05-11-2009 - 37 weeks 1 day, possible induction this monday...

My mood while writing this blog: omgosh

An unexpected turn of events has unfolded, LOL.. I went for my 37 week check and an utlrasound this morning. Rylan is about 6lbs 14oz so far. Breathing and heartbeat great. But, the amniotic fluid has decreased since my last ultrasound. I am told to increase my fluid intake now till Monday. He wants to see me first thing Monday/Nov 9th to check the fluid again. If it has not increased or if it has decreased, then he will need to induce me Monday. He said low amniotic fluid is usually an indication that the placenta is not functioning as it needs to. So, I won't know anything until 9am-ish Monday after the ultrasound and after doctor has seen me. Please pray for us! Thanks!

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Some info i found on decreased fluid

Decreased amniotic fluid
Conversely, an ultrasound sometimes will reveal less amniotic fluid than expected, which is known as oligohydramnios. The most obvious cause for this is the leakage of the fluid. (The opposite isn't always true, however--some pregnancies in which the membranes have ruptured will not show a decrease in fluid.)

If oligohydramnios is seen on ultrasound, it very often will resolve itself by the next time an ultrasound is performed. Some fetal positions make it appear that there is less fluid than there really is. If the low fluid persists and the possibility of leakage has been ruled out, the ultrasonographer will evaluate the fetal growth and anatomy and possibly the placental functioning.

Babies who are on the small side often have less fluid than their normal-sized counterparts. In some cases, the baby might grow at a slower rate because her parents are small or because she's destined to be a petite person. It's important, however, that your practitioner evaluate a small-for-gestational-age baby, because some birth defects are associated with slow growth and low fluid level.

In rare situations, a baby gets less than the expected amount of fluid and nutrition because the placenta is not functioning particularly well. If that's the case, specialized testing is available to help decide if the baby needs to be born early.

Because amniotic fluid is recycled through the baby's urinary tract, a blockage near the baby's kidneys or bladder may result in less fluid being released by the fetus. Signs of these blockages often can be seen on an ultrasound.

Finally, sometimes decreased fluid signals the need for delivery; other times it's a sign that labor is impending.