Polyhydramnios during pregnancy: causes, diagnosis and consequences

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Polyhydramnios during pregnancy is a condition associated with excess amniotic fluid.

Despite the fact that the nutritional function of the amniotic fluid is the main one, its excessive accumulation leads to the formation of the pathology of pregnancy and childbirth. Fortunately, this phenomenon occurs in 1.5 - 2% of women, is easily diagnosed and can be corrected in a timely manner.

Reasons

Conditional reasons for the formation of an abundant influx of amniotic fluid include:

1. Infectious and viral diseases of the expectant mother. The body, naturally resisting foreign agents, begins to produce amniotic fluid, trying to protect the fetus from negative effects. Along with this, a pregnant woman has a thickening of the walls of the fetal bladder, a violation of the permeability of nutrients through the placental barrier.
2. Exacerbation of chronic diseases, the occurrence of serious failures of the immune system. Exposure to allergens, toxins, drugs, disruption of some organs and systems are the root cause of polyhydramnios. In addition, there is a possibility of violationdevelopment of the fetus, its destructive change.
3. Rhesus conflict. The pathological condition associated with the rejection of a child by blood can lead to abundant accumulation of amniotic fluid, miscarriage, development of jaundice or asphyxia of the newborn.
4. Bad habits.
5. Other possible triggers.

Symptoms

Many symptoms that, due to their low severity, are ignored by most girls during pregnancy. Polyhydramnios is especially famous for this, as it often has a fairly wide range of symptoms.

First trimester symptoms

The following are the main symptoms in the early stages of pregnancy:

• heaviness and discomfort in the form of frequent pain in the abdominal region;
• presence of general weakness in the body;
• dyspnea on any exertion.

What comes from high aperture:

• a sharp increase in heart rate;
• swelling of some parts of the body;
• swelling of the abdomen around the navel;
• appearance of stretch marks on the abdomen;
• frequent sloshing of fluid in the abdomen;
• increase in the size of the uterus;
• increased amniotic fluid.

Delay symptoms

Symptoms of polyhydramnios during late pregnancy are as follows:

• presence of constant tension in the area of the uterus;
• significant increase in the size of the uterus;
• high activity and fetal anxiety;
• raisinguterus.

As the volume of the uterus increases, there is a risk of entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord. A sign of the acute course of the disease is a sharp, within two hours, increase in amniotic fluid. A sign of chronic is that amniotic fluid builds up gradually.

Diagnosis

Polyhydramnios is a pathological condition that must be detected and corrected in time.

Therefore, at each scheduled examination, the local obstetrician-gynecologist palpates the fundus of the uterus for compliance with gestational age.

Clear diagnostic signs of amniotic fluid accumulation are:

1. A sharp increase in the volume of the fetal bladder, combined with the patient's complaints of feeling unwell and pain in the lower abdomen.
2. The presence of cloudy vaginal discharge. This symptom may also indicate leakage of amniotic fluid as a result of tearing of the birth sac, prolapse of the uterus, sexual activity in late pregnancy.
3. Detection of bacteria, mucus, impurities in the general analysis of urine. The impact of aggressive agents of the external environment is a 100% indicator of the development of this pathology. For the final confirmation of polyhydramnios, screening hardware diagnostics are performed.
4. Poor visibility during ultrasound diagnostics.
5. Indirect confirmation of polyhydramnios:

• Rhesus conflict;
• SARS, anemia;
• placental insufficiency;
• cardiovascularpathology;
• genetic mutations.

After the diagnosis, the causes of polyhydramnios during pregnancy will be established reliably.

Consequences

Polyhydramnios is a complex pathological condition that can cause many complications during childbirth and harm the he alth of the baby.

Therefore, the attending obstetrician-gynecologist conducts a planned caesarean section, in order to prevent the development of multiple problems.

Negative effects of polyhydramnios during pregnancy:

• rupture of the fallopian tubes during the passage of the fetus through the birth canal;
• profuse internal bleeding of the abdomen;
• breech, breech presentation;
• late miscarriage (preterm birth);
• dehydration due to incessant vomiting;
• late preeclampsia. Rupture of the amniotic sac;
• prolapse of the uterus or umbilical cord.

Consequences for the child

What is the danger of polyhydramnios during pregnancy for the unborn baby? The main problems are as follows:

• asphyxia;
• fetal death;
• fetoplacental insufficiency;
• lowered immunity;
• penetration of infection;
• developmental delay;
• low birth weight;
• premature birth;
• damage to internal organs - liver, gallbladder. As a result, jaundice develops;
• neurological disorders.

Treatment

If a woman has polyhydramnios, she is immediately hospitalized. This is due to the fact that this disease is not fully understood. Before starting treatment, specialists must examine the patient.

Further, treatment is carried out based on the identified cause that caused polyhydramnios. But there are cases when the cause has not been clarified, in this option, a complex treatment is carried out aimed at reducing amniotic fluid and strengthening the body of the mother and child.

The most commonly prescribed multivitamin complex, which includes vitamins B, C and E, broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs, diuretics, drugs designed to improve blood circulation in the uterus and drugs that improve the condition of the uterus. It depends on whether moderate polyhydramnios during pregnancy or above normal.

During treatment, it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the mother and child, prescribing weight control, pressure of the patient. The stage of the disease depends on the amount of amniotic fluid. Therefore, they are constantly monitored and, with a decrease, they try to extend the pregnancy up to 38 weeks.

If a weak form of the course of the disease is detected, then local antibacterial drugs are prescribed. If an acute form of the course of the disease is detected, then the doctor has the right to prescribe potent antibiotics. Since there is a risk of side effects on antibiotics, the frequency of examinations increases. Additionally, cardiotocography and fetal ultrasound are performed to detect pathology.

If the treatment does not occurimprovements or acute inflammation occurs, then an open method of delivery is a necessary measure, regardless of the gestational age. With a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid and in the absence of contraindications, vaginal delivery is recommended.

Many people ask if polyhydramnios can be cured at 30 weeks pregnant. It is possible, however, it is necessary to know that abnormalities in the development of the fetus at week 30 can cause an increase in the amount of water, which will lead to an aggravation of the situation, up to placental abruption. The main thing to do for a successful cure is to reduce the amount of water gradually so as not to cause uterine spasm.

As soon as the symptoms of polyhydramnios appear, it is necessary, without waiting for complications, to visit a doctor who, if a disease is detected, will prescribe a course of treatment. You should not refuse a hospital, as untimely identification of violations can be fatal for a child's life.