Low Amniotic Fluid and Complications

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The amniotic fluid is your baby’s support system that protects them from harm and helps in the development of the lungs, limbs muscles and digestion system. The body begins to produce amniotic fluid after the amniotic sac develops. Some women develop a condition known as oligohydramnios, which results in low amniotic fluid levels. Low amniotic fluid and complications can be serious, so doctors use various methods to measure the amount of fluid that baby has.

Low Amniotic Fluid and Complications: Causes
There are quite a few things that can cause low amniotic fluid, including placental problems. Leaking or a rupture of membranes can also cause fluid to leak enough that levels become dangerously low. Some birth defects involving the urinary tract and kidneys may cause low urine production, thus low amniotic fluid levels. A pregnancy that goes past 42 weeks may also result in low amniotic fluid levels, as well as a range of maternal health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension and preeclampsia.

Low Amniotic Fluid and Complications
Low amniotic fluid and complications vary depending on how far along gestation is. During the second trimester, the baby breathes and swallows the amniotic fluid to help their lungs mature. Oligohydramnios, or low amniotic fluid, detected early in the pregnancy carries the greatest risk of complications. Early on, complications include an increased risk of stillbirth or miscarriage, as well as birth defects from a compression of the baby’s organs. Detected during the second half of your pregnancy, low amniotic fluid can cause preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and labor complications like cesarean delivery and cord compression.