Polyhydramnios at 30 weeks. Anyone else had any experience of this?

[Raptasaur]

Hi, I had a growth scan on Monday at 29+4. I have had recurrent miscarriages and been diagnosed with a clotting disorder in pregnancy so am taking 150mg of aspirin daily. The scan shows baby is growing well, on 70-75th percentile for most things and estimated weight of 3lb 11oz. However, the scan shows I have excess amniotic fluid or polyhydramnios which explains why I feel so huge at 30 weeks. My belly is like a huge bloated drum. This is very different from my 1st pregnancy with my DD where I worked right up to 38/39 weeks and felt great. They have tested me for GD and my results were normal so it's not that. They've also run a TORCH screen for infectious diseases like CMV, Parvo virus etc and I get the results of that next week. I have another scan on Wednesday so we can see if things have got better or worse.

Googling this condition makes for scary reading as it seems to make several serious complications like premature delivery, cord prolapse, placental abruption, more likely. I just wondered if anyone else has been diagnosed with this issue or had it in a previous pregnancy and what advice you have been given. It seems to be one of those rarer complications affecting about 1 in 500 women. I haven't seen a consultant yet and the one I am under can't fit me in until I'm almost 35 weeks. My midwife has told me to go to the Antenatal day assessment at the hospital on Wednesday after the scan and demand to be seen by a doctor, which I intend to do. Any advice or experience shared would be really useful. Thanks.

 

[Blondie007]

Hi, I had this too. My baby was born at full term and no complications from the high fluid levels. The only thing I was told, was if my waters broke, I had to get an ambulance to hospital because of possible cord prolapse but even that was a very unlikely problem. All was good for me. My sister in law had it too, and she had no problems either. I'm sure it will all be fine xxx

 

[Tiger22]

Do you remember the AFI number they gave you? I have also been diagnosed with this..at 34 weeks AFI was24.5....at 36 weeks...26.1...at 37 25.7. My doctor says not to worry when numbers are in the 30s or 40s is when you run into cord prolapse issues and that other stuff you read online. I also scared myself silly reading all the possible complications online (don't google!) my doc thinks baby is fine so I am just trying not to worry about it. Try not to worry!

 

[Raptasaur]

Thanks Blondie, that's reassuring that both of you suffered no issues. Good to hear.

Tiger I haven't had an AFI yet as it was discovered on a private scan I had last week to check growth as I have a clotting disorder. Problem is I had my recurrent miscarriage testing privately in London due to waiting lists (I'm 43) and to access expertise but asked to be discharged to local NHS antenatal care as I live in the Cotswolds and also the costs were escalating. St Mary's in London which diagnosed the clotting problem said I should be seen at 28 and 32 weeks but my NHS consultant locally saw me once at 18 weeks and said he didn't need to see me again until 34 weeks (appointment is actually nearer 35 weeks). That's why I went for the private scan. I've now argued for an earlier scan locally which I have next Wednesday but still no earlier consultant appointment. My midwife has told me I need to go to antenatal day assessment/triage after the scan and demand to be seen. Hopefully someone will be able to compare scans then and see if it is getting worse or better and give me an AFI reading. The private scan on Monday showed the deepest pocket of fluid at 10-11cm where it should be 5-6cm at this stage. I could tell there was something not quite right as I am enormous compared to my pg with my DD and my abdomen feels like it might pop at any minute!! My baby looks fine and is growing really well. Just worried about premature labour etc if these waters keep increasing. Will try to follow your example and not worry! Thanks for sharing your experience. Hopefully we will both make it full-term with no more problems.

 

[Tiger22]

Raptasaur -how did your scan go? I also had another one and the fluid levels have went down within normal range. Weird. The doctor says maybe baby was peeing a lot! (Well good thing we stocked up on diapers -lol!) I hope things are going well for you!

 

[Raptasaur]

Hi Tiger. I had a scan on Weds and fluid levels have dropped. They are now right on the 95th percentile, so technically normal range but right at the very top. Baby had moved down from transverse lie too so things are a bit more comfortable. Got another scan at 34-35 weeks so we'll see how things are then. Glad to hear your levels have dropped back to within normal range. I guess without scans we would be in some mind of blissful ignorance rather than being driven crazy by all the worse-case scenarios on Google!

 

[nicksi27]

Hello just to let you know ive also just been diagnosed with polyhydramnios at 33 weeks my fluid has gone from 18cm to 23cm and my latest level was 31 ive also had torch screen, a gtt today and have a scan on fri to see what the level is then. Ive got a detailed scan of the baby a week on friday too which im terrified about. Thing is my consultant doesnt seem too concerned its me reading horror stories on google which has scared the life outta me. Glad your levels have gone down, thats a relief for you x

 

[Raptasaur]

Hi Nicksi. Sorry to hear you have it too. I had the GTT and TORCH screen neither of which showed an underlying cause for the polydramnios. Most cases remain unexplained apparently. The rather junior registrar I saw after my scan this week didn't seem concerned as my levels are high but have dropped into normal range, albeit right at the very top at 95th percentile. Baby is measuring large around 70/75th percentile. I feel like you though that after my history of recurrent loss (4 miscarriages), a diagnosed clotting disorder and a subchorionic hematoma that it might be understandable to be a bit worried about early labour, complications and baby's welfare. Let me me know how you get on with further scans, I've got my fingers crossed that the levels come down for you.

 

[nicksi27]

Hi Nicksi. Sorry to hear you have it too. I had the GTT and TORCH screen neither of which showed an underlying cause for the polydramnios. Most cases remain unexplained apparently. The rather junior registrar I saw after my scan this week didn't seem concerned as my levels are high but have dropped into normal range, albeit right at the very top at 95th percentile. Baby is measuring large around 70/75th percentile. I feel like you though that after my history of recurrent loss (4 miscarriages), a diagnosed clotting disorder and a subchorionic hematoma that it might be understandable to be a bit worried about early labour, complications and baby's welfare. Let me me know how you get on with further scans, I've got my fingers crossed that the levels come down for you.

glad that your levels have reduced to normal range. Im sure your raised levels are simply due to the fact that your baba is quite big. I had another scan today and its gone up to 34cm. They saw his stomach, bladder, kidneys and didnt see any abnormality today but theyre gonna scan again in a week in more detail and if the fluid increases anymore theyre gonna deliver him early. His growth is good and he weighs 6lb6oz today estimated. Im petrified and am driving myself crazy wondering if hes got downs syndrome or other conditions. Nothing my consultant says can reassure me at the moment

 

[Tiger22]

Raptasaur-I agree without all these scans we wouldn't have all these worries! It has been a pretty complicated pregnancy for me also.. With my heart conditon I am high risk so have been at the doctors office almost every week and having ultrasounds every two weeks! Glad your fluid levels have went down also and wishing you and your baby the best!

Nicki- I did the same thing when I found out I had the polyhydramnios ... Worried and googled like crazy! (Not good!) I really think you just have a bigger baby that is drinking/peeing more... If you are measuring ahead and so is baby..and if there were anything major I think they would have found something by now! And remember the majority of these cases everything turns out normal! Try not to worry! I know it's hard! Ill say some prayers for you and your little one! Hope things get better!