Pregnancy is the best time in the life of any girl. But not at all it runs as smoothly as one would like. Someone has pain in the lower abdomen, some women experience discomfort in their legs and much more. It is advisable to consult a doctor at the first occurrence of discomfort.
A syndrome such as oligohydramnios during pregnancy is a very rare occurrence. For one thousand births, there are no more than four cases. But in medical practice it, although rare, is found. This phenomenon means the content of fetal fluid is less than normal, which indicates the presence in the woman's body of various deviations that can pose a threat to the health of the future mother, as well as interfere with the normal development of the fetus. Let's try to understand in more detail what dryness during pregnancy means, how it manifests itself and what threat it can pose for a girl carrying a child.
general information
Amniotic fluid plays a very important role in the development of the fetus, since they are the source of nutrition for it. It contains vitamins, minerals, macronutrients, hormones, oxygen and other substances that are necessary for the normal growth of the baby. The amniotic fluid of the fetus is excreted into the amniotic fluid, and they also protect the baby from external irritants, infections, and other things that can be a threat to him. As the birth approaches, the amniotic fluid begins to create pressure on the cervix, as a result of which it opens.
It is important to understand that the amount of fetal water in different trimesters is not the same. The higher the term, the more it is. This is because as the fetus grows older, his needs increase. In the third trimester, the optimal amount of amniotic fluid is from 1000 to 1500 milliliters. Before the birth, its amount is reduced to 600 ml, which is the norm. However, in some cases, in some women, this indicator can be much lower, which is a sign of any deviations. Depending on the volume of fluid, oligohydramnios during pregnancy is divided into several degrees of difficulty. In medical practice, there were even cases when they were practically nonexistent, and women had to terminate the pregnancy.
Classification
Low water during pregnancy, depending on the severity, is divided into two types:
In the first case, the deviation of the amount of amniotic fluid from the norm is insignificant and does not pose any threat to the development of the fetus. To normalize the condition of a pregnant woman, doctors recommend adhering to a proper diet, eating foods rich in vitamins and nutrients. It is also necessary to periodically be examined by a doctor. As practice shows, moderate low water during pregnancy poses virtually no threat to the fetus, so children are born healthy and strong, without any deviations.
The second case is more serious, therefore, expectant mothers are placed for treatment in a hospital, and a course of drug therapy is also prescribed. If no treatment is taken, then this can lead to deformation of the baby’s bone system, the development of various pathologies, oxygen starvation, which negatively affects the functioning of the central nervous system of the fetus, and also leads to a lag in physical and mental development.
It should be noted that if moderate oligohydramnios during pregnancy has almost no effect on childbirth, then when expressed, they are in most cases impossible without a cesarean section.
Clinical manifestations
The pathology does not have any pronounced signs, so it is quite difficult to determine it in time.
The main symptoms of oligohydramnios during pregnancy can be as follows:
- weakness;
- dry mouth
- nausea;
- periodic bouts of aching pain in the abdominal cavity.
As for the last symptom, it especially makes itself felt when the fetus begins to move. The thing is that the activity of the baby at the twelfth week of gestation is very much increased. If the amount of fetal water is less than normal, then the shock-absorbing functions are reduced, as a result of which the expectant mother experiences strong pain.
It is impossible to determine oligohydramnios during pregnancy without examining a gynecologist, so if you notice at least some of the clinical manifestations listed above, you need to contact a gynecologist as soon as possible to examine and undergo an ultrasound examination. Only it can confirm the presence of a problem, since with a low volume of fetal water, the uterus decreases in size, as a result of which the fetus is limited in movement. Ultrasound allows not only to detect oligohydramnios, but also to determine the severity and general condition of the baby.
If the diagnosis is confirmed, then it is critical to start timely treatment, since insufficient volume of fetal water can lead to spontaneous abortion or early childbirth, which take a very long and difficult time.
The main reasons for the development of pathology
To date, doctors have not been able to fully study the causes of oligohydramnios during pregnancy.
But the main prerequisites for this may be:
- The presence of severe pathologies and deviations in the development of the baby, especially associated with the kidneys, as well as various anomalies inherited from the mother. In this case, doctors most often have an abortion.
- Deviations in the development of the fetal bladder or a violation of its secretory functions.
- Increased blood pressure throughout the gestation period.
- Various diseases of bacterial etiology that have not been completely cured.
- A multiple pregnancy, in which blood circulation is uneven between several fruits.
- Violation of metabolic processes occurring in the body of a woman.
- Overexposure of the fetus.
These are the most common causes of oligohydramnios during pregnancy, which are found in medical practice. However, as mentioned earlier, scientists have not yet fully studied this phenomenon, so a variety of factors can be behind the problem.
Diagnostic Methods
Doctors can make an accurate diagnosis only by the results of an ultrasound examination, during which the medical staff are interested in the amniotic fluid index, measured in four places, and the figures are divided by 4. If the IAI is in the range of 5 to 8 cm, then the pregnancy proceeds normally and there are no deviations from the norm. With an index of less than two centimeters, pronounced oligohydramnios occurs, so a woman needs immediate hospitalization.
The main methods of therapy
If you have been diagnosed with oligohydramnios during pregnancy, treatment should only be done on an outpatient basis.
However, for this, doctors first need to determine the cause of the development of the pathology, so patients are prescribed:
- ultrasonography;
- dopplerography;
- tests and smears for the presence of infectious and sexually transmitted diseases;
- cardiotocography.
The treatment program is selected individually, depending on the clinical picture of the expectant mother and certain characteristics of her body. It can include a variety of activities. If the girl has a metabolic failure and obesity, then medications are prescribed, and they also select the optimal diet.
Lack of water in late pregnancy requires an integrated approach to treatment. The treatment program includes the intake of vitamin preparations, as well as drugs that normalize the metabolic processes in the body and aimed at combating the underlying disease that caused the development of pathology. With oligohydramnios, not too severe, outpatient treatment is allowed. But at the same time, the expectant mother should minimize the amount of physical exertion and be regularly examined by a doctor.
If oligohydramnios during pregnancy (treatment should be constantly adjusted by a profiled specialist) proceeds in a very serious form that poses a threat to the life of the fetus, then doctors may raise the question of preterm delivery. However, this is only permissible if the gestational age allows. Otherwise, as with the detection of malformations of the baby at an early stage of gestation, an abortion is prescribed.
With aging of the placental epithelium, which led to the development of placental insufficiency, Actovegin, Curantil and other drugs with a similar effect are prescribed. Treatment in this case is carried out exclusively on an outpatient basis. If, against the background of this, oxygen starvation of the fetus was caused, then a cesarean section is used, regardless of the trimester.
How does oligohydramnios affect the well-being of pregnant women?
Each girl shows up differently. The consequences of oligohydramnios during pregnancy can be extremely negative for a woman's condition. Pathology not only complicates the process of bearing the fetus, but can also cause its premature interruption. In addition, expectant mothers will constantly experience weakness and malaise, and childbirth is very difficult, because the low amount of amniotic fluid in the fetal bladder will not allow the uterus to open normally. Thus, a woman will not be able to give birth without special drugs that artificially stimulate contractions.
The effect of pathology on the fetus
Each woman is interested in the question of what threatens with oligohydramnios during pregnancy for her unborn child. And this is not surprising, because each mother worries about her child, even if it has not yet been born. As already mentioned at the beginning of the article, amniotic fluid provides the fetus with oxygen and all nutrients, and is also responsible for removing the baby’s vital products. Its insufficiency negatively affects the normal growth and development of the child. If the pathology made itself felt in the early stages of pregnancy, then the fetus may experience various deviations, for example, clubfoot, cranial deformity, dislocation of joints and so on. This is due to the fact that the fetal bladder ceases to fulfill the functions assigned to it.
If oligohydramnios during pregnancy (reviews of women giving birth fully confirm this) is not very severe, then children are born completely healthy without any significant complications. The only negative consequence will be a slowdown in physical development, but this does not affect the normal functioning of the child. In addition, such children often have weak immunity, so they are often ill throughout their lives.
Preventive actions
Low water during pregnancy can be prevented if you adhere to certain preventive measures. The expectant mother should take care of herself, minimizing physical activity. It is recommended as often as possible to walk in the fresh air, adhere to a balanced diet, trying not to overeat too much.
You must regularly visit your doctor for testing and examination. This is very important, because any changes in the body can help to timely detect the presence of any problems that can lead to low water levels in the future. If treatment is started on time, then the development of pathology can be prevented.
A few words about nutrition
Treatment of oligohydramnios is impossible without a woman following a special diet that will help in the treatment of such a pathology. In the daily diet of a woman, the amount of salt consumed should be minimized, because it retains fluid. It is best to cook food without it at all, and slightly salt it already in the process of eating. You should also abandon any harmful and hard to digest foods, and try to eat as much as possible fresh or steamed fruits and vegetables. With oligohydramnios, watermelons, apples, dried apricots, dates and walnuts are very useful. You can also use sour-milk products, herbal teas, brewed on rose hips or aronia. As for heat treatment of food, it is better to abandon frying, and instead steam or boil. This will not only save more vitamins in food, but also make it more healthy.
Finally
Low water during pregnancy (what to do with it was considered in this article) is a very serious pathology that can pose a threat to the fetus. However, it is extremely rare, so you may not particularly worry about this. As medical statistics show, no more than 4 percent of pregnant women face this problem. Nevertheless, in order to minimize the risks of oligohydramnios, it is recommended to be regularly checked by a gynecologist throughout the entire period of gestation. If the problem is detected on time, then getting rid of it will not be difficult without any consequences for the fetus. If, nevertheless, you have been diagnosed with oligohydramnios, then do not immediately succumb to panic, because excessive excitement will negatively affect the child and will only aggravate the situation. Register for pregnant women at your hospital and doctors will do everything you need. Modern medicine is at a high level, so absolutely everything is treatable.