Amniotic Fluid:Oligohydramnios

What causes low levels of amniotic fluid during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, amniotic fluid is produced first by the mother's body and later by the baby's urine to provide a warm and safe environment for the developing baby. When the fluid levels are too low, this is referred to as oligohydramnios. This condition can occur at any point during the pregnancy.

Doctors monitor the amount of amniotic fluid that is present in the uterus during pregnancy. Doctors may become suspicious of low fluid levels if you are measuring small for your date of pregnancy, if the baby is not as active as he should be or if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or lupus. Ultrasound examinations will reveal low levels of fluid surrounding the fetus. Any measurement less than 5 cm is considred low. Approximately 8% of pregnant women have low levels of fluid and only 4% are actually diagnosed with oligohydramnios. If your amniotic fluids are measuring low, you will be closely monitored by your healthcare provider. Stress and non-stress tests will be routinely offered and recommended to monitor your baby's condition. Some doctors will inject fluid into the uterus via amniocentesis and other doctors prefer to have the mother drink an abundance of water or receive IV fluids to increase the fluid levels.

Oligohyramnios can be caused by a variety of factors. The amniotic fluid levels will decrease as the mother passes her due date and will decrease significantly by the time she is 42 weeks pregnant. This is because the placenta deteriorates as the pregnancy goes overdue and placental problems can cause low levels of amniotic fluid. If a mother's water has broken or is leaking, the amniotic fluid levels will definitely be low. Birth defects that affect the baby's kidneys and urinary tract can cause oligohydramnios, because there is little urine being produced by the fetus. A mother that is carrying twins, triplets or higher is at greater risk of developing oligohydramnios during the pregnancy.

Because amniotic fluid is critical in the fetus' development, low levels can be dangerous for the baby. Low amniotic fluid levels can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, growth restrictions and preterm labor.

Comments: Amniotic Fluid - Oligohydramnios

Comments 1 to 15 of about 15.
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stargirl2008 - 628 days ago.
I went for my gender ultrasound (19 weeks and 4 days) and found out I have full placenta previa and low amniotic fluid. So disappointing. I just pray the baby will be okay. I don't even know if it's a boy or girl yet... But everything happens for a reason.

courty - 796 days ago.
oh thanks for your help i have my doctors appointment this afternooon although i went into hospital on sat night to have bub checked as i hadnt felt it move all is ood they also checked my latest ultrasound and said that i would be put on weekley visits and ultrasound in 2 weeks time and monitoring every week to chek on busb hear and movments to make sure everything is ok iam still in normal limits just at the very low end of it so we hope to build it up and not have it drop any more.

missyv28 (pink) - 798 days ago.
My sister In law's baby had gastroschisis (sp?) but at 31 weeks was hospitalized for a week for low amniotic levels. She was on strict bedrest in there and finally built her levels up to a low average. They released her to bedrest and she made it to 35 weeks and they had to take the baby out. He just turned 1 month this past week and still has another month left but it's because of the gastroschisis. Good luck everyone!

courty - 798 days ago.
hi all i am 34 weeks and had my ultrasound yesterday all seems well with bub although i was told that my fluid levels around bubbie are low and i will need to have follow ups to check the levels i have heard drinking water and bed rest is best so my fluid intake has increase alot as of yesterday. i am due to have a doctors appointment on monday and see the hospital on tuesday ill keep u guys updated and let u know what the go is when u come across this problem. as i have read all of these and it is all comments on ppl having the same problem but not alot on what happend after xx

michellelee - 823 days ago.
I see no one has posted in here in a while... but I am 24 weeks 1 day and found out the results for my 22 week ultrasound yesterday. The doctor told me that my amniotic fluid levels were low. There was no number given to me so I am not even sure how low that is. Being a teacher I immediately got on the computer and started looking things up which scared me even more. I have an appointment today with a perinatologist to have him look at the baby's kidneys and urinary tract. I am hoping all is well. This whole thing is difficult for me since I was diagnosed with PCOS about 7 years ago and told I would probably never conceive. We were so excited when we did and now I get this news and can't help but worry that I made it this far and may not make it to full term. Any success stories would be greatly appreciated!!

kt1sttimer - 1032 days ago.
I went & got an ultrasound this past monday which made me 36 weeks and 1 day at the time. My AFI was at a level 6! I have a NST this Friday.. i'm so scared! I can still feel her move, but still scared. I was advised to drink a lot of water too. :/

miss love - 1092 days ago.
I didn't even know this forum exisited... I am now 24 weeks and my fluid has been low since I was 19 weeks. Went yesterday and there is no fluid. They think that something may be wrong with the baby's kidneys. Baby is growing and developing when they thought that I would loose the baby a month ago. THey don't give much hope for the life of the baby though. Suggest I terminate and start all over which is hard for me because This is my 5th pregnancy and previously the 4 others ended in misscarraige. I am so confused.

lilgalfromin - 1187 days ago.
Hi All!! This is my 4th pregnancy. My first 3 were perfect. No problems at all. I am now 37 and 20 weeks pregnant. I am having some issues I have never had before. Starters, I have complete placenta previa, secondly, my amniotic fluid is low at 9.3. This is worrisome and scarey since I am only 20 weeks. Does anyone know about these problems this early on in pregnancy?

hayes2010 - 1345 days ago.
Please i need a response . I'm am 17w now and i have no amniotic fluids around the baby plus my placenta is not where its suppose to be something like placenta previa but its not covering my cervix its on top of it . I'm just confused and it seem like the doctors are given me 1 option and that's sayin its not gonna live what should i do I've beeen drinkn lots and lots of water and cranberry juice what should i do? Plz respond i need some answers from those who has had this happen before :(

lynic - 1410 days ago.
a friend of mine had this and lost her baby at 16 weeks. i am now 13 weeks and any discharge or 'wetness' scares me, thinking i could have it too. what is the symptoms? cramping, type of smell? pls help

mommy-luvsyou - 1413 days ago.
I just bumped into this forum. I didn't know it ws on this website. Well I see that no one has posted in while but I will still share my story, hoping someone can relate. My water broke when i was 17wks, im currently 21wks now. My fluid level is extremely low but thank God i can still feel my baby move. I go to the dr 2x a week and take my temp 2x a day. I was prescribed antibiotics a few weeks ago to prevent infection. I will be admitted in 3wks and will be in the hospital until i deliver him at 34wks.

jzbebegyrl - 1529 days ago.
I went to my U/S yesterday and the doctors are making me drink a gallon of water a day and lots of rest! I am at 22 weeks and 5 days. Has anyone else experienced this? At this early stage I mean? I am pretty freaked out about it. My baby moves all the time so Im not worried about movement just yet, but I still have alot of concerns! Thank you in advance!

thencamebaby - 1565 days ago.
Yes I did. My ob said it was because I was given indocin twice to stop premature labour. My amnio fluid levels were really low. I had my baby at 36 weeks, she's healthy.

DiandClover - 1565 days ago.
I did, the last two weeks of pregnancy, and one of the reasons I was c-sectioned at 36 weeks. Docs may need to keep a close eye on your fluid levels to make sure babe has enough room to grow and practice breathing. Just take it easy :)

sccrj17 - 1565 days ago.
do any of u have this?