How to have excess amniotic fluid during pregnancy?

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

The amount of amniotic fluid will increase with the week of age and until the 36th week, the standard amount of amniotic fluid in the pregnant abdomen is about 1000ml, and then gradually decreases within the normal range until delivery. But in some cases, the amount of amniotic fluid in the mother's abdomen can increase to 2 to 3 times higher than normal, which can endanger the health of both the mother and the fetus.

Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds the fetus after the first few weeks of pregnancy. It has the role of regenerating energy, providing nutrients to the fetus, protecting the fetus from injuries in the womb such as avoiding excessive compression caused by the mother's uterine muscles and In particular, it has antibacterial properties that help the fetus avoid the invasion of bacteria.
The normal amount of amniotic fluid in pregnancy by week of age is as follows:
From 16 to 32 weeks pregnant, the amount of amniotic fluid is about 250-600ml. This amount of amniotic fluid will increase gradually with the age of the fetus and by the 34th week it will be 800ml, when the fetus is 36 weeks old, the amount of amniotic fluid can be up to 1000ml. In the following weeks of pregnancy until the time of delivery, the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease to a normal level of 600-800ml. When the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus exceeds the normal level, it is called amniotic fluid during pregnancy. This excess amniotic fluid is rare and difficult to detect in mild cases, occurring in only 1% of pregnant women. In cases of severe excess amniotic fluid it can be dangerous for both mother and fetus.

There are many causes of excess amniotic fluid during pregnancy, common causes include:
Pregnant women with diabetes: Up to 10% of women with gestational diabetes have excess amniotic fluid during pregnancy. pregnant. To reduce this amount of amniotic fluid, mothers need to control their blood sugar well. Multiple pregnancy : A mother giving birth to twins, triplets, etc. has a very high chance of amniotic fluid surplus due to unbalanced fetal metabolism, meaning that one child can have a lot of amniotic fluid. while the other has very little amniotic fluid. Children with birth defects or other abnormal phenomena in the womb: When children have birth defects or problems such as cleft lip, pyloric stenosis, hydrocephalus,... Very high the baby will stop swallowing amniotic fluid while the baby's kidneys continue to excrete urine. This leads to excess amniotic fluid during pregnancy in the mother. In addition, this excess amniotic fluid is also caused by fetal infection, blood group incompatibility between mother and baby, etc.

Some cases of excess amniotic fluid during pregnancy may not cause any problems. However, severe cases of amniotic fluid can cause premature rupture of membranes leading to premature birth, affecting the baby's growth, and can even cause bone defects in the baby at birth. . In addition, excess amniotic fluid during pregnancy can lead to the risk of stillbirth and postpartum hemorrhage.
The phenomenon of excess amniotic fluid includes 2 types:
Acute amniotic fluid: Usually occurs in the 16th - 20th week of pregnancy, it causes early, severe labor that can cause miscarriage or cause symptoms. lead to termination of pregnancy. Chronic excess amniotic fluid: This phenomenon usually occurs in late pregnancy and accounts for up to 95% of cases of excess amniotic fluid. Pregnant women with chronic excess amniotic fluid usually do not have pain and shortness of breath as much as acute polyhydramnios, when in the last 3 months of pregnancy, the woman will feel heavy in the abdomen, have difficulty breathing, and have a rapid heart rate. For fetuses who may have birth defects in internal organs due to excessive compression of amniotic fluid, the weight of children with mothers with chronic excess amniotic fluid will be lighter than other children.

When there is excess amniotic fluid during pregnancy, depending on the severity, there are different treatments. In case of mild excess amniotic fluid, the doctor will give the pregnant woman a diuretic to reduce the amount of amniotic fluid out. In case of severe excess amniotic fluid, the doctor will closely monitor the amount of amniotic fluid of the pregnant woman, if it increases too quickly, the pregnant woman may need surgery or amniocentesis to reduce the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus.
In some cases, to overcome this phenomenon, the doctor can give the mother drugs to reduce the production of amniotic fluid, but this method is only used when the fetus is less than 32 weeks old because from 32 weeks From old age onwards, when using this drug for pregnant women can cause many dangerous complications. If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with amniotic fluid during pregnancy, whether mild or severe, pregnant women also need to pay attention to your diet, nutrition and living habits:
Ensure the amount of protein and protein in your daily diet, you should give priority to adding foods such as seafood, animal meat, .. You should eat a lot of green vegetables, but limit vegetables that contain a lot of water and should not be processed in the form of soups or soups. Limit the intake of succulent fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, watermelons... Replace with other fruits rich in fiber and vitamins such as apples, pears, bananas, papayas,... Need to have a working regime and Rest properly. 5. Excess amniotic fluid should drink a lot of water Amniotic fluid is the liquid that is transferred from the circulatory system of the mother's body into the amniotic sac. Therefore, if you eat too much liquid, it can make the condition of excess amniotic fluid in the mother more serious.
Therefore, when a pregnant woman is diagnosed with excess amniotic fluid, whether it is mild or severe, she should not drink too much water during pregnancy. However, it is still necessary to add a certain amount of water to ensure the amount of amniotic fluid needed for the development of the fetus.
Should drink enough water about 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day, absolutely do not eat salty foods because salt has the ability to retain water in the body. When mothers suspect that they have too much amniotic fluid during pregnancy, mothers need to immediately go to medical facilities to be consulted, diagnosed and treated in time by specialists to avoid situations that affect their health. and fetal development.

Hyperhydramnios is a rare condition and is dangerous for the fetus. However, in the case of pregnant women with excess amniotic fluid, it is possible to control the situation and help the amniotic fluid index return to normal if it is regularly examined during pregnancy and has a healthy diet and lifestyle. In particular, if the state of excess amniotic fluid is too complicated and the fetus has had enough weeks to give birth, it may be possible to induce an early delivery without waiting for labor.
Excess amniotic fluid usually occurs in the second 3 months of pregnancy, in addition to excess amniotic fluid, pregnant women often experience gestational diabetes, signs of premature delivery.... Therefore, to ensure To ensure the health of pregnant women and fetuses, at this stage, pregnant women need:
Comprehensive fetal malformation screening by superior 4D ultrasound technology. Screening for gestational diabetes, avoiding many dangerous complications for both mother and baby. Control the mother's weight reasonably to assess the health status of the pregnant woman and the development of the fetus. Understand the signs of threatened early delivery (especially in those carrying multiple pregnancies or having a history of miscarriage or premature birth) so that they can receive timely treatment to maintain pregnancy. To protect mother and baby during pregnancy, Vinmec provides a comprehensive Maternity service to monitor the health status of mother and baby, periodical antenatal check-ups with leading Obstetricians and Gynecologists. enough tests, important screening for pregnant women, counseling and timely intervention when detecting abnormalities in the health of mother and baby.