Moderate polyhydramnios: causes, signs, treatment

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

Moderate polyhydramnios is an excessive amount of amniotic fluid. Such a diagnosis can be made at any stage of pregnancy. This is not a very common complication. It occurs in about 2-3 women out of 99. Expectant mothers during pregnancy need to monitor the amount of fluid. That is, it is necessary to regularly attend an ultrasound scan and regularly visit a gynecologist.

For the normal development of pregnancy, the amount of amniotic fluid should not exceed 1-1.5 liters. It consists of proteins, calcium s alts, sodium, chlorine and water, which is approximately 96%. Thanks to the amniotic fluid, the child receives all the necessary substances for normal development. Another function of the waters is to protect the little one. In it, he can move and move without risking injury or other damage.

Properties of amniotic fluid

Amniotic fluid has the following properties:

• It protects the fetus from external irritants: noise, shock, shaking.
• Prevents squeezing of the umbilical cord.
• Reduces painsensations during contractions.
• Helps the cervix open up.
• Prevents the entry of substances harmful to the fetus from the outside world.
• Contains immunoglobulins.

Norma

The amount of fluid changes during pregnancy. Each trimester has its own rules. What they are, you can find out from the table below.

Term (weeks)	Amount of water (ml)
Until 16	25–65
17–20	70–250
20–25	250–400
25–34	400–800
34–38	800–1000
38–40	1000–1250
40–42	1000–800

From 39-40 weeks until the birth, the amount of water is reduced. Doctors are guided by averages. And with a deviation from the norm in any direction, they are diagnosed with oligohydramnios or moderate polyhydramnios.

Norm after 30 weeks of pregnancy

A doctor can diagnose polyhydramnios at any stage of pregnancy. But you can talk about the deviation only after 20 weeks. If the diagnosis was not confirmed on the second ultrasound, then the next time they will find moderate polyhydramnios only during the third planned ultrasound. 32 weeks is the time when you need to constantly go to the antenatal clinic. An experienced doctor will helppregnant woman to control her condition. He diagnoses the problem even if the woman has no complaints.

By the way, it can be detected not only by ultrasound, but also by dopplerometry, and during the examination. Moderate polyhydramnios during pregnancy (32 weeks) is set when the amount of amniotic fluid reaches 1500-1900 ml. At the same time, the woman feels how water rolls in her stomach, and the child often moves. A pregnant woman may feel similar discomfort at a later date. In the eighth month, she may be tormented by moderate polyhydramnios. 34 weeks is another critical period. At this time, a similar diagnosis is made when the normal amount of fluid is exceeded by 200–400 ml.

Causes that can provoke polyhydramnios

Currently, doctors have not yet fully understood the reasons why moderate polyhydramnios appears during pregnancy. But they highlight a few hypothetical factors that could trigger the problem:

1. Deviations in the development of the fetus.
2. Infectious diseases suffered by a woman.
3. Bacterial diseases.
4. Some diseases of the vascular system and the heart.
5. Conflict of Rh factor in fetus and mother.
6. High sugar levels in a pregnant woman.
7. Kidney disease (pyelonephritis and the like).
8. When multiple fruits develop.
9. If the baby is big enough.

Even with a single cause, mild polyhydramnios may appear.

Symptoms

You can recognize the appearance of abnormalities associated with polyhydramnios by the following symptoms:

• An enlarged belly that doesn't meet the deadlines.
• Child's heart is hard to hear during auscultation.
• Increased fetal mobility.
• Shortness of breath.
• Weakness.
• Puffiness.
• Heartburn.
• Pain in the abdomen.
• Appearance of striae.

During examination and palpation, the doctor will notice abdominal tension and a high presenting part. Most often, with this deviation, it is difficult for a pregnant woman to notice polyhydramnios on her own.

Treatment

Moderate polyhydramnios is treated by eliminating the cause of its appearance. After passing all the necessary tests and examinations, the doctor will be able to determine the causes of this pathology. Therapy is prescribed in a complex. It includes diuretics (diuretics), antibiotics and vitamins. They help reduce the amount of water, destroy harmful microorganisms, increase immunity and improve he alth. If the treatment does not bring results, then in some cases they cause childbirth. This does not happen before 35 weeks of gestation.

Danger of pathology

Deviation is dangerous because it can cause serious consequences for both mother and child. These include:

1. Premature birth.
2. Placental abruption.
3. Fetal death.
4. The appearance of deviations in the development of the baby.
5. Infectiousinfection of mother and child.
6. Prolapse of the umbilical cord or limb of the fetus.
7. Undrooped and unfixed presentation.
8. Bleeding.
9. Preeclampsia of different nature.

Also, the child cannot take a normal position, as it is in constant motion due to the large amount of water.

Prevention of pathology

In order to prevent its occurrence, you must apply a few simple rules. Expectant mother recommended:

• Move more.
• Regular fluid intake.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Drink vitamins and medications prescribed by a doctor.
• Timely and regularly undergo examinations, take tests.
• Go to the doctor.

Also in the early stages it is necessary to exclude the conflict of the Rh factor in the mother and fetus. If you follow all the recommendations and adhere to these simple rules, then the likelihood of a deviation will decrease as much as possible. By the way, pathology occurs most often due to infections and the conflict of the Rh factor. Therefore, before pregnancy, undergo an examination and, if necessary, treatment.