Amniotic fluid is a clear, yellowish fluid in the womb during pregnancy. Thus fluid surrounds the baby in the womb and plays a vital role in the optimal development of the baby. This key fluid is generated by the mother within 12 days of the pregnancy and a mother needs to maintain optimal levels of this fluid for safe pregnancy.
Too much or too little – both these conditions can cause complications for the baby. What exactly happens when the optimum levels of this fluid are not met? And how to ensure the right amount of amniotic fluid during pregnancy? Let us know answers from the best gynaecologists in Mumbai Dr Neelima Mantri in this blog.
What is Amniotic Fluid?
The baby in the womb grows in a bag-like structure which is formed by two membranes – the amnion and chorion. The baby grows inside the amniotic sac which is filled with amniotic fluid that is generated as early as 12 weeks into pregnancy. In the early weeks of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid is mostly the water produced by the mother’s body.
By 5th month of pregnancy, this amniotic fluid gradually becomes a mix of water and foetal urine, consisting of key nutrients, antibodies and hormones. The baby swallows the fluid and excretes it increasing its volume over time. This versatile fluid can be said as the bread and butter of the baby due to the essential role it plays in the development of the baby in the womb. Here are the functions of amniotic fluid during pregnancy:
- Amniotic fluid is filled with nutrients and hormones that aid optimal bone growth, and lung and other organ development of the baby.
- Ensures the right temperature for the baby by eliminating heat loss.
- Amniotic fluid acts like a cushion protecting the baby from possible bumps or sudden blows.
- In a few cases umbilical cord may exert pressure on the baby which amniotic fluid prevents.
Ultrasound is used by healthcare providers to measure the amniotic fluid. It is usually measured in pockets of fluid across specific areas of the sac and then the total volume is calculated. The fluid level of 800 ml (average) surrounds the baby at 34 weeks of gestation which is the highest. At full term, a total volume of 600 mL of amniotic fluid surrounds the baby.
What happens when amniotic fluid is low during pregnancy?
Amniotic fluid is an essential element in the optimal development of the baby. A low volume of fluid can risk a condition that is prevented by a good volume of amniotic fluid. Lower amniotic fluid can also be due to lower volume output which is a signal of development problems.
So inadequate volume of the fluid is going to be a problem that can cause serious complications. The causes of the low volume of fluid involve health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, placental abruption, breaking of water, certain medications and health conditions like genetic disorders in the baby.
How to increase amniotic fluid during pregnancy?
“In case of lower amniotic fluid during 36-37 weeks of pregnancy, delivery is often the most optimal route that a couple can take,” says the best obstetrician in Mumbai Dr Neelima Mantri. This is suggested because there is no concrete long-term treatment option for low amniotic fluid. In the case of pregnancy that is less than 36 weeks, many short-term treatment options are recommended by gynaecologists in India after monitoring the baby’s health and identifying the causes of the problems. In general, women are suggested to drink more fluids in addition to IV procedures. Omnifusion is another effective procedure where saline is put into the uterus through the cervix using a catheter. This procedure is commonly prescribed when the lower amniotic fluid is seen to impact the baby’s health – an unusual heart rate of the baby is the common sign here.
If you are looking for treatment for lower amniotic fluid then you are suggested to consult a gynaecologist as quickly as possible. An expert gynaecologist identifies the problem causing the lower amniotic fluid to provide the right treatment option for you. If you are in Mumbai, Dr Neelima Mantri is the best female gynaecologist in Mumbai with an excellent track record in treating the low amniotic fluid problem in pregnant women. You can contact her here: https://www.drneelimamantri.com/
