Too much amniotic fluid:(

[Elena'sMami]

My midwife called today, to let me know that my amniotic fluid appears to be increasing, instead of decreasing, which is what we'd expect. I'm 42 wks. on Saturday. At my first post-date U/S, my amniotic fluid was 27 cm, which is slightly over the range that would be acceptable (5 - 25 cm.) But yesterday I had another fluid check, and it was up to 31 cm. Tomorrow they want me to see another specialist, for another check (I think to make sure that the radiology place I've been using is doing a good job...) and to talk options.

I've been doing EPO orally and vaginally for a couple of days - I get contractions at night but nothing that evens out into a pattern. Last night I had diarrhea, continuing this morning, and I just lost my mucous plug... Today (with midwives' approval) I took castor oil - ugh! Almost time for dose #2... The midwife who called to talk to me said that the best case scenario would be for me to go into labor quickly and to be able to cancel all these 'special' appointments. Apparently (as of yesterday's appt.,) I'm 3 cm dilated, cervix soft and anterior, and "ready to go", we just can't get me to start contracting. Hmmmmmph!
Anybody BTDT? Got any advice for questions to ask, information to get, that could help us make a wise decision? Our hope has been to avoid the hospital and have an unmedicated birth in the birth center, and we are pretty wary of interventions, but we know that sometimes they ARE necessary...how to decide...? If nothing else, prayers appreciated

Thanks,
Rebekah

[dcgrl]

No advice, Rebekah, just hugs.

I'm hoping your little one comes before all the extra appointments. I'm having much the same experience (not high fluid, but gest. hypertension), and I'm finding these last weeks of pregnancy to be really trying.

Has your midwife explained what risks they're concerned with as far as too much fluid is concerned? prolapsed cord and placental abruption I think are the most common, but these are very, very rare (and if your baby is engaged, the risk of prolapsed cord gets much, much lower). Once you understand what the risks are, it will be easier to plan a course of action.

Hope you start contracting soon, though!

[chrysalis]

i've never heard of 'too much' amniotic fluid? is baby distressed because of it? what's wrong w/ that amount??? i don't know much about this if anything but i say they should leave you and baby alone.

[renaissanceed]

Hugs Rebekah. I'm also not familiar with the risks of this situation, but I'm hoping your babe decides to make it's appearance before all the extra appts.

[GearGirl]

I've been hovering around 25 for some time now, for whatever reason it makes the midwife/OB's very concerned even though it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. I go in weekly for a NST. I also had an ultrasound by a specialist to rule out any problems, and his assistant came up with something like 21 for fluid, and he came up with 25, so it is not an exact science at all. I even had one week where they said 11. For me, the one thing that I am going to pay carefull attention to is my water breaking. If it just starts leaking, great, but if it is a huge gush kind of thing I will head to the hospital because of the excess fluid causing a possible increase in cord issues. Short of that, I am not thinking about it much. I agree with your midwife, best to get the baby out before all of the interventions, but what they have done for me so far has been pretty low key, so I hope if you do go through them it is the same for you, and just a small precaution!

[Googy]

Wow--31 is high. I'm so sorry.

Do you have gestational diabetes? That is a leading cause for this.

Did your MW do a NST to see if the baby is distressed at all? These are routinely done in your situation.

When there is excessive amniotic fluid you have an increased risk for cord prolapse, placental abruption, and postpartum bleeding, so generally they want to monitor your labor much more closely. If I were you I would have a serious conversation with your MW as to whether or not they can do this at the birth center. Hopefully they can, and you can birth where you feel most comfortable.

Please keep us updated!