Polyhydroamnios - anyone had this or know much about it?

My SIL is 24 wks pregnant with her first baby.
Everything had been going well, tests all came back good, ultrasounds have all been normal etc, until last week.
My brother rang in some distress, his fiancee had just been to see her OB and had had an emergency US, He told them that she is measuring 36 wks for her (then ) 23 wks, there is a huge amount of fluid in her uterus, and is mainly all at the top and bottom instead of all around the baby.
She initially went to see the OB as she had been having some pain and a bulgy feeling in her vagina and very low down. OB says this is not a good sign and she has been told to stop all exercise (including her daily walk) and to take things VERY easy.
She is being monitored weekly now to check the amniotic levels, they were told that if nothing has changed in another week, something will have to be done.
What exactly, Im not sure! I do know they were talking about removing a litre of fluid at a time, if it comes to that.
This is risky as it could cause preterm labour or rupture. They hae been told to prepare for the possibility of having a very premature baby.
My heart is just breaking for them at the moment, I know how it feels to be so very scared throughout a pregnancy that something is wrong, I wish they werent having to go through this, and I am hoping and praying that little Isaac is gong to be very happy and safe in his mums tummy for quite some time yet.
So my question is, hae any of yo lovely ladies had a diagnosis like this? what was your outcome? or do you know what the possibilities of this resoling itself could be?
I really dont want to do DR Google, Im scared enough as it is. Thankyou.

:bump: anyone....?

There are a couple of threads on here

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ydramnios.html

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ydramnios.html

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...lucas-jay.html

I thought i recalled another recent thread but couldn't find it when i did a search.

take care

Big :hug: StarrySky

I had Polydroamnios with DD, it was picked up at 24 weeks and I was measuring 29 weeks (so not as bad as your SIL). But what my OB did first was testing to find out the possible cause, I went straight in for the GTT, adn GD can be a cause, and Blood Tests for infection. All of which came back negative, so we didn't have a cause at all, just had to go with the flow as such. I made it to 33 weeks, but my fluid levels did fluctuate, I also have a septate uterus that is not very good at lasting to term, I had an amniotic band also know for PTL, and possible incompentant cervix, so many other factors that could have resulted in going into PTL and delivering a prem. They do have the option of inserting a needle and taking out some of the fluid, this comes at a risk and was never discussed with me as it wasn't deemed necessary.

The fluid levels are determined also by the amount of urine that the baby is producing, so they will be having a close look at bubs kidney function to see if there are any indicators there of a possible issue.

The excess fluid to the extent that your SIL is experiencing is putting a lot of extra pressure on the uterus and she may not make it to term, but the good things are that it has been picked up, and she will be monitored closely, they won't be able to predict if her membrance will rupture but they can keep an eye out on her cervix to see if that is changing due to the increased pressure on it, indicating whether she is likely to go into labour, they can also do swab tests to determine if her body is more primed and likely to go into labout in the next 10 days or so.

My levels did fluctuate, they dropped right back at 30 weeks, but then rose again and when my waters broke there was a huge amount :lol: Soaked through tracksuit pants, a towel and my car seat :redface:

Will be keeping wee little Issac in my thoughts are prayers along with your SIL, she must be very scared, but look at the positives it helps the mental and emotional side of the journey, she is being closely monitored, resting a lot and that the levels can fluctuate, so I pray that theyd rop for her.

Take care xxoo :hug: :hug:

Don't google ;)

Thankyou so much for your reply Beema, I have actually directed my SIL to your blog about N's journey, Seeing as she is facing the possibility of a pre term baby, I thought it might help her a bit.
I dont know if they have tested her for GD yet and all the rest, I did ask last night if they had checked out Isaacs kidneys and placenta etc, but she didnt know... she has been to Ashford for 2 specialist scans in the last couple of weeks, so I hope they would have checked all that out.
She is quite disappointed that she probably wont be delivering at burnside, but I have assured her that the WCH will be fantastic if Isaac comes along a bit early (fingers crossed he can stay put for as long as is healthy).
Thanks again, and Thanks for keeping him in your thoughts xxx

I am going through Asfords US clinic for this pregnancy as well, they are very thorough and the best place to go, the OB's there are very good, and the Sonographers very professional as they deal with the high risk cases everyday. I have submitted my forms for NECH and WCH, with it being highly likely we will be back at the WCH. Burnside will deliver for 34 weeks, which is earlier than NECH, I was a few days too early for Burnside as well.

I completely understand her sadness in possibly not being able to deliver at Burnside, but on reflection, if you are earlier than 34 weeks the WCH is the best place to be, the NICU and SCBU's are second to none, the care there is amazing, you want you bub to be where the best Paeds are too look after them. For mum it is hard, I really struggled, going back to a room in Post Natal, hearing day and night when I was there other babies crying, so very sad that I couldn't have mine with me. I was also right next to the lounge so a constant stream of bubs going back and forth passed my door. Other friends have been on Ante Natal and it was hard for them as they were surrounded by still pregnant mums wishing it could be them :(

There is also the option to transfer back out to Burnside and she would likely be able to go in as a border when bubs is well enough and is basically just focussing of feeding.

If bubs does come early, let me know and I can give you a mountain of things that were done for me and things I wish were that can make it so so so much easier.

Take care xxoo

i had this plus multiple other complications too. mine was picked up at a scan at 31 weeks and i was measuring 6 weeks ahead. i think they can drain some fluid but it does come with some risks. it is usually associated with gestational diabetes.

i am with Beema on this one. i was booked into NECH but ended up delivering at WCH. they care there is fantastic and like Beema, i hated being in my room in post natal and listening to all of the other babies crying and crying myself because my baby couldnt be with me.

good luck to your SIL. its a tough journey but with love and support, it will make it some what easier for her. xx

oops, thanks kate, didnt see your post till now! xx

thanks again Beema, will do that!!

and thankyou teresa, maybe its something I should mention to her so she is prepared? I just dont want to scare or upset her...

Hey hun

Just wondering how your SIL is going, she would be almost 28 weeks now :crossfingers:
I had an OB appointment and was measuring right on 23 weeks and it was at 24 weeks when the Polyhyrominous started and I was looking through my book last night and saw that I was measuing 30 weeks, not the 29 weeks but still not as much as your SIL and it reminded me of you and as I hadn't heard anything I was hoping that no news is good news.
Take care xxoo

hey beema, thanks for thinking of us.

So far, so good, she is having weekly checks for measurement, so far she is increasing slowly, only 1-2 cms in the last couple of weeks. They are still saying she is probably going to go early, so we have pushed the baby shower up a bit.
ooh, and Happy Birthday to miss N!! XX

That is good news that it has stablised and isn't increasing at a huge rate again, when her waters break she will know about it :lol: I recommend a couple of towels on the car seat JIC! :hug:
Hoping she gets well into the 30's!

Good idea to push the baby shower up as well, I had mine just two days before N arrived, she nearly made it to the shower!

Thanks so much as well, I can't believe she is two :o!
Take care xxoo

I am experiencing this at the moment. It was first picked up at about 25 weeks with an AFI of 26 but over the past week I have 'popped' in a big way. An unplanned visit to my OB confirmed that at 27 weeks I was measuring 37 - 38 weeks. An emergency US was ordered and the AFI was measured to be 29. Waiting for something to happen, so I can so empathise with your SIL.

Like her I'm been monitored very closely. Out of interest is your SIL in hospital or allowed to be at home. I have had to beg to be allowed to remain at home as I have two small children whom need their mummy for as long as possible.

Thinking of your SIL and hope she is not too uncomfortable. Not being able to breath is not nice at all.

HI joelsgirl, thanks for replying and so sorry you are having to go through the same thing.

yes, she is at home,was told to avoid all exercise and strain etc, take things VERY easy. but she is now 33 (or is it 34!!) weeks, she is still measuring ahead at 42 weeks, she left work 2 weeks ago, having originally planned to work till 38 weeks.
There was talk of her being induced or straight in for c/s at 37 weeks, but now her OB has decidied to let her go and see what happens, he feels she wont last much longer and could go into labour any day (just due to the increased strain on her uterus)
She is still being monitored weekly with scans every 2 weeks, so far all is going as well as it can be.
how are you going at home with 2 lil ones to run after? keep us updated here if you want, Im always interested in how these things turn out. I hope it all works out as best it can for you.

So glad to hear that your SIL is doing well. Give her my regards.

I have constant help, someone here with me 24/7, if DH is working then my my mum/dad or sister is with me. It's hard to rely on others so heavily but I truly do not have any other choice at the moment. My OB said she will induce me (probably by breaking waters only) at 37 weeks but will give steriod injections thru week 36. My baby is thought to be on the smallish side (def when compared to my two boys) so every day counts at the moment. I will update in here as this condition seems pretty rare and it may help others in the future.

I too have weekly monitoring and fortnightly scans. My OB said I will more than likely be hospitalised for some forced rest along the way somewhere - god love her !

Im glad to hear you have some help! It cant be easy for you though, as you said having to rely on others, but hey, thats what family is for, isnt it? (LOL)

I found it quite disconcerting how little info there was on the net about polyhydramnios, most things I read were all saying that it would come to nothing or just need to to be monitored, but no REAL information IYKWIM?

Forced rest hey? can't be a bad thing, im sure! I hope bubs decides to stay in there for quite a while yet, as long as it is healthy for him/her.
will be thinking of you :)

my ob told me at 33 weeks that he would hospitilise me at any stage over the next 2 weeks for forced rest too. he was quite concerned about my tight tummy too as well as all the other complications i had. i ended up in hospital anyway at 34 weeks (1 week before he planned mind u). my AFI at 32 weeks was 29.1. not sure what it was at 34 weeks. they never told me!
good luck starrysky with your SIL and good luck joel's girl!! its hard but very worth it in the end!!!

My AFI was measured at 31 yesterday. No wonder I find it hard to breathe. Surely it has to peak soon and start getting lower, about 32 - 34 weeks from what I've read. Fingers crossed.

Starrysky - How is your SIL ? Still hanging in there ?

joel's girl - wow!! i hope it doesnt increase and it stabilises for u!!

Teresa - thanks.
I have a question you may be able to answer. When you had all this excess fluid do you recall hearing popping type sounds. Almost like air bubbles bursting inside your stomach. I'm having there quite regurarly on the sides and towards the top of my uterus. I didn't have anything like this with either other pregnancy so wondering if it is polyhydroamnios related ?

i cant remember to be honest. i dont think i did. maybe ask your ob when u see them next

Another scan showed an increase in my AFI. It also showed that the blood flow thru the ambilical cord has decreased. Seeing OB at 2:15pm tomorrow so fingers crossed she will explain what all this means for me. Very uncomfortable, can't breath well without feeling like I have a stitch. So over this pg.

joey's girl - so sorry about the increase in AFI and the decrease in blood flow. how far along are you?

:

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joey's girl - so sorry about the increase in AFI and the decrease in blood flow. how far along are you?

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29+3
weeks

let me know what happens at your appt? :hug:

Big :hug: joey'sgirl

My AFI was 28.95 at 24 weeks with DD, it dropped a bit at 28 weeks, then by 32 weeks had jumped up into the 30's I delivered DD at 33 weeks due to rupture of the membranes and I can tell you there was a lot of amniotic fluid when they went. I know what the struggling to breathe feeling is like, at 29 weeks my belly started to drop and that began to give me relief.

I hope you have a few more weeks up your sleeve or they can do something to reduce the amount of AF. It's only now that I compare my belly shots between this pregnancy and those with DD that I realised how big big I had gotten.

Take care and rest up xxoo

oh, we lost half the thread!! :(

umm, I was out by a week last time I posted SIL's progress, she is, as of last sat 38 weeks, now.
On next sat night she is being induced :O , I cant believe Im going to meet my nephew soon!!! so she will then be 39 weeks.
Hope you are going ok Joeys girl.
and wooohooo Beema, flicker is staying nice and snug!!

How annoying about the missing posts....

Im still in hospital. Not expected to get to 34 weeks but we'll see. Currently 31+4.

Glad to here that your SIL has made it to term and I hope the inducement goes smoothly. Yeah for aunty starrysky !!!!

You are doing a fabulous job joel's girl, keep the small miletones in mind and it makes the bigger one's easier to achieve, it is a difficult road being on bed rest and even more difficult being in hospital on bed rest.
Every day counts and at least you will know you have done everything to get as far as possible :hug:
Take care xxoo

How did it all pan out for your SIL Starrysky ???

^^^^^Hoping all went well with your SIL hun.

I have made it to 37weeks finally. Bubs had been behaving and was head down from 35 weeks so I was released from hospital. I had an OB appt on tuesday and confirmed good position and induction on 25/10 was booked. Had to go back to for internal (S & S) and to firm up game plan for monday and guess what......


He is breech again, so sometime in the past 72hrs the little tike has done a 180 in his olympic sized swimming pool. Great, way to throw a spanner in the works mate !!

So do I wait and see if he turns, or accept the OB's offer to perform an ECV to turn him then continue with the induction via ARM / syntic drip. Obviously if the ECV is unsuccessful then induction will be cancelled. I would then wait a further amount of time to see if he turns before they would want to schedule a c-section.

Bugger - It seems like alot of intervention but I really do not want a c-section if I can avoid it. Also back to all the concerns of cord prolaspe etc :doh::doh::doh:

Wooooo Hoooooo for getting to 37 weeks, what a fabulous job you have done :hug:

:( for him being breech, I can suggest a few things to try if you have time - the bonus is with all the extra fluid he can easily turn back :)

Spinning Babies is a great website with lots of suggestions for turning a breech bub
Seek a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapist, we have one here on BB in the Professional Support Pannel (part of the Platinum Membership) and I think he is based in NSW, he would be able to do Moxibustion, Accupuncture to try and assist bub turning as well.

I have two attempts at an ECV done at 28 weeks and we did manage to turn Anastasia further around, but she chose to turn back and after that my AFI levels dropped and in the end I had no AF left :( It is uncomfortable, it can bring on Contractions and stir up your uterus.

It does does sound like a lot of intervention, but I would go for the ECV over the CS :) I tried it all with Anastasia, in the end it wasn't to be and at least I know I tried everything.

Take care and wish you all the best :hug:

Thanks Beema - I will have a look at spinning babies. I have been rocking on all fours a fair bit since seeing the OB. Considering using a neighbours pool to do some hand stands in but it's not quite warm enough here for that - I'll see if I can be brave enough to do that today perhaps.

I will try to arrange some more accupuncture and moxibustion. I had some at about 32 weeks which worked a treat. Thanks for the support. I was so looking forward to meeting my little man on MOnday but now it's all up in the air. I want to feel positive about it all again.

Will keep you updated.

good luck joey's girl! xx