Low amniotic fluid - 18 weeks

[Anonymous]

I went in this morning for an ultrasound and found out that I have low amniotic fluid. It was heartbreaking to see, as the baby was so confined it could not even move. I've been ordered to stay at home, resting and drinking lots of fluids for the next week. I'd love to hear from anyone else who has been through this. Thanks.

[zumbamama]

I had low amniotic fluid and was able to get it back up with bed rest and lots of fluid. However, I had an extremely stressful pregnancy with what was going on in my life at the time, and ended up delivering at 27 wks. She is almost 4 now and very healthy.

My advice to you: drink A LOT, rest, drink A LOT, whatever you can do to keep yourself calm and unstressed, and drink A LOT!

[Anonymous]

I had that too. I was put on bedrest (at home) and was out of work for quite awhile. I was told to drink a ton of water too. No strenuous exercise either.

My life came to screeching halt (see past postings on bedrest), but in the end baby and I were fine. I was induced a week early (although I was arleady dilated 5 cm upon admissions so I probably would've delivered early anyway) and had an uneventful epidural-free delivery (so, no, my birth plan was not altered because of this "complication").

My doc. didn't have an explaination as to what caused the low amniotic fluid. I wasn't leaking. Probably just not drinking enough - pregnant women really underestimate how much water they need, I suppose.

It is scary news. I was really worried and felt like I had done something wrong, that I should've been not so preocupied at work, that I should've taken better care of myself, that I should've, should've, should've....

You and your baby will be fine. My amniotic fluid did increase with the rest and water ao I am sure yours will too.

Also, one more thing, keep in mind that the sono. tech. measures "pockets" of amnio. fluid. So, they are taking an average measurement. Sometimes, it is really hard to get a true reading of the amount of amnio. fluid. So...my point is that it may not seem that bad.

hang in there...

[Anonymous]

After my 20 week ultrasound, I got a call from doctor telling me I needed to come in in two days for a repeat scan. My fluid levels were low (according to the u/s tech who administered the first one). I drank like crazy for those two days and rested as much as I could. When I went back in for the repeat scan the nurse said there was no reason to have scared me that my level wasn't that low. I'm sure it helped that I was drinking. Remember the more you pee the more baby is peeing which makes more fluid.

Good luck to you and drink lots!

[Anonymous]

I also had the low fluid and was ordered bed rest at home. I complied meticulously and drank over a gallon of water a day. (Yes, I was in the bathroom every 1/2 hour). But, it worked and my fluid rebounded -- until 39 weeks when it pretty much all disappeared and they induced me that night. Everything was fine in the end.

Rest (really -- the nursery, etc, can wait), drink lots of fluids and try not to stress out too much. It's fairly common -- I think I read that this happens in about 8% of all pregnancies.