Oligohydraminos
Oligohydraminos happens when you have too little amniotic fluid.
It happens in 4 out of 100 pregnant women. Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds the baby in the uterus. It is very important for you baby’s development.
Signs & symptoms-
• leaking of fluid from the vagina
• weightgain of mother and baby is not enough
• decreased fetal movements
• abdominal discomfort
• sudden drop in fetal heat rate
How do you know about oligohydraminos?
Your doctor will use ultrasound to measure the amount of amniotic fluid. There are two ways to measure the fluid –
• Amniotic fluid index (AFI)
If your AFI is less than 5cm, you have oligohydraminos.
• Maximum vertical pocket (MPV)
If your MPV is less than 2cm, your diagnosis is confirmed.
Causes-
Sometimes the causes remains unknown, still some known causes are –
• Health problems, such as high BP or preexisting diabetes
• Certain medications, like those used to treat high BP
• Post term pregnancy – A pregnancy that goes 2 or more weeks past the due date.
• Birth defects, especially ones that affect the baby’s kidneys and urinary tract.
• Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) – when the amniotic sac breaks after 37 weeks of pregnancy but before labor starts.
• Genetic/Chromosomal Anomalies
• Placental insufficiency- if the placenta is not providing enough nutrients for the baby, then the baby way stop recycling fluid, this lowering the amniotic fluid.
Risk Factors-
The factors that increases the risk of such a condition includes-
• Maternal hypertension / preeclampsia
• Maternal diabetes
• Maternal diabetes
• Maternal hypoxia
• Placental issues
Complications-
If Oligohydraminos happens in the first 2 trimesters of pregnancy, it is more likely to cause Serious problems than if it happens in the last trimester. These problems includes-
• Birth defect
• Miscarriage
• Premature birth
• Stillbirth
If this condition happens in the third trimester of pregnancy, it can cause-
• The baby to grow slowly
• Problems during labor and birth, such as umblical cord being squeezed.If it is squeezed baby doesn’t get enough food and oxygen.
• A greater chance of needing a caesarean section
What should be done if you have oligohydraminos?
• Drink lots of water
• Less physical activity
• Take complete bedrest
Diagnosis –
Diagnosis is done by ultrasonographic measurement of amniotic fluid volume.
Treatment –
There is no long-term treatment for oligohydraminos.However, a few things on temporarily increase amniotic fluid levels –
• Oral intake of fluids
Oral hydration is simplest way of treatment, but in some cases, intravenous hydration may be needed.
• Installation of a saline solution into the amniotic sac(amnio infusion7) during labor
Amnio infusion may help ‘pad’ the umbilical cord, reducing the risks of umbilical cord compression.
• Investigational therapies
Certain therapies are used to increase amniotic fluid, including tosome sealants, a combination of hydration and desmopressin.
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