If an AFI shows a fluid level of less than 5 centimeters (or less than the 5th percentile), the absence of a fluid pocket 2 - 3 cm in depth, or a fluid volume of less than 500mL at 32 - 36 weeks gestation, then a diagnosis
of oligohydramnios would be suspected.
In order to properly
diagnose oligohydramnios, your healthcare provider will measure the amount of amniotic fluid via ultrasound.
If oligohydramnios is detected in the first half of pregnancy, the complications can be more serious and include:
If your bump — or your baby — appears smaller than expected at this stage of your pregnancy, your healthcare provider may
suspect oligohydramnios, which is presenting with the less - than - optimal amount of amniotic fluid.
Treating oligohydramnios will require doctors to closely monitor amniotic fluid levels and supplement these levels if necessary.
About 8 % of pregnant women can have low levels of amniotic fluid, with about 4 % being diagnosed
with oligohydramnios.
Not enough fluid in the amniotic sac (
oligohydramnios) could mean that the baby isn't peeing properly, which could indicate a problem with the
Not enough fluid in the amniotic sac (
oligohydramnios) could mean that the baby isn't peeing properly, which could indicate a problem with the kidneys or urinary tract.
Diagnosis of either
oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios can be made by an ultrasound exam called an amniotic fluid index (or «AFI»), where the doctor measures the fluid pockets.
Sometimes women have conditions which cause too little amniotic fluid (called «
oligohydramnios «-RRB- or too much amniotic fluid (called «polyhydramnios «-RRB-.
Generally, though, in the majority of cases when women are diagnosed with having
oligohydramnios, they go on to have healthy babies.
Stressors may include both conditions involving the baby, such as an infection, or if the baby's mother has high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia,
oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid,) or if she smokes cigarettes heavily.
As with
oligohydramnios, this condition most often occurs in the last trimester and generally results in no harm to a mother or her baby.
Your baby might not grow as quickly as expected, and you might have low amniotic fluid (
oligohydramnios) or other complications.
How to assess the volume of amniotic fluid and recognize and care for a mom with poly and / or
oligohydramnios.
(When there's too little, it's called
oligohydramnios.)
Too little fluid is called
oligohydramnios.
Some maternal health problems have also been linked with
oligohydramnios.
Occasionally, too little fluid (the medical term is
oligohydramnios) is a result of uterine growth restriction; your doctor or midwife can work with you on managing this condition.