Before a child is born, his environment is amniotic fluid. They provide the baby with protection and nutrition, enable the growing body to develop and function normally. There is a regular absorption and excretion of fluid by the fetus, which allows you to maintain its amount at a relatively constant level. If this balance is disturbed, then polyhydramnios occurs. This pathology carries a certain danger to the mother and child.
Polyhydramnios can be mild, acute, and chronic. These types of diseases vary in severity and symptoms. Treatment options are also different. Moderate polyhydramnios is usually treated on an outpatient basis, while acute polyhydramnios may require emergency measures and is accompanied by hospitalization. Chronic polyhydramnios occurs more often at the end of pregnancy and is less dangerous, but indicates the presence of inflammatory processes or infections in the mother's body.
In most cases, the reasons for the development of polyhydramnios are very difficult to determine. But the known causes of its occurrence are anemia in the fetus, different Rh factors in the mother and the baby, multiple pregnancy, diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman, congenital pathologies that affect the formation of the central nervous system and the digestive system in the fetus.
The symptoms of the disease are different and not always pronounced. With moderate polyhydramnios, they grow gradually and may go unnoticed. Symptoms are most pronounced in acute polyhydramnios. In this case, the abdomen becomes tense and increases dramatically in volume. Perineal pain, swelling, heart palpitations and shortness of breath appear. The amniotic fluid index, which is determined using ultrasound, is the most accurate indicator for determining polyhydramnios.
The amniotic fluid index is an indicator of the volume of water in the fetal bladder. Each week of pregnancy has its own rate, which is reflected in the AFI table. A deviation in one direction or another indicates a lack of water or polyhydramnios.
Polyhydramnios for a pregnant woman can have a number of undesirable consequences. There is a danger of premature birth, resulting in a premature or unviable baby. In 35% of cases, polyhydramnios is accompanied by uncontrollable vomiting, which leads to dehydration. Due to the large amount of fluid, the fetus may be in the wrong position, and the only way of delivery is a cesarean section. Strong stretching of the uterus weakens labor, and can also cause complications and the impossibility of spontaneous childbirth.
Polyhydramnios also affects the child's condition in the most unfavorable way. Placental insufficiency occurs and, as a result, fetal hypoxia. Polyhydramnios may indicate malformations of the central nervous system or gastrointestinal tract. Often this pathology causes other fetal malformations. The degree of deviation depends on the reason for which the polyhydramnios is caused. If the cause is a mother's infection, the baby may also be infected.
Fetal hypoxia is a lack of oxygen in the body. May lead to intrauterine growth retardation. Slows down the ability to adapt after birth.
With polyhydramnios, treatment at home with folk remedies is absolutely unacceptable. You need to be under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist and strictly follow his instructions. With timely and adequate treatment, the pregnancy will end with the successful birth of the baby.
