Silvia Azaña, an embryologist at inviTRA, talks to us about the consequences of having too much amniotic fluid:
The condition in which the amniotic sac contains an excessive amount of amniotic fluid is called polyhydramnios.
This condition is found in roughly 1 to 2% of pregnancies.
Polyhydramnio is usually mild. Nonetheless, if it is serious or if it occurs early during pregnancy, the risk of experiencing complications increases significantly.
The main causes of increased amniotic fluid can, in many cases, be related to both the mother and the baby. And these causes may include the following: gestational diabetes, multiple pregnancy, anemia in the baby (such as the type that is caused by Rh incompatibility problems), gastrointestinal disorders or abnormalities of the urinary system or the nervous system of the baby, as well as fetal infections.
Nevertheless, the causes remain unknown in approximately half of all cases of polyhydramnios.
Although polyhydramnios can sometimes show no symptoms at all, women might experience issues like difficulty in breathing or a persistent feeling of breathlessness, particularly in cases of severe polyhydramos. This is because the uterus is enlarged, which puts pressure on the diaphragm and other organs of the mother.Additionally, the woman may also begin to experience painful uterine contractions and swelling in her legs.
Although the specialist may suspect polyhydramnios in situations where the uterus appears to be larger than expected for the stage of pregnancy, the diagnosis is made by calculating the amniotic fluid index, which must be greater than or equal to 25.After the diagnosis of polyhydramnios is confirmed, the specialist will proceed to conduct a series of tests on the woman in order to investigate the causes of the condition, like tests to exclude conditions such as gestational diabetes or maternal isoimmunization.
Additionally, the specialist will want to monitor the progression of polyhydramnios. So, the pregnant woman will attend regular checkups.
As for treating this excess amniotic fluid, it will depend on several factors as the known cause (if there is one), the actual volume of amniotic fluid present and the stage of pregnancy the woman is currently in. Therefore, if the cause of polyhydramnios has been identified, appropriate treatment will be administered.
In certain situations, amnodrainage may be proposed, particularly if the polyhydramnios is severe or if the mother has serious symptoms. This medical intervention consists of aspirating the amniotic fluid in order to reduce its overall volume.On the other hand, it is possible to use certain medications to reduce the amount of urine produced by the baby and therefore the volume of amniotic fluid. Nonetheless, these medications are occasionally used because of the potential negative effects they can have on the baby.
In conclusion, the specialist will evaluate the best moment for the birth.
