35 wk scan shows polyhydramnios. Has it caused any baby birth defects or problems?

[Music1]

Hi all, I went into the labour ward with my OH last night as the baby movements I've been experiencing have been getting less. The heartbeat was strong, but the scan showed I had a lot of fluid and she called it polyhydramnios. I was wondering if anyone else has had this and whether it's due to birth defects or problems with the baby, or simply my body causing this. I do have Gestational Diabetes and have been on 2 metformin tablets a day, but since taking them I had now got this. Should I be worried about the baby and is there anything I can do or shouldn't be eating or drinking etc, to help this go down? I've been googling and it doesn't look good, but they did let me out last night. It seems it's in 1-2% of pregnancies is that correct? Thanks for listening, and feedback much appreciated. My pregnancy started well but now this.

[Hidden]

Hi there. No personal experience of this but my cousin had the same - lots of fluid. She also tested positive for GD. They were worried that the baby might have a few complications but she was born at 38 weeks (induced) and was absolutely fine. I know it is hard but try not to worry, I'm sure they would have said if they thought something was wrong. Wishing you lots if luck for the rest of your pregnancy x

[Music1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for sharing. I've been worried all day today, wondering what they may find and what's causing it. I feel guilty for drinking banana milk shake just in case the sugar content is too high etc, but I have cravings. Thank you for telling me about your cousins experience and letting me know her baby was fine. I really appreciate it, and I am a total worrier at the best of times. Best wishes x

[Hidden in reply to Music1]

I think it could just be "one of those things". My cousin certainly never got an answer as to why she had too much fluid. Have they given you a special diet to help with the GD? I assume they will scan you again soon? Pregnancy is an anxious time and the worry doesn't end afterwards 😩 x

[Music1 in reply to Hidden]

I have been trying to control it with diet alone, and most of my numbers were fine with the exception of a few. They put me on Metaformin tablets twice daily for the last 2 weeks, and now I seem to have got this. Didn't have much fluid before. I've got another scan next Thursday, although haven't been scanned for a while before this. I don't think I'll ever quit worrying, although I was just starting to enjoy the final few weeks of pregnancy and I guess I got complacent. Thanks for writing x

[Hidden]

Hi. I had severed polyhydramnios diagnosed at 29 weeks. I had 3 amnioreductions before my waters eventually broke last Monday when Inwas 35 +3 weeks. Although my son is in special care this is more to do with being prem than the polyhydramnios. They ran lots of tests and scans on me but have never found a cause. I do know that GD is one though so is likely to be causing it for you. The main impact will be delivery of your baby. There are more risks when your waters break so it is likely they will want to induce you so that your waters break in a controlled environment. Hope all goes well for you. Xx

[Music1 in reply to Hidden]

I do hope your son is ok and gets well. Strange that they couldn't find a reason, but probably more important that they concentrate on getting your son well. I heard them mention amnioreduction at the scan but they haven't done anything yet. I think they are worried my placenta is at the front. Am worried about my waters breaking but what will be will be. I'm sure GD is the reason in my case. Thank you for sharing your experience x

[Sprinkles86]

I had this with my son, I was induced at 38+5 for this and a few other reasons (had experienced a large bleed, an episode of reduced movements, had bad swelling of my legs and feet, IVF baby so was anxious etc) it didn’t cause any problems for us and they never told us it could either. When they broke my waters it did flood the room though!! 🤣🤣🤣

[Music1 in reply to Sprinkles86]

Ours is an IVF baby (last attempt of 6) so I'm anxious and completely understand. I've been feeling reduced movements and swelling in ankles, shortness of breathe but midwife has just kept saying that's normal. Gosh, I'm worried about flooding the living room, car or bedroom etc now lol. The important thing is, it didn't cause any problems for you or the baby. That's what I'm really concerned about. Thanks for sharing. I'm feeling like a waterbed that could pop any day x

[Sprinkles86 in reply to Music1]

That’s exactly how I felt 😂 apparently the excess fluid around baby and on you go hand in hand, you’ll be amazed how quickly your swelling goes, just drinks loads of water and it will all get flushed out, more so if you’re breastfeeding! Keep your feet up as much as you can, Epsom salts in foot spa helped ease mine a little xxx

[Queenphilip]

I experienced this March 27 this year, it makes me go into labor at 34 weeks, too much of water after breaking it and my baby look very small after delivery but dead. I pray you won't lose your child. After a lot of research, I read it to be caused by lack of vitamin D, not enough folic acid. Am 6 weeks pregnant again and have been taking pregnacare original which contains all the vitamins needed and also see the Doctor for further information so I won't experience this polyhydraminos again. Try to see your doctor to help you out, they can still help you out and you won't lose the child. Please.

You will share with us in this group good news.

[Music1 in reply to Queenphilip]

Oh gosh, I was so sad to hear of your first experience at 34wks. I pray that your pregnancy will go well this time and you won't experience it again. That's devistating. I will see doctor and get some advice. Many hugs, bless you x

[Naijagirl1 in reply to Queenphilip]

So sorry for your loss :(.

[Andrea08]

Hi, I had this at 27weeks pregnant and was diagnosed with polyhydramnios. My belly was measuring very large and was really tight too like a basketball. It restricted my breathing. I had 3 amnio reductions where they remove excess fluid really slowly. I had about 7litres removed! But I think I was the 2nd person in our local hospital to ever have it done. So I don't think it's common, usually if it's not too uncomfortable they'll just let you go through the pregnancy. The excess fluid can sometimes mean baby thinks you're further along than you are and come early, but even with my huge amounts of fluid I was induced at 39weeks due to complications with our little girl which we were aware of from her 20week scan. There is nothing really you can do to bring your fluid level down, but like Sprinkles86 said, your waters will flood the room! I remember my midwife calling in another nurse just to show her how much fluid there was 😁 Hope all goes well x

[Music1 in reply to Andrea08]

You did so well to get to 39 wks wow. I've been told I will be induced at 38wks due to diabetes and they thought baby was getting too big. I'm also feeling like a solid basketball and short of breath when doing anything. I heard them mention amnioreduction in the labour ward, but I think they want to wait until next scan and see how bad it is. Thanks for letting me know I can't really do anything to bring my fluid level down. I've been worried about drinking too much water, or milk shake (which has sugar etc). I do feel like I could pop any day, and am just taking things day by day now. Were there any complications or concerns with your baby as a result of the excess fluid? They are telling me to exercise more but I'm out of breath just having a shower and drying my hair or getting changed. The prospect of going for a really long walk ... I'm not sure I have the lungs to do it anymore. Thank you for sharing your experience. It's been really helpful. I've been so worried. The 30wk scan was fine, so hearing this at 35wks has been a kick in the teeth. Best wishes x

[Andrea08 in reply to Music1]

So for the delayed reply and congratulations on your baby boy. I'm so pleased he has no medical issues!

Yes my daughter is no longer with us, she passed away at 4months. She had a genetic condition that meant she didn't receive any calcium in utero. This meant her ribcage was under developed and she couldn't swallow the amniotic fluid. Plus you need calcium to absorb fluid. So a complicated very rare condition that caused my polyhydramnious.

Enjoy every day with your son x

[Music1 in reply to Andrea08]

Heartbreaking. I am so sorry to hear this. Bless her. I hope the medical world can learn from this and do more in future to prevent this. I feel awful. No words. How can these conditions still exist today with everything they can do. I am sorry to hear your news about your daughter x

[Andrea08 in reply to Music1]

Thank you that's very kind of you. I hope they can learn from it too. As you say you just think they can do everything but so much is so unknown. Enjoy being a mummy, lots of love x

[VMgrace in reply to Andrea08]

Hi Andrea! What issues does your daughter has?

[Andrea08 in reply to VMgrace]

Hi, my daughter had a gene defect which meant she didn't receive any calcium during pregnancy. So she had under malnourished bones and a under developed ribcage and was on a ventilator 24/7. She passed away though at 4months old from an unrelated twisted bowel and sepsis.

Her condition was the first in the uk, and doctors believe she has opened up a new area of medicine, which is some genetic conditions are just placental related and her cure was to be born, she was gradually improving and they thought she would have been off the ventilator by a yr old.

Thank you for asking x

[Music1 in reply to Andrea08]

Oh gosh, Andrea08 I'm so sorry. I didn't realise VMgrace was talking/ asking you as it popped up on my email. Heartbreaking to hear about your daughter. I hadn't thought too much about genes playing a part in pregnancy. I hope the doctors and specialists can learn something from your daughter bless her. So sorry to hear the news. x

[Andrea08 in reply to Music1]

Thank you for taking the time to reply and for your condolences. Yes we take a lot of comfort in the fact that her consultants are learning so much from her still. I hope your little boy is thriving, and changing daily I'm sure x

[VMgrace in reply to Andrea08]

Sorry for your loss Andrea08. I'm new here and I'm looking for answers on polyhydramnios. I was diagnosed at 21 weeks pregnant and I've been treated twice with indomethacin and bed rest to control it. Dr is investigating the cause and my blood tests are ok, in ultrasound my baby looks ok but I still have not done cariotype testing. I'm afraid of any genetic issues with my baby. I'm freaking out, praying God it is idiopathic.

I will post more details soon, it is a relief reading about other women experiencing the same condition.

[Andrea08 in reply to VMgrace]

Happy to offer advice and support where I can VMgrace. Bed rest didn't help bring the fluid levels down but it is like you are further along in pregnancy than you actually are do resting is a good thing. I found I got to the point where my belly was so tight I thought I was going to burst, which is when I was first drained at 27weeks. I was the 2nd worst case they'd seen so I don't think it gets to that level often. It could be a genetic issue, but that doesn't mean it'll be a bad thing. Our genetics make us who we are. My daughter passed away unrelated to her genetic condition or my polyhydramnious, so please don't worry and relate the two. Ask any questions and don't worry in silence xxx

[VMgrace]

I was diagnosed at 21 weeks with an AFI of 28cm. I felt awful and did not know why, my feet were swollen at the end of the day and had a lot of belly pain. At 21 weeks I was treated with indomethacin and it helped as my AFI was reduced to a normal 18 cm. I went for control at 25 weeks and my levels were raised again at 27cm. I started treatment with indomethacin and bed rest again. Im going to control again this wednesday hoping my levels are fine and praying they wont go up again. My Dr told me he would perform a C-section at 37 weeks and suggested that I take cariotype testing which is very expensive and it is not avaliable in my country.

[Andrea08 in reply to VMgrace]

How are you now? How many weeks are you know and have they done anything about the fluid levels? Have they mentioned an amnio reduction?x

[VMgrace in reply to Andrea08]

Hi Andrea. I am at 32 weeks now and counting. I had an extra treatment with indomethacin and my amniotic levels are at the higher end within normal but stable. My dr said if I keep this way an amnio reduction will not be necessary. I continued in bed rest so it has helped me a lot. I feel so relieved right now and more confident that I will be able to get to 37 weeks without any other complication.