My topic of discussion for this time is all about amniotic fluid and how it is important in pregnancy.  I have done diagnostic medical ultrasound for many years now and have encountered everything from high to low levels and believe it or not, even no measureable fluid.  All of these occur for various reasons.  Personally speaking, with my first pregnancy my fluid level was a little on the low side.  My doctor’s remedy was to be on some bed rest and drink, drink, drink the fluids, especially water.  As I did this continually and had my fluid level repeatedly checked, it began to improve.  I should also mention that I also had a condition known as PIH, which is called pregnancy induced hypertension, or high blood pressure that resulted from the pregnancy (this resolved after I gave birth) - problems such as this can be a factor contributing to low amniotic fluid.  My levels were never dangerously low, but low enough for the doctor to give me instructions on how to remedy the situation.  The role of the amniotic fluid is important for such things as maintaining a constant temperature in the womb, it allows the baby adequate space to move around for proper muscle and bone development, protection against infection, it is important in the development of the digestive and respiratory tracts as the baby swallows the fluid and inhales and exhales (the developing fetus does not actually have exchange of gases like we do until they take their first breath after being born).  One other important role is that proper fluid levels keep the umbilical cord from being compressed and interfering with the fetus’s oxygen supply.  The level of amniotic fluid usually peaks at around the 34th week of pregnancy and then starts to decrease toward the end.  Take good care of you and your baby!

Posted June 5th, 2008 by tammy in Random |