Are you aware of polyhydramnios (excessive fluid around the baby) during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a time when every mother has a lot of hope and a little bit of fear. During this time, you are constantly thinking about the development of the baby in your belly and his well-being. Sometimes, during a scan, the doctor says, "There is a little too much water around the baby." It is normal to feel very scared at that time. But don't worry, if you understand this correctly , you can cope with this situation well. Today we are talking about this 'increased water around the baby' or the medical term 'Hydramnios' or 'Polyhydramnios'.

Simply put, what is Polyhydramnios?

Inside your uterus, your baby is in a water-filled sac called the amniotic sac. The fluid inside this sac is called amniotic fluid. This fluid is very important for your baby. It's like a protective cushion. It keeps your baby from bouncing around, regulates your baby's body temperature, and helps your baby's lungs and digestive system develop.

Normally, this amount of fluid should be at a certain level throughout pregnancy. Polyhydramnios is when there is more amniotic fluid than normal. This condition occurs in about 1 or 2 out of 100 pregnancies.

This condition can be mild, moderate, or severe. Usually, if this condition begins early in pregnancy, there is a chance that the amount of fluid will increase. As the amount of fluid increases, the risk of complications and the baby may have certain birth defects may increase slightly.

Why is this happening? What are the reasons for this?

In a normal pregnancy, this amniotic fluid is mainly made up of the baby's urine. The baby swallows this fluid, and then passes it out again as urine. This happens in a cycle. So if there is a problem somewhere in this cycle, the amount of fluid can increase. For example, if the baby urinates too much, or if the baby cannot swallow the fluid properly, this condition can occur.

But in most cases, that is, in about 60%-70% of cases, no specific cause can be found. We call it 'Idiopathic Polyhydramnios'. However, in some cases, there are several factors that contribute to this.

How to recognize this condition?

Polyhydramnios is mainly diagnosed through an ultrasound scan . It may be detected during your routine clinical examination or during a scan performed for other symptoms.

Sometimes, if your uterus (belly) is growing too quickly for your pregnancy, or if you feel your baby moving less, your doctor may suspect this and refer you for a scan.

During the scan, the technician or doctor measures the fluid pockets inside the uterus and calculates the total amount of fluid. The scan is also important in determining whether the baby has any birth defects.

What symptoms might you experience?

If you have mild fluid buildup, you may not notice any symptoms. But as the amount of fluid increases, you may start to feel some discomfort .

These are the symptoms that can be seen in general:

• Difficulty breathing : You may feel difficulty breathing as the uterus enlarges and presses on your lungs.
• Abdominal discomfort and heaviness: Because the stomach is very large, there is a feeling of heaviness and discomfort.
• The uterus is larger than it should be: For example, even though it is 32 weeks, it looks like a 36-week belly.
• Premature labor pains: The onset of labor pains before the due date.
• Swelling of the lower body: Swelling in areas like the legs and ankles.

What complications can this cause?

If polyhydramnios is severe, there is a risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Remember, these don't happen to everyone, but it's important to be aware of the risks.

What are the treatments for this?

Your treatment will depend on the severity of your condition, the stage of your pregnancy, and the cause.

• Mild cases: If the fluid is only slightly increased, no treatment is often needed. However, your doctor will monitor you and your baby more closely. They will ask you to come to the clinic more often than usual, and will do frequent scans.
• Severe cases: If the fluid is too high and you are having difficulty, treatment may be necessary.
• Treating the Cause: If the cause of this condition is gestational diabetes, treating it properly can help control the fluid volume.
• Amnioreduction: A thin needle is used to remove excess fluid from the uterus. This is similar to an amniocentesis test. This may need to be done several times.
• Medication: A medicine (`Indomethacin`) that reduces the amount of urine the baby produces is sometimes given. However, this is not recommended after 31 weeks of pregnancy.
• Early delivery: If complications are high and the baby's lungs are developed, the doctor may decide to deliver the baby a little earlier than the due date.
• Continuous monitoring: Along with all this, the baby's heartbeat and growth are regularly checked. If there is any suspicion of a problem with the baby's heart, a special scan such as a `Fetal Echocardiogram` may also be done.

If you have Hydramnios, what should you do?

After recognizing this condition, you will need to make some small changes to your lifestyle and plans.

• Get more rest: Try to avoid straining your body as much as possible. Rest with your legs elevated. If possible, take maternity leave a little earlier.
• Prepare for the baby's arrival early: Don't assume you'll be able to wait until the due date. Prepare the baby's necessary items, such as clothes, diapers, and a crib, in advance.
• Make an emergency plan: Talk to your husband, family, and doctor about what to do if your water breaks early and how to get to the hospital.
• Tell your doctor about any discomfort you are experiencing (difficulty breathing, pain). He or she will advise you on ways to relieve it.