Amniotic fluid on the low side in 2nd trimester, anyone btdt?

[Vermillion]

So I had an ultrasound at 16 weeks for cramping & what I thought was spotting. All was fine there, but the tech said my fluid looked a little low. Baby was measuring right on target, so I was told to just wait and see what things looked like at my anatomy scan. I had that done at 18 weeks. The tech said my fluid looked fine, again baby was measuring fine, but when the specialists went over the scan for the report, they said "low normal" fluid and wanted me to follow up in 2 weeks to check on his growth.

Well I had my follow up today, and the fluid is still "low normal." Again, the baby is measuring fine. So there has been normal growth from 16 weeks to 21 weeks, which makes me very happy, as one of the causes for lower fluid at this point can be a placenta that isn't functioning normally. Also kidney & heart problems, and everything looks good there. Baby even had a full bladder last time, so he is recycling fluid like he should be.

So what I do know at this point is he IS growing, there are no obvious problems with his anatomy. I'm not leaking. My placenta appears to be functioning fine... He moves a lot, and is always in a different spot. So he gets around just fine, I'm thinking...

I don't have an exact AFI number, but I do know that my largest pocket of fluid measured 3.something (can't remember, I was in a haze hearing this news!) centimeters last time, and from what I have read between 2-8 is normal, under 2 gets you a diagnosis of low fluid. I'm trying really hard to focus on the "normal" part and not the "low", but after losing my daughter at 17 weeks last time every little thing freaks me out!

I asked straight up if I should be concerned, but got the whole "there's nothing we can really do at this point, except have you take it easy, drink lots, and monitor his growth every few weeks." And then I hear that it's all subjective, hard to get accurate measurements at this point, could be normal for me... etc. I'm hopeful and I feel mostly good at this point... but you know, there is always that nagging "what if?" Anything "off" is so scary, especially in PAL!!!

Anyway, just wondering if anyone has dealt with this in the second trimester.

[HappyMonkey]

I haven't dealt with it... but just wanted to focus again on that you were low NORMAL. There are always going to be people in all ranges of normal... like babies in the 10% growth level. Being 10% doesn't mean the child is too small if that's normal for them!

If baby is growing well keep focusing on NORMAL!! *hugs*

[kcparker]

It is summer, and you lose a lot of water through evaporation, even if you aren't sweating. Make sure that you are ingesting 3 liters of water per day (that includes in foods, so soups, smoothies, watermelon, etc. all counts toward the 3 l. goal), more if you are exercising and sweating (aim to replace what you lose during exercise - you even can measure your weight before and after to see how much you lose if you want to get more precise). It sounds like baby is doing well and they are monitoring - you are right to focus on the 'normal' because that's what's going on at this point. Sometimes the baby hides pockets of fluid during the scan, and somebody is on the lower end of normal..

[cameragirl]

It can be hard to measure the fluid. I had a scare at 38 weeks when the tech thought my fluids were low and rushed me to the hospital. The hospital tech found that the fluid levels were fine - it was just a difference in measuring.

Fluids can really, really help, though. It is really easy to get dehydrated when it is warm. When it gets hot and I'm pregnant, I carry a drink with my everywhere and make a point to take sips every few minutes.

[SimpleLove]

Do you make sure your bladder is extremely full when you go for the sonos? You have to stay extra hydrated all the time to keep the amniotic fluid up. I only have experience with fluid problems in third trimester (I actually mysteriously and suddenly had NO fluid, which led to emergency c-section). Everything sounds healthy for you otherwise and it's great that they are already taking it seriously and staying on top of it!

[cameragirl]

I know you didn't mention medications, but my perinatologist mentioned today that some medications can cause fluids to decline rapidly. If you're not taking anything but your prenatals, the this obviously isn't an issue. Just something to look into if they did put you on any meds.

[Vermillion]

No medications, and thankfully my fluid level doesn't seem to be declining at all. I'm hoping that it stays the same at the very least but of course it would be much better for it to increase! I kind of wish I had an actual AFI number, but I'm not sure if they've even done that! But then again, from what I've read, AFI isn't even an ideal way to measure... but rather the largest pocket of fluid, which they've done, and mine is "adequate."

SimpleLove, My bladder is pretty much always full these days! But they always have me empty my bladder first anyway... I am drinking A TON since I first found out at 16 weeks. I know i was not getting enough water before that though. I had m/s until 16 weeks, water made me queasy, and it was unusually HOT here

Anyway, thanks for all the thoughts ladies! I am going to just keep focusing on the normal part and hope like crazy that I stay in the normal range, even if it is a little lower then they'd like to see. Abd of course hopefully my little one will keep growing like he has been, and stay healthy!