low fluid levels - ASAP please

[Ks Mama]

Can anyone shed any light on what low fluid levels would come from, caused by, what it would indicate, how it can be corrected, etc?

Any good links?

Just found out my fluid levels are low - doctor has been trying to get a hold of me, booked me for a repeat U/S super-fast. I'm worried & any information ASAP would be really helpful before I head over to the hospital.

Thanks....

[engineer_mom]

drink more water!
drown yourself in it!

[columbusmomma]

Can I ask how this is diagnosed??

[Therese's Mommy]

yes, drink water. I have also heard that you might want to put a pinch of sea salt in the water as I heard that might make it "stick" more. Do you know what your fluid levels are? Some drs go nuts when it really isn't low. Normal is anything from 5 to 25. Also, I think there is a bit of subjectivity to it, so hopefully whoever is doing your u/s is doing a good job. Keep us posted. I supposedly had low water last time, but really it was above 5 so they should have sent me home and told me to drink...instead they induced me :irked: This time I have a 2 vessel cord so I am in every week (since 33) to check my fluid levels. Since my cord is thinner it is important that I have at least 8. I would definitely ask what measurement they are getting. Try not to panic.

Good luck!

Beth

[sarabrynn82]

Find out what the numbers are for sure... Some drs will panic when it drops below 10, others 5, etc...

I had 4 at 33 weeks and after 4 weeks of bed rest and drinking gallons of water (literally sometimes until I felt sick) it went back up to 15. But we're guessing a factor in my case was that the cord was wrapped twice around her neck and arm for a while... not sure why this would affect it, but at soon as she untangled herself, we saw a steady rise in fluid. Now it's back around her neck loosely and it's down to 10 again.

It's usually diagnosed by AFI (amniotic fluid index) on u/s which is where they measure a pocket of fluid depth in each of four quadrants and add them to get a total number of cm of fluid. I've heard that this isn't the most accurate way to measure, but I'm not sure what the alternatives are.

[aylaanne]

sarabrynn, the cord positioning makes a difference because the cord, I believe, is where the amniotic fluid is produced. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I'm too lazy to look it up.

And as for adding salt to water, it's important to remember that salt and water are best friends, they go everywhere together. If one doesn't have the other, it goes away. So, eat some chips and drink a bunch of water and try not to freak out, because that doesn't help anything. Whether you have low fluid or not, you have good care providers (I hope) that will work with you in making the best decision for you and your baby's health. Good luck and keep us posted!

[lyttlewon]

What did the baby's bladder and kidneys look like? There are some kidney issues that in conjunction with a distended bladder and low fluid could be an issue. If you have the three of those the baby may not be peeing. Try to relax.

[Therese's Mommy]

Most of the fluid is produce by the baby's kidneys at this point and there is some that comes from the placenta. The cord does not produce the fluid, but if the cord is compressed perhaps the kidneys are not going to be working effeciently? That last thing is just a guess.

Beth

[aylaanne]

Most of the fluid is produce by the baby's kidneys at this point and there is some that comes from the placenta. The cord does not produce the fluid, but if the cord is compressed perhaps the kidneys are not going to be working effeciently? That last thing is just a guess.

Beth

Thanks for the info, I don't know where I got that idea but I was just throwing it out there.

[mumm]

I don't have advice for the op, but have more questions.

At my u/s they say they want to find at least one pocket of fluid measuring 2 cm for each baby. Why is that so low when I see much higher numbers here? Last week I was measuring 2.4 cm and this week it was 2.3.

[Ks Mama]

Thank you everyone for your support & advice!

After a hectic morning at the hospital, I am back home, monitoring my baby's movement... but not an emergency situation, thankfully!

To answer some questions...

My babe was assumed to be breech, so I had a positional ultrasound done last night, and the results showed lower than normal fluid levels (they automatically do a fluid level check apparently when you have an ultrasound). My doctor wanted a repeat test done right away. So I had another ultrasound done this morning - specifically to check fluid levels.

The perinatologist at the hospital also requested a biophysical test on the ultrasound (they check for motion, heart rate, fetal "practice breathing". Based on the levels they found (around 5), my current health, how far along I am, the condition of my placenta (calcified - which can be an indicator of impending end of pregnancy, but also can limit placental function, which is likely why my levels are low) and baby's movement, he requested a non-stress test for baby.

After completeing the non stress test we talked & determined the best course of action at this time was cautious wait & see. Baby is doing well, moving regularly, showing no signs of stress. Though my fluid levels are low normal (average for this time of pregnancy to be 6 - 20), the doctor said everything else is still going well, and he's not going to put me into the "low fluid" category just yet, but I do need to come in to the hospital every 3 days for a non stress test & repeat fluid level check, and I need to monitor my babe for what I know as normal movement (I don't need to do a specific "kick count", but just need to be aware of him moving normally).

Of course, the complication here is that baby is breech, and though I've been seeing a chiro 2x per week for a month, he hasn't budged... and this is likely due to having low fluid levels. So... a repeat C is probably on my horizon... but fortunately, my OB is not requesting a scheduled one, as long as everything looks good, we're still all planning on me going into labor naturally, and perhaps DS will turn in labor! FWIW, my daughter turned just a few days before her birth, so its possible!

Anyhow, thanks again for all the advice! I'm drinking tons of water & thinking positively. :)

[aylaanne]

Thank you for the update! I'm glad to hear that everything, for now, is "cautiously" okay. I'm glad your OB is letting you labor naturally, I think that's best, even if you do end up with a section. Keep drinkin and posting, mama! Don't forget your salty snacks!

[Therese's Mommy]

I don't have advice for the op, but have more questions.

At my u/s they say they want to find at least one pocket of fluid measuring 2 cm for each baby. Why is that so low when I see much higher numbers here? Last week I was measuring 2.4 cm and this week it was 2.3.

The larger numbers we are throwing around are the sum of the 4 quadrants. So, yesterday, my sum for the 4 quadrants was 20. It sounds like you are expecting twins? In that case, I am not sure if the target numbers are different. According to my dr, my number is on the high end of normal, but since my belly is not huge (I measured right on) and my numbers are not going up (I have been around 20 for a while), that my number is ok. I am actually trying to avoid low water, so the higher number is great for me to insure I stay away from the danger zone.

Beth

[seamama11]

I had the same situation with my son 11 months ago or so. I had levels between 6-10 and went in weekly for a non-stress test. I was a teacher always on my feet at that time, so I was put on modified bed rest. I worried too, but everything was fine. It is a subjective test, but better safe than sorry. My friend who had twins...the little boy had less than 2 of amniotic fluid for 8 weeks and is FINE.
I would drink lots of water, rest, and not exercise....think positively, I am sure everything is fine!
GOOD LUCK!
Sarah

[sarabrynn82]

Just an encouragement about the calcified placenta...

I started almost the exact same stuff 5.5 weeks ago at 33 weeks. Low fluid, stage 3 placenta, bpp's and nst's every other day to "wait and see". Now I'm 38.5 weeks and babes are still doing great - Other than seeing the calcifications, my placentas haven't shown any signs of slowing down yet.

So you can probably brace yourself for tons of monitoring, but no real problems...

Thanks for the update!

[jessitron]

Nettle tea is supposed to help all that water you're drinking go to the uterus and stay there.