the only bit i dont know is if its a problem that could re-occur again

Hope you and baby are well,
sorry i couldn't be more help

Andyy x

 

[Louise N]

At least you were sent for a scan Andy. That's reassuring.


I was never sent for a scan, my last scan was the anomaly scan at 20wks. I measured small at every apt (between 2 & 3cm's) and at my 36 & 38wk apt's my bump hadn't grown but the MW blamed her tape measure and said everything was fine. I remember not being able to hear the hb clearly at my last apt (the 38wk one) and the MW said the batteries were almost gone but she'd heard enough to hear the hb was clear. It took me a week of worrying before I called the hospital and checked myself in and my babys heartbeat was far from regular.

As I said thankfully my induction was very quick and my LO is here safe and well but the whole thing keeps going around and around in my head that I was so close to losing her. Next year we'll probably be thinking about our next baby and i'm terrified now

 

[AndyyMay]

I Think the best thing you can do is try and not worry about it,

But if you were measuring small I don't get how it can be "the tape measures fault"
even if it was she should have sent you to the hospital to be checked out.

If in you're next pregnancy,you are measuring small and the midwife has no concern...then give the hospital a ring and explain your situation,that way...if you were to have a low amount of fluid...it can be caught early and then they'll be able to keep an eye on you
An it'll make you feel better being on the safe side.

i'm glad things did go well for you

x

 

[Louise N]

I'll have to make more of a fuss if the same thing starts to happen again I guess. I dunno why it's been playing on my mind so much lately - It's just the 'why' and will it happen again that really bothers me but I just keep telling myself that things were fine in the end and that's what is important now.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy Andy

 

[lilbumpblue]

i measured small too but fluid levels remained normal luckily, i had a growth scan at 34 weeks and he weighed 4lb ish. I was measured and was 5 weeks small at 38 weeks and mw had to send me for an emergency scan even thou i had a scan 4 weeks before to 'cover herself' which i was happy about! Sometimes i think they cant be bothered!!

Just wanted to say your lo is beautiful, my James was born measuring 48cm and weighing 6lb 9oz so not far off each other!! xx