Amniotic fluid question

At my sono today (@29 weeks because the baby is measuring on the low end of average - 39th percentile), the doctor said the fluid is on the low side of average also.
She said rest and fluids...will that really help? What happens if it goes too low?
I am sitting here trying to guzzle water even though it makes me nauseous and the only thing I want to drink is soda.

Re: Amniotic fluid question

I had a sono at 31 weeks and my fluid was VERY low - so low that my dr put me on strict bedrest and said that if i went any lower they'd put me in the hospital to monitor me. I stayed home and rested on my left side and drank a ton of water and the level went up significantly when I went back 2 days later and was taken off bedrest (the doctor said that water doesn't help b/c it has an internal mechanism, but I figured it wouldn't hurt either!)

They are now monitoring me every week and it has still been fluctuating - and now, at 33.5 weeks, the baby is also measuring a little behind as well. My doctor said this is probably a result of my placenta breaking down earlier than it should. I have a biophysical profile done every week now, and a growth sono every 2 weeks and if they see that the baby isn't growing, I will have to have the baby early. The 39th percentile doesn't sound bad though - they said they only worry once it gets below the 10th percentile and you're far away from that.

Will they be monitoring you weekly now? Do you know what your levels were?

FM me if you'd like!

Re: Amniotic fluid question

fluid levels vary throughout the day.... If you are dehydrated or not drinking enough the fluid levels will be on the lower side......

Re: Amniotic fluid question

from personal experience .. my fluid dropped to 4 at my 37th week and the dr delivered me. I had been told the day before delivery when I had a non stress test that tons and tons of water can help .. good luck! your fluid should stay betwee 8-20 .. that is "normal" .. too low and they may want to deliver you depending on what week you are at

Re: Amniotic fluid question

If that is what the Dr. said than I would assume it would help - Good luck!

Re: Amniotic fluid question

I just delivered a mth early due to low fluid.

I had a sono at 32 weeks and though I don't know what the AF was, I believe it was normal b/c it was never an issue. Then at 36 weeks I had a very bad fever, chills, etc, and went to the hospital. When they did my biophysical, my fluid was 5.9. Hours later after IV hydration, my fluid levels went down even lower to 3.5 so I had to deliver the baby. In my case, they suspected an amniotic infection (due to the fever) and wanted to do an amnio to see what was going on, but I didn't even have enough to do the amnio so they just delivered DD. She was growing great all along, at my 32 week sono she was in the 81st % and considered fairly large at 5.8 lbs and at delivery at 36 weeks, she was 7.4 lbs. So it appears for me, low fluid probably wasn't the case all along.

I had a hard time consuming fluids during my pg, I had to force myself and didn't always do the best job. That night, I knew I hadn't drank enough during the day at all. But what was odd to me was even after 2 bags of IV hydration, the fluid didn't increase, only decreased.

I don't know the answers still as to what happened in my case. I didn't have an amniotic infection upon delivery after all, don't know if the fever caused the dehydration of the AF or the low amt of AF maybe caused the fever/chills somehow immunologically?

I was told the fluid should be b/w 5-20 where I had my biophysical. I am sure with my next pg, I will make sure I am monitored more closely in case it was the placenta crapping out too early (which can happen). Luckily DD was perfectly healthy and we are doing great. As long as you are being monitored, they will keep on top of it and make decisions based on that. Can you keep us posted? I would like to know what happens.

Message edited 12/5/2008 12:56:39 AM.

Re: Amniotic fluid question

Thanks everyone...

I read up last night that normal is between 5 and 25 and mine was 9.4. It tends to go down as you go along and starts to drop by 34 weeks so that is why she was a little concerned since I am only 29 weeks.

I have been trying to drink nonstop but all I want is soda...juice, water, seltzer just don't do it...but I've been trying to force down the flavored seltzer.

I go back for another sono next Thursday so hopefully it goes up again.

Re: Amniotic fluid question

Re: Amniotic fluid question

9.4 isn't bad at all - they told me that mine was fine when it was at 9 - they were concerned when it was at 6. I wouldn't worry too much with that number, plus they are monitoring you closely.

Good luck and definitely keep us posted!

Re: Amniotic fluid question

With my first child, I was put on bed rest at 32 weeks due to low fluid. I was on bed rest for 5 weeks. At 37 weeks, my level was a 4 and I was induced & delivered.