Hellobee Boards Topic: If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?

Hellobee Boards Topic: If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:54:31 +0000 Dandelion on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1458345 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 14:07:22 +0000 Dandelion 1458345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @nana87: No reason to feel guilty. These things happen! Natural births are great, but so is modern medicine. :) Thank goodness we live in a time where these things can be caught and taken care of so that we bring a healthy baby home with us! littlek on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1458302 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 13:56:26 +0000 littlek 1458302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My story is different but my water unexpectedly broke at 33 weeks 6 days and besides the contractions that wouldn't stop, I had very very low amniotic fluid. Like super low. I was going to be hospitalized because I couldn't be released with my amniotic fluid that low. Long story short, they couldn't stop the contractions and LO was born within 24 hours. The only meds I was required was IV for my LO and steroid shots for LOs lungs. I could have had total med free birth, I choose epidural because I don't like the feeling of stitches. mrs. tictactoe on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1458214 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 13:37:49 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 1458214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Mine was low around 37 weeks, I think. I got it back up after a week, but it went back down a week later, so I was induced at 39.5 weeks. My labor progressed well, but Liam's giant head got stuck in my pelvis, so I had to have a C-section. My new OBGYN told me that it's really hard for the U/S techs to know what the real fluid levels are. It depends on the position and size of the baby and they really are just making an estimate based on the pockets they can see at that given time. nana87 on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1458165 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 13:27:07 +0000 nana87 1458165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MsLipGloss: very, very true, all around! @Alivoo01: that's really interesting about the placenta, and the light bulb analogy makes a lot of sense HabesBabe on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1458114 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 13:06:59 +0000 HabesBabe 1458114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was a week overdue, so I went in for an NST/fluid level check at 41 weeks-- we didn't even do the NST because my levels were pretty low. They admitted me to L&D immediately. I was induced with pitocin (I was already 2-3cm, so I didn't need the gel/pill) and hooked up to an IV and antibiotics (I was group B strep +) around 8:00am. OB broke my water around 3:00pm, and I got my epidural around 7:00pm. Went from 3cm to 6cm after the epi, kept progressing through the night and started pushing around 4:30a the next morning. LO was born a little after 5:00am :) No foreceps or vacuum needed, and I'm glad that I didn't have to have a c-section! Alivoo01 on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1458042 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 12:50:39 +0000 Alivoo01 1458042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @nana87: I agree with @MsLipGloss: about it not being your fault!! It could partially be due to a "faulty placenta". And you have ZERO control over that. My placenta deteriorated much faster than the normal expectancy and that's probably a cause for my low amniotic fluids. My placenta also had calcium build up on it. I too blamed myself because hello, it's my body and I'm nourishing the placenta as a home for my baby and here I was failing. But honestly, there's nothing I can do about it. It's like a light bulb. Sure they promise you X number of hours of use, but sometimes, some light bulbs are faulty and go out earlier. That wasn't your fault, its just the way it is! Good thing is, my OB said things like this are sometimes a 1 off, and don't reoccur with subsequent pregnancies. But she will monitor more closely just in case. MsLipGloss on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457906 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 12:09:08 +0000 MsLipGloss 1457906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @nana87: Low fluid doesn't mean it's your fault . . . there are many reasons/causes for low fluid. So just stop taking on that guilt right now! Also, I think you're missing the part about being incredibly lucky that your practitioners found out that you had low fluid, so that you can try to help it, but if not, that your baby will be delivered before there are any problems resulting from low fluid. My OB only discovered that I had low fluid because I mentioned that my LO wasn't moving around as much as normal, and after being monitored, she noticed some decels in LO's HR. That led to an u/s, which led to my being sent immediately to L&D for an induction. So sure, maybe this won't be the birth of your dreams, but I can't imagine a better outcome for your LO. nana87 on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457889 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 12:00:25 +0000 nana87 1457889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I totally get what you're all saying about focusing more on the positives than my "ideal birth," and I really appreciate it. Before any of this popped up this week, I always said I would be okay with our plan changing if necessary since that's a lot less important in the end. I really trust and respect my doctor, so that is reassuring to me. Earlier this week, baby girl was breech as well (she flipped!), and oddly I felt better about that meaning automatic c-section than this since her position is so clearly out of my control. I think I just started feeling sad this morning because I read in our hospital's literature that low amniotic fluid is a disqualification for using their birth center (my hospital has a birth center, which is more homelike and doesn't allow meds, as well as a traditional l&d floor), and I feel like the fluid is low because I've been dehydrated and didn't even notice...I know logically it isn't my fault, but it feels like it is. I'm already feeling a little better though--I'm the kind of person that needs to wallow for a little bit before I can move on, but I do move on. This is also happening so early that I suppose things can change, but I want to prepare myself now so I'm not disappointed later when it's go-time. @ElbieKay: thanks for the sympathy! I hope things start moving soon for you and you get the natural experience you want! @Alivoo01: it is so, so good to hear that your experience went so well, even with the added drama of low fluid! Alivoo01 on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457693 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:56:53 +0000 Alivoo01 1457693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ At my 35 week ultrasound, we found out I had low amniotic fluid levels. Less than 7 when I think the avg is 11+. DS was also an IUGR baby. My OB threatened to induce me right then and there, but wanted a high risk maternal doctor's opinion first. Thankfully, the high risk dr said I could wait it out, but to be on bed rest and hydrate like crazy. I had ultrasounds every other day along being hooked up to the NST monitor. We took it one week at a time. At 36 weeks, my OB made the executive decision to induce me when I was 37 weeks so that DS was full term. Me and DH were on a roller coaster of emotions. We cried and hugged and tried very hard to mentally prepare ourselves. I was admitted to the L&D bright and early on a Friday morning and began my induction process. Honestly, my labor and delivery process was absolutely amazing!!! So amazing in fact, that I hope my 2nd labor and delivery is similar if not just like this past one. Given I go into labor naturally vs being induced. However, if induction is necessary, I'm not against it at all now. I did get an epidural bc there was a threat of c-section from the start of my induction due to DS's heart decels as a reaction to the pitocin. We found out it was bc he wasn't a fan of me laying on my left side, but did okay on my right side so I went on to delivery vaginally. Please feel free to Wall me if you want to talk more about it or just want someone to talk to!! You'll do great and it just means you'll know when you'll have your LO in your arms! <3 ElbieKay on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457673 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:51:45 +0000 ElbieKay 1457673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @nana87: I am not in this situation, but I had a BPP yesterday because I'm overdue -- it was my first ultrasound since my 20-week anatomy scan! -- and I was terrified of being pressured into an induction. I was lucky that the results are normal, and that my doctor is supportive of continuing to wait and see how things progress through the weekend. But I just wanted to sympathize with your concerns about wanting a natural experience because I am in the same boat! littlek on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457614 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:39:23 +0000 littlek 1457614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I agree with @MsLipGloss, sometimes it's better to just concentrate on the positives(healthy baby) and not worry too much about your "ideal labor." nana87 on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457577 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:30:50 +0000 nana87 1457577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ thanks ladies! :heart: LovelyPlum on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457540 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:23:37 +0000 LovelyPlum 1457540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MsLipGloss: you are a wise lady. Those are words we could all use to hear! @nana87: I hope that baby girl looks fabulous on Monday. But you, lady, are going to be great, no matter what happens. Look at what you've been able to do already during the last nine months! You've got this :heart: MsLipGloss on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457491 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:14:59 +0000 MsLipGloss 1457491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @nana87: Can I just say that just because your labor doesn't begin/happen the way you had hoped doesn't mean that it won't be an amazing process. Don't close your mind to alternatives . . . don't set yourself up to disappointment. Try as much as possible to keep an open mind. Take it one step--and one breath--at a time. :heart: BeatlesFan629 on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457449 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:08:10 +0000 BeatlesFan629 1457449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My fluid was a little low at my 40 week appointment so they wanted to induce me. It wasn't a huge concern though so they set up my induction to be at 41 weeks, hoping I'd go on my own at some point that week. I didn't so I did have to be induced...they used cervadil, and Pitocin and I ended up getting an epidural. My labor went pretty quick though. They set up the cervadil at 7PM on Sunday, started Pitocin 8AM Monday morning and she was here before 5PM that day. ETA - they did say if my fluid was any lower I would've been sent to the hospital that day for induction. Try not to worry about it too much and just do what they suggest to see if that helps. I know it's a horrible feeling when things don't go as planned but try to stay positive! nana87 on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457443 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 10:07:09 +0000 nana87 1457443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MsLipGloss: haha, yeah, dh is trying to tell me not to think about this yet! I'm supposed to just be resting and hydrating until they monitor me again on Monday, but I'm trying to figure out what all this means...All that matters is that baby girl is healthy, and so far so good there. But even though I know that, and logically I know I have no control over this, I'm feeling super emotional, like this is my fault and like I've ruined my chances for giving birth the way I wanted... MsLipGloss on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457364 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:44:13 +0000 MsLipGloss 1457364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My fluid was so low I was induced immediately (LO was having decels in her HR) at 38 weeks. My (back) labor was long and complicated, and involved cervadil, Pitocin, and an epidural. I will spare you the gory details because that's not where you are right now, and not what you need to be focused on! nana87 on "If you had low amniotic fluid, what was your labor like?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-had-low-amniotic-fluid-what-was-your-labor-like#post-1457353 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 09:41:07 +0000 nana87 1457353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Were you induced? Did you have a c-section (scheduled or unscheduled)? Or did you labor without any medications? When did the doctor/midwife diagnose that your fluid levels were low? Did you end up delivering early? I'm only 33 weeks but had a BPP/NST yesterday that found that my fluid levels are low (though they didn't tell me the number). There's still lots of time so I'm hoping this resolves with rest and lots of hydration (baby seems to be doing great, thank goodness)... But in the meantime I'm also thinking ahead to what this might mean for labor. I've been hoping to have an unmedicated birth (no cervadil, pitocin, or epidural) but I'm worried that this is going to change that...