Amniotic fluid complications are generally a rare occurrence during pregnancy. However, if a complication arises and is not addressed quickly, it could lead to catastrophic consequences. Hence, it is necessary to be aware of the condition to help enable an early clinical diagnosis.
The fluid surrounding a pregnant woman’s foetus is called the amniotic fluid. This liquid plays a vital role in the healthy development and growth of the foetus. An amniotic sac develops inside the woman’s womb, containing her foetus and fluid within the membranes.
If a woman develops a complication with the amniotic fluid, she could experience the following during her pregnancy:
Amniotic fluid complications or embolisms are rare in South Africa, affecting around 1% of pregnancies. While in most cases, this condition develops during the second half of the pregnancy, some may feel it as early as 16 weeks. Polyhydramnios (Amniotic fluid excess) occurs in 1%, while Oligohydramnios (deficiency of amniotic fluids) occurs in about 11% of the pregnancies in South Africa.
In case of mild complications caused by excessive or less amniotic fluids, there is generally nothing to worry about. Pregnancy care providers monitor each pregnancy closely and provide prompt treatment if necessary.
Women with a mild case of polyhydramnios, as this condition is called, do not generally experience any symptoms. However, for those who suffer a worse case of it, they may experience the following symptoms:
When the uterus expands, it tends to exert more pressure on the nearby organs, such as the bladder, rectum, stomach, and lungs. The existence of amniotic fluid complications is often the cause of the increased pressure.
In many cases, the pregnancy care providers can suspect an excess or deficiency of amniotic fluids in the following cases:
In most mild cases, the cause of the complications is generally unknown. However, moderate to extreme cases of amniotic fluid complications can be caused by certain medical conditions:
When a pregnant woman has a mild case of polyhydramnios or Oligohydramnios or is nearing childbirth, she will not require treatment.
Monitoring is usually the best plan in such cases. However, if it is a severe case of amniotic fluid complications, medical experts will treat the underlying condition, such as diabetes.
Other treatment options for amniotic fluid complications include:
When there is too much amniotic fluid, doctors typically plan to deliver the baby at around 39 weeks. When there is too little amniotic fluid, doctors recommend delivering the baby between 36 and 37 weeks depending on how the foetus is developing.