Very little amniotic fluid at 34/35 weeks?

[freemama]

My sister was measuring small for her dates. Her due date is April 17th but the original due date was April 28th. She had an ultrasound yesterday and they moved her due date back to April 28th. The doc also said that she was very low on amniotic fluid. I just talked to her and she said that she is leaking fluid "like crazy" today. She has an appointment at 3pm but is worried.

Does anyone have any experience like this? She's worried that they will want to deliver the baby today. Is that standard protocol when the fluid is low or do they generally take a wait and see approach?

[3girls2luv]

It just depends on how low her fluids are and the condition of the baby. Has she called her doctor to tell him she is leaking? She may need to go straight to L&D.

[freemama]

No she hasn't called her doc to tell him she is leaking since she has an appointment later today, I am going to call her and tell her to call him. That is great advice thank you.

[3girls2luv]

You are welcome. I hope it all goes well for her and baby.

[freemama]

She did call her doc and he said to wait until the appointment at 3. She told me she leaked while she was sleeping and it woke her up, it wet her side of the bed noticeably. She changed the sheets and it happened again when she was laying in bed awake. She said she smelled it to be certain it was fluid and not urine.

I'm guessing she is going to be having a baby today...I just hope she will be okay since its early.

[tata]

Please keep us updated. I'll be thinking about your sister. Best wishes that all is well.

[alejorge]

I know when I was pregnant with DD my first child that my amniotic fluid was very low. I only had 2 little pockets of fluid. One by her head and the other next to her ribs.

They immediately started me on getting ready to deliver baby. They had to put the strip on my cervix and thin me out. Then when I was thin they started the pit. They broke my water when I was 2cm.

She was only 2 weeks early but she did have some breathing problems at first and almost wound up in the NICU.

I hope that your sister is ok and the baby is ok. Hopefully they can get her stableized enough to keep the baby in that belly for a little while longer.

[freemama]

I read that maternal dehydration is a factor in this. I have been telling her since day one to quit the soda and drink water. Two weeks ago, she went into preterm labor due to dehydration and they managed to stop the labor. She refuses to listen to me about drinking water, she calls me a water nazi. Its frustrating to me because its such a simple thing to do that could possibly prevent her from having her baby early.

[freemama]

Oh and the baby's heart rate is low, it was only 126bpm and the doctor said that was low.

[Tweet]

I had a slow leak for 2 weeks with dd1, but they monitored me in the hospital for infection and other stuff until I went into labor at 32 weeks.

I also started leaking with DS at 36 weeks and they went ahead and took him out that day.

[freemama]

I'll give an update after her appointment. I am so nervous for her.

[3girls2luv]

Wow I'm suprised the doctor made her wait being that the fluid is low and the HR is low. I will keep her in my prayers. Let us know what happens.

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

There is no need to deliver.

She should be in the hospital, on bedrest, and getting IV abx in case of infection. She could carry all the way to the end safely. My Doctor hoped to keep me in the hospital 8-10 weeks before inducing.

There's also a test for preterm labor.

[Tweet]

I think I might go ahead and go to L&d,if I were her.

[MoonBound]

Me too! Hope she and Baby are okay.

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

Definitely go to L&D.

[Sanoraiahsmom]

Hi!!! Is this you sister's first baby? I can't believe the dr wants her to wait. It sounds like her water broke. When I had my son my water broke a month before my due date and my dr wanted to see me and have me deliver asap because the risk of infection. The only problem my son had with being premature was feeding problems and he wasn't gaining like he should so he had to be in the NICU for 4 days on top of the 4 days we were already there from my delivery. So hopefully her baby will be fine. I will be thinking of her and praying for her today.

[3girls2luv]

I agree with everyone else who says she should go to L&D.

[HammBugga]

That's f-ing ridiculous. Water broken at 34 weeks and the Dr, tells her to wait? Um, no. Get her ass to the hospital asap.

[PrincessEmilysMommy]

Any update?

[KerryS]

I agree with Hamm. She should go to the OB unit ASAP if she's leaking fluid at 34 weeks. They need time to get some betamethasone on board to prevent lung problems in the baby. A baseline heart rate of 126 is not low. As long as there are accelerations and good variability.

[SingingMom]

An acquaintance of mine recently went through a similar experience. Was leaking amniotic fluid around 34, 35 weeks. Her doc, according to her, said she was fine and sent her home. And she went home, and delivered the baby several weeks later.

It made me crazy.

[Sadalsuud]

I suffered from low fluid through both of my pregnancies, even though I wasn't (afaik) leaking. I was careful to keep hydrated, but still had frequent u/s to monitor my level.

I agree that she needs to go in if she is leaking.