Low amniotic fluid level risks and causes

Added: 02/17/2006

Amniotic fluids serve for unborn baby as the environment and air for everyone. not only the quality of the fluid but also its quantity can influence baby's development. The problem that can take place pregnancy are often connected with the unbalanced level of amniotic fluid. The problem could be caused by leaking membrane, troubled placenta, previous diseases, etc. the risk is very high and the problem should be under the thorough control.

What is more important than health whenever it is to say nothing about especially dangerous age of one day, month and even year? At this age infant is defenseless and needs a perfect care. That is why every baby goes through the number of necessary tests just after birth. One of the essential tests is Apgar test. It is used all over the world and is aimed for valuation of five basic baby health condition characteristics: skin color, heart beating, respiration, reflexes, muscle movements. But there are also many tests that are directed for pregnancy running control. Some of them provide the detailed information about the level of amniotic fluid. The deviation is low amniotic fluid level or high amniotic fluid level.

The problem is really important as amniotic fluid plays some of the leading roles: it protects baby's body from trauma (it serves like a cushion in the case of tumbling); prevents umbilical cord from compression; keeps perfectly the temperature in the womb; serves as protection from different infection; provides free baby's moving that guarantees proper bones and muscle development; it serves for the development of digestive and respiratory systems, swallowing and inhaling the amniotic fluid.

It was discovered that amniotic fluid is formed during the first fourteen weeks of pregnancy, gradually the baby starts swallowing the amniotic fluid, operating it passing through the kidneys, afterwards excreting it as urine. That presents a cyclic process. Though sometime it happens some problems in this system that is resulted in the low amniotic fluid level or opposite side, its high level. Earlier the question of preferable amniotic fluid level was under the constant discussion; today the situation is obvious and indisputable. The normal pregnancy running means increasing of fluid amount until the 3rd trimester. The peak of the amniotic fluid increase takes place during the 3-4 weeks. It consist a quart of the stuff. Then the fluid level starts diminishing.
Oligohydramnios is the name of the phenomenon of low amniotic fluid level. The high level of the fluid is called polyhydramnios. The researches and recent statistics show that most women face the trouble of low amniotic fluid level in the third trimester.

One of the evidence of lack of the fluid is the process of leaking. Also you can "measure" the level by your baby's movements, not feeling of movements signifies about some problems. The reason of the problem can also be chronic high pressure, diabetes, lupus, etc. The ultra sound procedure can be a solution for valuation of the amniotic fluid level.

Low amniotic fluid level causes a possibility of baby's hurting, etc, thought the exact effects are still under the research. The situation is clearer with the factors causing the problem: ruptured membrane that provide leak; some placenta problem; chronic diseases; twins carrying; fetal abnormalities, etc.

The biggest risk that can rise is possibility of umbilical cord compression. It is recommended to consume more fluids and go for special exercises.

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