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If you've recently found out that you and your partner are expecting your first child, you may feel equal parts excitement and apprehension. Being pregnant can be a time full of joy -- and full of worries about whether your unborn child is safe and healthy. One biological factor that can have a major impact on your unborn child's development is the level and quality of your amniotic fluid. Read on to learn more about this fluid and how it protects your child, as well as what low or high amniotic fluid levels can indicate and how to improve your own readings.
What is amniotic fluid?
Amniotic fluid is designed to protect the fetus from impact while in the womb -- much like a car's airbag. Having an adequate volume of amniotic fluid can ensure that minor bumps and blows to your stomach won't cause any long-term harm, and can even help speed along the delivery process by helping lubricate your child's passage through the birth canal. However, having either too much or too little amniotic fluid can present complications, so it's important for your obstetrician to monitor your fluid levels throughout your pregnancy.
What can happen if your fluid levels are too low or high?
Low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios) can potentially restrict your baby's growth by reducing the size of your uterus. While an isolated low fluid reading on an ultrasound shouldn't pose much cause for alarm, you'll want to increase your intake of liquids until your next appointment to boost the amount of fluid traveling to your uterus. Usually, this increased fluid intake is enough to correct any oligohydramnios that has occurred. If you're unable to increase your amniotic fluid levels through these means and your child's growth is being compromised, you may need to be induced or have a C-section before your due date.
Higher-than-normal levels of amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios) can provide your child with an extra-safe cushion, but can sometimes indicate other health concerns. Much of your amniotic fluid is essentially your baby's urine -- he or she will swallow and excrete this fluid to help improve suckling reflexes before birth. If your baby has kidney or other endocrine problems, he or she could be swallowing and excreting much more fluid than normal, raising your amniotic fluid levels even when your water and fluid intake hasn't changed.
If you've been diagnosed with polyhydramnios, you may want to opt for genetic or other prenatal testing to determine whether your child has a medical issue you may need to address shortly after birth. Contact local professionals, such as those from Desert Rose OBGYN PC, for further assistance.
Share11 September 2015
