Amniotic fluid is a fluid that occurs naturally in a woman's body when a pregnancy occurs. This substance is essential, since without it, pregnancy could not occur satisfactorily and the baby could not develop normally. In some cases, it is possible that the amniotic fluid suffers some complications that can be due to both excess and deficiency.
Polyhydramnios is a condition caused by excess amniotic fluid, a problem that affects a very low percentage of pregnancies (only 1%) but that can occur without you barely noticing it. In most cases it is a mild problem, which even regulates itself naturally and the problem disappears on its own.
However, in some cases this problem can lead to various complications in pregnancy. Let's see what exactly this condition consists of and how it can affect pregnancy.
What is amniotic fluid
Amniotic fluid is a fluid with a light consistency and a slight yellowish color. This substance is composed of different nutrients and elements that the baby needs to be able to grow and develop favorably in the womb. Among others, the amniotic fluid contains proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, urea or electrolytes, as well as cells from the fetus that allow the analysis and control tests of pregnancy to detect possible malformations in the fetus.
For the baby's progress, amniotic fluid is essential as it provides all those substances it needs to grow. But also, provides an idyllic place to grow by keeping you warm, cushions him from shocks and allows him to grow in a fluid space where he can develop correctly.
During the first weeks, the amniotic fluid is created by the mother's body, although from about 18 weeks it is the baby itself that creates it. This causes the composition to change in part, since the baby will begin to swallow and expel the fluid through urine.
The amount of fluid changes throughout the pregnancy, reaching 600 or 800 ml towards the end of the gestation period. However, complications may occur that affect the the amount of liquid, leading to different problems.
What is polyhydramnios
Polyhydramnios, also known as hydramnios, is a condition due to excess amniotic fluid. In many cases it is a mild problem that is regulated naturally, but it is very important to monitor this situation closely as it can be a symptom of a more serious condition. As usual, polyhydramnios is associated with a problem in the fetal digestive system, since excess amniotic fluid can be caused by the baby's difficulty in swallowing the adequate amount.
However, in many cases it is not possible to determine the cause of this problem, which can be diverse such as:
- Rh factor incompatibility, a problem caused by blood incompatibility mother and baby
- Problems in the neurological development of the baby, as well as in the digestive system, in the lungs or in the brain
How Polyhydramnios Affects
Excess amniotic fluid can cause different complications, both during the pregnancy and during the delivery itself.
- Risk of premature birth
- Premature rupture of membranes, the amniotic sac ruptures prematurely
- Placental abruption, It happens when the placenta detaches from the uterus prematurely. The consequences can be very serious in this case.
- Risk of miscarriage and fetal deathIn this case, it occurs when the baby dies after the 20th week of gestation.
- Bad posture of the baby at birthIn other words, the baby cannot be placed in the most favorable position to be born, which is with the head down. This can lead to complications during delivery, such as having to perform a cesarean section.
- Postpart hemorrhageor. A serious problem that can put the mother's health at risk.