Please help, urgent advice - Polyhydramnios/too much fluid

[Mum22GTTC]

Has anyone any experiences of this?

I've been told I'm not allowed a HB (I'm 36+3 now) because I have (mild) Polyhydramnios. I was only just over the boarder line at my last scan just over 2 weeks ago, but the water has increased so they've said no to a HB.

Now I know that it's my right to give birth where ever I choose, but realistically what are the risks? are there any? The consultant wasn't helpful just gave me the usual "we'll monitor you & may induce you" - but I wasn't given any info what so ever. TBH I just wanted to get out of there, because I had all of this last pregnancy when they thought I had IUGR (had to be monitored twice a week from 30 weeks), then magically at 38 weeks they changed their mind so I don't really have much confidence in what they say right now.

I've had all the tests & there is no reason for the extra water - just one of those things! The sono/midwife that actually scanned me was very pro HB & told me to basically fight for a HB as it's my right if that's what I want & she said obviously I need to make an informed decision, but to her the risks are minimal. However I just googled & found a list of possible risks

This is my 4th baby & I'm not even all that big, baby currently weighing approx 7lb 10oz (according to scan) so the growth isn't being compromised (in fact baby has gained over 2lb in 2 weeks???). Outwardly I do not look like I have Polyhydramnios, when palpatated by MW's I do not appear to have it, baby is head down & has been for a few weeks. The extra water was only picked up by chance when I was sent for a growth scan because I was actually measuring SMALL!!! (which I have done in all my pregnancies, dispite having 8lb++ babies!).

Ahhh, I'm so frustrated! A hospital birth would mean birthing alone, as we have absolutely no-one to look after our other children (long & unpleasant story), I've had such a stressful time over the past 6 months & this is just the icing on the cake. Not only that but my last labour was recorded as being just 35mins of active labour - I managed to get into the pool 5mins before baby was born, from start to finish labour was 2 hours max (2nd baby was a 4 hour labour), so that was a factor in wanting a HB originally too.

Sorry for the huge rant ladies - really hope someone can give me some advice, I'm seeing the community midwife tomorrow & I'm planning to tell her I will NOT be going to hospital. But just wanted some info from you ladies if possible.

Huge thanks in advance x

 

[cantthinkof1]

I had excessive waters with my last pregnancy, to be honest i still don't know why it was considered a problem. I had to go see a consultant, i'm not sure what for, i could barely understand him lol And i was never really told about risks etc. I always found it odd that they made a bit of a fuss about it to be honest, i was more concerned about my spd and thought that was why i was seeing the consultant in the first place. He felt my belly and said stuff that i couldn't fathom lol But that was it. I went into labour around my due date and it started with my waters breaking and yes there was a lot of it! But otherwise everything was fine. I don't see why you can't have a home birth, it seems like such a small thing for them to be concerned about but maybe you have an incredibly high amount? Is there risk of preterm labour maybe?

 

[Mum22GTTC]

I'm still in the 'mild' catergory, so no not really excessive.

Do you mind if I ask, were you allowed a normal birth? No extra monitoring etc? Were you told to go in as soon as your waters went?

From what I understand the risk is that there is a higher chance of a cord prolapse, that's why they are telling me I cannot birth at home. Were you not informed of that?

 

[cantthinkof1]

I wasn't informed of anything really, i've investigated further and i'm pretty annoyed that i wasn't told more. Apparently once your waters break you're supposed to ring an ambulance because you have to stay laying down, no one told me so i just waited until my contractions got strong and i ended up nearly having the baby in the car! I wasn't monitored as i'm pretty sure they didn't know, i didn't tell them as i wasn't told to tell the hospital. It's actually very lucky that everything turned out ok for me considering how little they prepared me! To this day i didn't know the reason i had such a quick labour was because of excess fluid. I wasn't told that as soon as labour starts you're supposed to go to hospital. I shall be having words with my midwife when i see her next week, i'm pretty annoyed about this and i'm going to ask to be checked to see if i have it again because checking the symptoms online i seem to have all of them, might just be a coincidence though.

Do you know the reason for your excess waters? Apparently it could be that something's wrong with the baby, although that is rare. I don't know what to suggest regarding a home birth now that i've looked into the dangers myself, i guess it would depend on how excessive your waters get and whether there's an underlying cause for it. As far as i know there was no reason for mine, just 1 of those things i guess. There's also a risk of bleeding excessively after the birth, another thing that was never mentioned to me. I do remember the after birth was in pieces and bits of it kept coming out days afterwards, which can happen with excessive waters, yet another thing i wasn't told. I'm starting to think we should do away with midwives altogether and just rely on the internet to inform us of these things lol

If i was you i'd speak to my midwife about this in detail, especially as she might not tell you everything you need to know unless you ask.