I just had a nerve wracking OB appointment. A routine last ultrasound was done to check baby's position bc he was breech. The tech turned the screen away from me and got quiet. She sent me back to the waiting room, and next thing I know I'm in another ultrasound room, and this tech tells me it's due to low fluid. I'm nearly 37 weeks and my fluid level is a 7. My doctor said she's not that worried but wants to keep an eye on it, but I'm worried! How do I know if it's leaking? She didn't check my cervix or anything but I wonder if (TMI alert) what I think is discharge is actually a leak.
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I'm also interested in this as I've had watery discharge throughout the pregnancy and feel confused as to how to tell the difference now.
One thing I have heard is that if you smell your underpants and it smells like urine/ammonia, well then that's what it is. But if it smells sweet, that's amniotic fluid...
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I had my water break unexpectedly at 34 weeks. I had to be hospitalized and ended up having LO within 24 hours. Once your water has broken there is high chance of infection.
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Did they say what an average fluid level is? 10?
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@knittylady: I really thought it was just a lot of watery discharge but now I'm wondering. It's clear and odorless. I'm going to call again tomorrow and see if they can test it. 7 cm is way low!
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@knittylady: the parameters are above 5 up to 25. 7 seems really low for me to have 3.5 weeks til my due date
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@grizz: if it was bad they would have admitted you. But the good news is you are 37 weeks!
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Did they set up a repeat appointment/scan for you? It's a borderline low AFI (amniotic fluid index) for this stage of gestation. (The amniotic fluid is supposed to decrease in volume. Most of it gets re-absorbed.) Mostly I would make sure that they check it again in a few days.
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I was induced at 38.5 weeks for low amnio fluid. (mine was lower than yours). I literally went from the u/s straight to L&D.
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@MsLipGloss: same! They wouldn't let me leave.
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I was induced at 41 weeks due to low fluid. I had a scan that day and was measured at 5.1 AFI. They told me that was borderline, but that I could come back tomorrow, unless I noticed a decrease in movement, in which case I was to return immediately.
I did notice a decrease that night, went in, and was found to be at an AFI of 2.8. I was induced that day, had a long induction, and delivered vaginally. My daughter's cord was around her neck, so with the low fluid she was at high risk of stillbirth. The induction was very hard on her (and I hated it), but it was still preferable to the risk of stillbirth.
You need to measure kicks VERY CLOSELY now. 7 is low - not clinically low, but close to the line of 5, beneath which is too low. Whatever your baseline movement is, you need to make absolutely sure that your baby is meeting it. If you feel less movement than is normal, you need to go back in, even if you feel like you're being a pain.
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@grizz: oh no, I hope baby's able to stay put for a little while longer! Let us know what you hear tomorrow.
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@grizz: I had low amniotic fluid around 39 weeks and they kept me at the hospital on IVs for 24 hours until it went back up. I was able to be discharged and had the baby naturally a few days later.
Hopefully everything will be OK. I was told by everyone to DRINK LOTS OF WATER! hth! -
Thinking of you! No personal experience but I've been told multiple times to make sure that I was well hydrated before any late term ultrasounds, because that can effect your fluid levels. Maybe you were just dehydrated and there's no leak?
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Oh my goodness! I worry about this because my hospital doesn't do ultrasounds after 20 weeks unless you're overdue. And I keep thinking I'm leaking something! But they did a test and said they don't see a problem (no leak).
A friend told me you can use vagisil yeast infection test strips to see if you're leaking amniotic fluid. Or, plain old PH paper/strips!
Here's a link to a post i read on it - i bought some strips as I was concerned and didn't want to keep bugging the doc.
http://community.babycenter.com/post/a23047425/test_for_ruptured_membranes..._usefull_tip
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@grizz: Hope you are doing ok! What a scary appt to have, I hope you hear good news soon
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@grizz: I found out I had extremely low fluid at 40 weeks 4 days so I was induced. Good luck and hope everything goes well
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That sounds stressful! I hope every works out ok and your levels don't drop anymore. Are you going back for a follow up U/S?
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No first hand advice, but this happened to my Mum when she was pregnant with my little Sister - I'm not sure whether she leaked or the fluid just dried up but she had to be induced at 37wks and my Sis was born that same evening.
Thinking of you - make sure you keep following it up if you're still unsure.
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@mrskc: Yes, I go back on Tuesday! I'm going to try to not be a wreck til then.
@shopaholic: I just went back and read your thread and it was so helpful! I feel like I'm going to float away because I have so much water in me, but its the only thing I can control so I'll keep drinking
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@grizz: I heard somewhere that a bath is good too... Maybe someone else here has heard that?
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@knittylady: Yes, I saw that baths and just hanging out in the pool are good for it too! I can happily do both of those things. I also read that coconut water helps.
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@grizz: coconut water and I became best friends while I was preggers!
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I had low fluid at my 20week anatomy scan, they sent me back in a week later for a NST, and then another one two weekws after that. Both checks were fine after that. My OB told me fluid levels tend to rise and fall a lot. I was freaking out too, but she is fine!
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@shopaholic: I love it! This is a great excuse to drink up. It's my fav.
@prettylizy: Thats what I'm hoping for! It's never been off before.
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