This post was most recently updated on July 25th, 2023
Overview
What is amniotic fluid?
Amniotic fluid is the environment for survival and development of the fetus until its birth.
Early detection of amniotic fluid abnormalities during pregnancy is crucial.
Amniotic fluid deficiency is one of the abnormal conditions of amniotic fluid, which can be dangerous to the fetus.
However, most pregnant women do not know much or have no concept about this situation.
Amniotic fluid is a fluid-filled in the amniotic sac around the developing fetus in the mother’s womb and plays significant roles such as:
- Protect the fetus from bumps.
- Prevent the umbilical cord from being pinched, because if the umbilical cord is blocked, it will reduce oxygen supply to the fetus.
- It helps to maintain a constant temperature of the fetus in utero.
- It protects you from any possible infection.
- Allow the fetus to move smoothly for proper muscle and bone development.
In the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, amniotic fluid will be created from the mother’s circulatory system in the amniotic fluid.
At the beginning of the 2nd trimester, the baby begins to swallow amniotic fluid and excretes it as urine, then takes again, re-establishing amniotic fluid fully every few hours.
This means that most of the amniotic fluid is the urine of the fetus.
Therefore, the fetus plays an essential role in keeping the right volume of amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac.
Sometimes, this balance is disrupted, resulting in either too much or too little amniotic fluid.
Under normal circumstances, the amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus increases until the beginning of the 3rd trimester and increases most at 34 to 36 weeks. At this time, the amniotic sac can contain about 800 ml of water, and amniotic fluid volume will decrease until birth.
Having too much amniotic fluid at any time during pregnancy is called poly amniotic fluid and occurs in only 1% of pregnant women.
If the amount of amniotic fluid is too small, it will be considered as a little amniotic fluid.
To find out more about the index of amniotic fluid or the amount of amniotic fluid of pregnant women, the doctor will recommend performing a test or ultrasound by the following procedure:
- Take the belly button as a mold,
- Divide the abdomen into four parts with two horizontal and vertical lines.
In each section, the doctor will select the deepest amniotic sac to measure the length. AFI denotes the amniotic fluid index.
In the 3rd trimester, this index is generally within the range of 5−25 cm. If the index is less than 5 cm, it is considered to be a lack of amniotic fluid.
The cause of the amniotic fluid deficiency
Doctors don’t always know what causes low amniotic fluid. This is most common at the end of the 3rd trimester, especially if you are past due.
Here are some of the most common causes of amniotic fluid deficiency:
The amniotic fluid leaks
A small tear in the amniotic fluid can cause the amniotic fluid to drain. This can happen at any stage of pregnancy, but it is more common the closer you get to giving birth.
Pregnant women may notice an amniotic fluid leak if underwear is wet or a doctor finds out during a vaginal test exam. Therefore, consult with your doctor if you suspect a leaking amniotic fluid.
When the amniotic membrane is torn, it increases the risk of infection for both you and the fetus, as it creates favorable conditions for bacteria to enter the amniotic sac.
Occasionally, a tear in the bag will heal on its own, a leak will disappear, and the amniotic fluid level will return to normal. This is often the case if leakage occurs after amniocentesis.
More amniotic membranes tear, resulting in rupture of amniotic fluid. At this time, you must hurry to the hospital to promptly handle.
Problems with the placenta
The problem with the placenta is that the placenta is usually premature, meaning that part or all of the placenta separates into the uterus resulting in a low level of amniotic fluid. If the placenta does not provide enough blood and nutrients to the fetus, the fetus will stop producing urine.
Some other medical problems
Certain conditions, such as chronic hypertension, pre-eclampsia, diabetes, and lupus, can also lead to low amniotic fluid levels.
Having twins or multiple pregnancies
You are at risk of amniotic deficiency if you are pregnant with twins or multiple pregnancies. This condition can occur in the case of twin blood transfusion syndrome. This syndrome means that one fetus has too little amniotic fluid, while the other fetus has too much.
Abnormal fetus
If you see little amniotic fluid in the first or second trimester, this is a sign that the fetus may have a congenital disability. If your baby’s kidneys are not growing properly or the urinary tract is blocked, the fetus will not produce enough urine to maintain the amniotic fluid.
What should pregnant women do when they are diagnosed with amniotic fluid?
If you are diagnosed with a lack of amniotic fluid, your doctor will monitor your baby carefully to make sure your baby continues to develop normally, or if you are nearing the due date, you may have a labor induction.
In some cases, for example, a pregnant woman with severe pre-eclampsia or an unborn baby developing typically in the uterus may need to give birth early.
Low amniotic fluid levels increase the likelihood of complications during labor because the low amniotic fluid volume will cause your baby’s movements or contractions to press down the umbilical cord.
During labor, the doctor places a soft catheter through the cervix so that a fluid (usually physiological saline) can be injected into the amniotic fluid to reduce the risk of umbilical cord compression. If the fetus cannot safely pass, the doctor will recommend that you have a cesarean section.
Amniotic fluid contributes very importantly to pregnant women during pregnancy. Hopefully, with the information provided, this article will help pregnant women have safe and healthy pregnancy months!
