Too Much Water (Polyhydramnios)The amniotic fluid is a liquid which fills up the sac which encloses the baby inside the womb. It has several functions which include protecting the baby from trauma caused by accidental tumbles, keeping the baby’s oxygen supply constant by decompressing the umbilical cord, maintains a specific temperature inside the mother’s womb, protects the baby against certain infections, and it allows the baby to freely move which encourages proper bone and muscle development as well as the respiratory and digestive system development. If you are experiencing a very rapid growth of the uterus, you might be suffering from a pregnancy complication called polyhydramnios or excessive amniotic fluid. Normally, the amount of amniotic fluid inside your body should not dramatically increase until the start of the third trimester. But eventually, as you near your delivery date, the fluid slowly decreases. Statistics show that 1 in 100 pregnancies suffer from excessive amniotic fluid. Some of the symptoms of polyhydramnios include swelling of the ankles and feet, the feeling of always having to catch your breath, intense back pains, and abdominal discomforts. The best way to diagnose excessive amniotic fluid is through ultrasound. The procedure is done by measuring the level of amniotic fluid in different areas of the sac. These numbers are then added up and the sum is compared to the amniotic fluid index. Excessive amniotic fluid can be very dangerous for the baby and the mother. This is why if a woman is diagnosed with this complication, they are carefully monitored especially during their delivery of the baby. Read more of our articles on pregnancy complications
High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy |