Turbid amniotic fluid picture

Amniotic fluid refers to the fluid in the amniotic cavity of the uterus during pregnancy. To put it simply, it is the living environment of the baby in the mother's belly. It is very important for the baby surviving in the pregnant mother. On the one hand, it can act as a buffer and reduce external irritation; on the other hand, it can provide CO2 to the baby. Some mothers were told that their amniotic fluid was turbid after an ultrasound examination. What is going on? For the sake of the baby's health, today, let us learn all aspects of knowledge about turbid amniotic fluid.

What is turbid amniotic fluid?

Amniotic fluid of pregnant women is an essential component to maintain the life of the fetus. Under normal circumstances, it is transparent and clear. Some milky white placenta, vellus hair, squamous epithelial cells, etc. can be seen floating in it. During pregnancy, some pregnant women may experience turbid amniotic fluid. Let’s take a look at what turbid amniotic fluid is.

Turbid amniotic fluid refers to the presence of thick, high-density spots under B-ultrasound examination. This condition is usually caused by vernix caseosa, meconium or cholestasis mixed in the amniotic fluid of the pregnant woman. Among them, 12%-22% is due to meconium pollution. Clinical experiments have shown that meconium environmental pollution is associated with fetal intrauterine hypoxia, and therefore is used as one of the diagnostic criteria for fetal distress.

The levels of meconium environmental contamination are divided into the following three categories:

Degree Ⅰ means that the amniotic fluid of the pregnant woman is light green or light yellow and thinner. This indicates that the fetus is suffering from chronic oxygen deficiency and is in the compensatory period.

Grade II means that the amniotic fluid of the pregnant woman is dark green, turbid, thick and contains fecal stones. This indicates that the fetus is in a period of subacute oxygen deficiency.

Grade III means that the amniotic fluid of the pregnant woman is dark red, thick and mushy. The baby's skin, umbilical cord, placenta, and embryo may all turn yellow. It indicates that the fetus is in acute condition of oxygen deficiency, with oxygen deficiency lasting for at least 6 hours.

In either case, expectant mothers cannot tell with their naked eyes and need to go to the hospital for examination and have a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.

Causes of cloudy amniotic fluid

The source of amniotic fluid varies at different stages of fetal development. In the early stages of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid of pregnant women mainly comes from the plasma component of the test tube embryo and is colorless. As the fetus's organs begin to grow and develop, the composition of the amniotic fluid gradually increases to the fetus's urine, respiratory tract, digestive tract, umbilical cord, embryonic surface, etc., and will become slightly turbid. Under B-ultrasound examination, thick, high-density spots can be seen.

Common causes of turbid amniotic fluid include the following:

1. Vernix caseosa is mixed with the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. If the turbidity of the amniotic fluid is caused by this situation, it is generally not easy to cause adverse effects on the fetus, so there is no need to worry too much.

2. Meconium is mixed with the amniotic fluid of the pregnant woman. If this happens, it may cause the fetus to suffer from hypoxia in the uterus and oxygen supply is required. The actual solution should be carried out after the diagnosis of a specialist.

3. Cholestasis is mixed in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. The main substances in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women are fetal fluid and vitiligo. Simple turbidity generally does not cause any problems. If it is relatively turbid, it indicates that the fetus is abnormal and needs to be delivered immediately.

Since the amniotic fluid of pregnant women is the condition for the survival of the fetus, the turbidity should not be underestimated and you should go to the hospital outpatient department as soon as possible to find out the cause.

What to do if the amniotic fluid is turbid

During the entire pregnancy process, amniotic fluid is an important component that is indispensable to maintaining the life of the fetus. It not only reduces the pressure and impact from outside the abdomen during pregnancy, but also maintains the stability of the temperature in the uterus. It is the baby's natural barrier. What should I do if the amniotic fluid becomes turbid?

The amniotic fluid of pregnant women is generally caused by vernix caseosa or meconium mixed with the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. There are also cases of cholestasis. If it is simply a slight turbidity caused by vernix caseosa, it is not a big problem and belongs to all normal conditions. Generally, it will not cause adverse effects on the fetus. If the turbidity of the amniotic fluid is caused by meconium, it means that the fetus may be suffering from intrauterine hypoxia and needs to rely on oxygen to supplement CO2. In the latter case of hypoxia, pregnant women should seek medical treatment immediately and follow the doctor's advice for examination or oxygen administration. If necessary, the pregnancy may be terminated early and a cesarean section may be performed to complete the delivery.