Pregnancy is the more significant and crucial time of women’s lives. The major problem in pregnancy is Low Amniotic fluid in the womb, often known as Oligohydramnios.
This is a condition which has a low measure of amniotic fluid that is lower than expected for a baby’s gestational age.
The treatment for this low amniotic fluid is not proven for a long-term effect. But treating this for a short term is possible and it might be done in certain situations.
This Amniotic fluid is very important because it will keep your baby safe while he or she is in the womb.
During pregnancy, this amniotic fluid will safeguard and do the job of cushioning your baby that will protect the baby from injury. It will allow the baby to get good growth, movement, and development.
It also has other tremendous functions like keeping the baby warm, acting as a lubricant, promoting proper lung and kidney development and helping the baby move freely which will help the baby to exercise the limbs and becomes strong.
It also keeps the umbilical cord from being compression between the baby and the uterine wall.
The amount of amniotic fluid reflects the baby’s urine output and it a measure of a baby’s well-being. The amniotic sac are keeping the fluid inside mother’s uterus and protect the baby from germs to reduce the risk infection while they are growing.
The Low Amniotic Fluid can be defined by the following:
- Amniotic Fluid volume is of less than 500ml.
- The maximum vertical pocket is of less than 2 cm.
- Having the Amniotic fluid index of less than 5 cm.
This amniotic fluid is initially made up of water provided by the mother, but after 20 weeks the primary substance becomes fetal urine, which is not harmful to the baby. The baby will start to breathe and swallow the fluid in about the second trimester.
Causes
Low amniotic fluid can cause so many complications to baby and mother. It will occur depend on the cause, severity, your baby’s gestational age, your health and your baby’s health.
During the period of the third trimester, the umbilical cord may become squeezed during labor time, grow of the baby will slow down and there is a higher chance of a Cesarean.
Some of the reasons for experiencing low amniotic fluid are as follows:
- Waters have broken into the uterus.
- Abruption in Placental. It will happen when the placenta comes away from the wall partially completed.
- Having birth defects like kidney of urinary tract problems.
- Genetic issues.
- Pre-existing diabetes.
- Some medical conditions like lupus.
Symptoms or Signs
The Low Amniotic Fluid will detect some signs or symptoms but many women are not paying attention to that signs in their body.
If the mother found this condition, they should approach the doctor immediately with seriousness to protect the safety of the baby. The Symptoms are
- The abdomen is smaller than the expectation and it should be given your gestational period.
- Feel like the movement of the baby is less.
- The amount of urine will be smaller than expected.
- Visibly lack of amniotic fluid can detect in ultrasound.
- The mother will experience the high blood pressure while pregnant. It is a condition called Eclampsia.
- The mother will not gain enough weight.
- The growth of the baby will not be at the correct rate.
Available treatments for Amniotic
The process in which Low Amniotic Fluid can be cured by the available treatments is called as amnioinfusion.
This will be done to relieve pressure on the umbilical cord during labor or to enhance an ultrasound image. If anybody suffered from lack of amniotic fluid, it will restrict the growth or gives genetic disorder.
The same condition during 36 to 37 weeks pregnancy doctors will conclude that the early delivery is the safest treatment.
The mother will be recommended to drink more fluids because of their dehydration.
The doctors will give treatments and suggestions to increase the amniotic fluid with medicine and other means and make you rehydrate. They will monitor the mother and their levels closely.
To monitor baby’s activities tests such as non-stress and contraction stress tests will be taken.
The best treatment is to get an injection of amniotic fluid. In this type of treatment, doctors will inject the leaking amniotic fluids back into the amniotic sac with a needle. It will suddenly increase the fluid amount.
They will also use other treatments like getting fluid intravenous fluid therapy; use a catheter to increase the fluid level, and home remedies also available.
Home remedies like drinking excess amount water on a daily basis, having fruits that have high water contents, avoiding herbal supplements which dehydrate the body and doing light exercises regularly and take bed rest.
The Low Amniotic fluid can be treated and the mothers can be out of it without any danger.
