Did you know your baby floats around in fluid all through pregnancy? Yes, a fetus is safe behind multiple layers of muscles, fat, and liquid, throughout the pregnancy. The amniotic fluid is the liquid or water that leaks before your baby is ready to come out into the world.
Read on to know everything about this fluid and how you can increase its level naturally.
Once conception happens successfully, the amniotic sac forms inside the uterus. This sac contains amniotic fluid and the baby develops inside this amniotic fluid. The fluid forms a protective shield around the baby throughout the pregnancy.
The amniotic fluid is a clear water-like substance that contains all the essential nutrients required by the baby throughout the pregnancy. The fetus will swallow this amniotic fluid and urinate it, which circulates back into the amniotic sac. This is an ongoing process throughout the pregnancy.
The amniotic fluid is very important throughout the pregnancy for the following reasons:
When the amniotic fluid levels are very low for a pregnant woman, it is known as oligohydramnios. The best course of action in such a situation is to find the top maternity hospital and consult gynecologist for the best possible solution.
If your amniotic fluid is leaking or the scan reports low amniotic fluids, you may experience any of the following complications:
Some of the common causes for low amniotic fluid levels in a pregnant woman are:
You are a few days past the due date. Your fluids could be draining, getting your body ready to push the baby out into the world.
If you are suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes or preeclampsia, it can affect amniotic fluid.
The amniotic sac can rupture early and hence there may be a leak in the amniotic fluid.
If there is some problem with the placenta that it may not be able to deliver enough nutrients or blood, it may cause low amniotic fluid. Placental abruption, when placenta starts to peel away from the uterine wall before birth, this can also be a cause.
If the baby is significantly smaller than the expectation, then there can be low amniotic fluid.
If you are carrying more than one baby in the womb, maybe twins or triplets, then the fluid in the womb will be less.
If you are having dehydration, are on any blood pressure medications or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the amniotic fluid may reduce.
Monitoring the amniotic fluid levels in 9th month is very crucial to ensure a safe delivery. Even the amniotic fluid color or smell can be an indication of infection or meconium passed by the baby.
If you are suffering from low amniotic fluid, you need to see the gynecologist and find ways to increase the amniotic fluid in the safest way possible. Here are 10 ways to increase it before it can affect your baby:
The best way to increase the low amniotic fluid levels is by drinking more water. If the scans show your amniotic fluid level is low, your doctor will ask you to drink more water. Pregnant women, in general, are advised to drink more fluids to ensure the amniotic fluid levels are maintained.
Reducing your physical exertion and increasing your rest can reduce the leak that is decreasing your amniotic fluid level.
In this method, the doctor injects a saline solution through the cervix, into the amniotic sac. This will, in turn, increase the amniotic fluid level temporarily. Though not a permanent solution, it can help improve the baby’s environment in the uterus and make them more visible on an ultrasound.
Your doctor might prescribe medications to treat underlying health conditions that are causing dehydration and reducing amniotic fluid in the uterus.
If the amniotic fluid is low due to dehydration, the best and the quickest way to restore the levels is through IV fluids. If you are suffering from nausea and morning sickness, that is preventing you from eating well and staying hydrated, injecting IV fluids can increase the amniotic fluid.
existing Condition – Pre-existing health conditions such as gestational diabetes or gestational hypertension can cause the amniotic fluid levels to decrease. Treating this underlying health condition can help restore the fluid levels in the uterus.
In some cases, when the the doctor is unable to identify the cause and treat the reason for low amniotic fluid, they will closely monitor the pregnant woman. They will regularly check the fluid levels to ensure it does not dip too much. Though this may not help increase the amniotic fluid levels, it will ensure timely intervention in the form of delivery.
Increasing your intake of watery foods can help increase the fluid levels in the body. This can, in turn, increase hydration and amniotic fluid levels.
During delivery or a scan, if the doctor is unable to see the baby clearly die to low amniotic fluid, they will inject fluid into the amniotic sac. This will help them see the baby clearly for a short while, to make a decision about what to do next.
If the fetus is already 36 or 37 weeks old, the best treatment option for low amniotic fluid is to deliver the baby. The baby has reached full maturity and is ready to be born. Rather than taking a risk with low amniotic fluid, the doctor will induce labour and take the baby out before any complications arise.
Low amniotic fluid is not something to ignore. You need adequate monitoring to help you keep your baby safe throughout the pregnancy. You should seek immediate help if your scans show low amniotic fluid.
