Polyhydramnios during pregnancy: causes and consequences. The effect of polyhydramnios on childbirth

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

During pregnancy, the expectant mother has to undergo a variety of studies from the earliest dates. Regularly before each examination, a woman takes a blood and urine test. According to these indicators, the specialist determines the he alth status of the fairer sex. Approximately once every three months, the expectant mother visits the ultrasound diagnostics room. During such a study, polyhydramnios is sometimes detected during pregnancy. The causes, consequences, treatment of this pathological process will be presented to you in the article. You can also find out how this condition affects the birth of an unborn baby.

Norma

Before you find out the causes of polyhydramnios during pregnancy, the consequences and remedies, you need to say about how the increase in the amount of water usually goes. Normally, the fetus is surrounded byamniotic fluid. At 12 weeks, its amount is about three tablespoons. At this time, during ultrasound, they do not pay special attention to the amniotic fluid index.

As pregnancy progresses, the amount of water increases. So, by 30 weeks, its volume reaches a little more than half a liter. Just before the birth, which should take place on time, the amniotic fluid fills from one to one and a half liters of the uterus. It is worth noting that for many representatives of the weaker sex, this volume decreases by the beginning of labor.

Polyhydramnios

The causes, impact on childbirth, the consequences of this condition will be described later. Before that, let's define and characterize this term. Polyhydramnios is a condition during pregnancy when the amount of amniotic fluid is significantly exceeded. Note that the volume does not always go beyond the allowable limits. Sometimes approaching the highest norm is already characterized by the term "moderate polyhydramnios".

There is a classification of the described state. An increase in the amniotic fluid index can be chronic or acute. The latter, in turn, is more dangerous. This condition can be diagnosed by external indicators, complaints of a woman or by means of ultrasound diagnostics. The chronic form of pathology is characterized by a gradual increase in the volume of amniotic fluid. In acute polyhydramnios, the level of amniotic fluid rises rapidly over several hours or days.

Symptoms of polyhydramnios

Define thisstate is not always obtained. Very often, a woman learns about her diagnosis only at the next ultrasound. More often this happens in the chronic course of pathology. However, there are other signs of a problem.

Intensive growth of the abdomen. With polyhydramnios, the height of the bottom of the reproductive organ exceeds the norm for its term. In this case, the circumference at the level of the navel is more than 100 centimeters. A woman may complain of shortness of breath, heaviness when walking, fatigue, the appearance of stretch marks.

Unusual symptoms. If you had to deal with polyhydramnios, then you probably know what fluctuation is. With this syndrome, the expectant mother clearly hears gurgling sounds from her stomach in silence. Also, the child may have reduced activity. The baby moves as expected, but the woman does not feel these shocks due to the large volume of water.

Dubious signs. Also, with polyhydramnios, symptoms may appear, which sometimes accompany other pathological processes. These are swelling of the legs, increased blood pressure, headaches, impaired kidney function, and so on. The diagnosis described above cannot be made solely on the basis of these symptoms.

Why does it appear?

What causes polyhydramnios during pregnancy? You already know the symptoms of this pathology. The true situation, which led to an increase in the amount of amniotic fluid, is not always possible to find. Doctors say that polyhydramnios is diagnosed in one expectant mother out of a hundred. It can be concluded thatthis disease is not very common. Pregnant women are much more likely to experience oligohydramnios.

Even with the development of modern medicine, most women are diagnosed with polyhydramnios of unknown origin. Less often, the cause is established and appropriate therapy is prescribed. Usually, polyhydramnios is treated within the walls of a hospital. At the same time, the amount of fluid is monitored daily using an ultrasonic scanner. Consider what polyhydramnios has (moderate, chronic, acute) causes and methods of treatment.

Intrauterine infection

The most common cause of pathology is infection. It could be a sexually transmitted disease. Also often the cause of the problem is an inflammatory process in the pelvic organs in women. That is why doctors strongly advise you to undergo all examinations and, if necessary, undergo treatment before planning a pregnancy.

Correction of this cause is carried out under the supervision of doctors. A woman is usually prescribed antibiotic or antiviral therapy. However, infection types are set before that.

Different rhesus

The causes and consequences of polyhydramnios are interrelated. If the expectant mother has a negative Rh factor, and the father of the child is positive, then a conflict may arise. This usually does not happen during the first pregnancy. After childbirth, antibodies can form in the blood of a woman, who during subsequent pregnancies will try to destroyforeign body. This often develops polyhydramnios.

Fixing an existing problem can be quite difficult. However, prevention allows a woman not to face the development of a Rh conflict. For this, immunoglobulin is administered. Note that the procedure takes place at a certain time under the supervision of specialists. These funds are dispensed exclusively by prescription.

Fetal malformations

Has other causes of polyhydramnios during pregnancy. And the consequences of such a state will be appropriate. If during the formation of the organs and systems of the baby there was some kind of failure, then defects develop, which are subsequently called congenital. Often this condition is accompanied by polyhydramnios.

Correction of congenital malformations of a baby is not always possible. But often, with timely detection, treatment is prescribed immediately after childbirth.

Other reasons

The described situations are the most frequent, which lead to the development of acute or chronic polyhydramnios. But there are other reasons for this pathology. Among them are:

• woman's age (under 18 or over 35);
• wrong lifestyle (malnutrition, bad habits);
• diseases (diabetes mellitus, vascular pathologies);
• pyelonephritis;
• multiple pregnancy and so on.

Polyhydramnios during pregnancy: causes and consequences - is there a relationship?

Doctors say that depending on what caused the development of the disease, we can talk about the outcome. If polyhydramnios appeared due to a Rh conflict, then later the child may develop diseases such as neonatal jaundice, an increase in bilirubin. Less often, the death of the embryo occurs even before its birth.

With intrauterine infection, the disease can pass to the baby at the time of birth. In this case, the severity of the child's condition will be determined depending on the type of infection. When it comes to diabetes, preeclampsia often occurs, leading to hypoxia.

As you can see, if polyhydramnios develops during pregnancy, the causes and consequences are interrelated. If this pathology is detected, it is necessary to proceed with its correction as soon as possible. If it was not possible to find out the reason, then the woman is prescribed drugs that support the normal state of the baby: drugs to improve blood circulation, sedatives, general strengthening drugs, and so on.

How does polyhydramnios affect the course of labor?

Often with polyhydramnios (if the baby is suffering), early delivery is recommended. In most cases, a caesarean section is performed. If the condition of the woman does not pose a threat to the child, then natural childbirth is allowed.

Often, contractions with polyhydramnios are weak. In this case, doctors resort to dissection of the fetal bladder. If the waters leave on their own, then a strong stream can carry a part of the umbilical cord, leg or arm of the child into the cervical canal. All of this can end quite badly.

In the process of childbirth with polyhydramnios, weakness of labor activity may be noted. In this case, doctors resort to stimulation. The expectant mother is given drugs that increase the contractility of the reproductive organ.

You already know what causes and consequences of polyhydramnios during pregnancy. It is worth noting that most of these births begin with the help of specialists. Spontaneous contractions may not start until 42 weeks pregnant.

The most dangerous consequence of polyhydramnios is placental abruption, which occurs prematurely. In this case, the woman needs emergency medical help. Otherwise, there is a threat to the life of mother and baby.

Conclusion

You have learned what polyhydramnios is. Diagnosis and treatment, consequences and causes are presented to your attention. Remember that now you are responsible for the he alth and life of the unborn child. Don't let the situation take its course. With qualified help and the timely use of suitable medications, the problem usually does not lead to serious consequences. All the best to you!