What should I pay attention to when I have abnormal amniotic fluid?

Pregnancy is hard for mothers, but if there is an abnormal amniotic fluid problem, it will be even more tormenting. If expectant mothers are diagnosed with abnormal amniotic fluid, they should not worry too much so as not to make their body condition worse. The best way is to recommend expectant mothers to regulate their diet to achieve the effect of restoring amniotic fluid. Diet regulation is relatively safe and has no toxic side effects.

1. Criteria for measuring abnormal amniotic fluid

More than 2000ml or less than 300ml is abnormal

The amount of amniotic fluid in the pregnant woman's uterus will change accordingly at different stages of pregnancy, but too much or too little is not good.

If necessary, exclude fetal malformation

Experts say that at 20 weeks of pregnancy, the average amount of amniotic fluid is 400 ml; at around 28 weeks, it increases to 700 ml; it is at its highest at 32 to 36 weeks, at around 1000 to 1500 ml; then it gradually decreases to around 800 ml at 40 weeks of pregnancy; and decreases to 540 ml at 42 weeks of pregnancy. Clinically, it is generally believed that if the amount of amniotic fluid during pregnancy exceeds 2000 ml, it is considered excessive, and if it is less than 300 ml in the late pregnancy, it can be defined as too little.

2. Diet therapy

Excessive amniotic fluid is called "fetal fluid edema", also known as "fetal fullness", which is recorded in ancient Chinese medicine books such as "The Heart of Pregnancy and Childbirth". Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this symptom is caused by spleen deficiency that cannot transport and transform water in the body, or by blocked qi flow, which disrupts the balance between amniotic fluid production and absorption, causing amniotic fluid production to be greater than absorption, and thus accumulates more and more. The main treatment is to strengthen the spleen and remove dampness to achieve the purpose of reducing amniotic fluid.

For pregnant women who experience this symptom, the earlier it is discovered and treated, the better the effect. In clinical practice, Chinese medicine often uses the classic prescription "Carp Soup" from "Qian Jin Yao Fang" for treatment. The specific usage is: 1 carp, remove the internal organs, add 15g of Atractylodes macrocephala, 6g of dried tangerine peel, 15g of Poria cocos, 12g of Angelica sinensis, 12g of White Peony Root, and 6g of ginger, boil into a thick soup, remove the medicinal materials, drink the soup and eat the fish. Usually, taking 3 to 5 doses will have a significant effect. Because carp meat has the function of nourishing the spleen and stomach, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, while Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, ginger and tangerine peel have the function of strengthening the spleen and regulating qi. Combined with Angelica sinensis and white peony root to nourish blood and stabilize the fetus, it can achieve the dual effect of removing water without harming the fetus. In addition, winter melon peel soup, white lentils, and red beans boiled in water and drunk as tea can also be used to promote diuresis and reduce the amount of amniotic fluid.

Oligohydramnios is similar to the "fetal atrophy during pregnancy" discussed in traditional Chinese medicine. It is caused by weak qi and blood, and yin deficiency, resulting in lack of fetal fluid and fetal atrophy. The treatment of traditional Chinese medicine focuses on nourishing qi and blood, tonifying the spleen and stomach, and nourishing yin, so that pregnant women have sufficient essence and blood and the fetus is well nourished. The commonly used dietary therapy is "Taiyuan Drink" plus raw rehmannia and ophiopogon. The specific usage is: 15g ginseng, 15g atractylodes, 6g roasted licorice, 10g angelica, 15g white peony, 15g cooked rehmannia, 20g eucommia, 6g tangerine peel, 15g raw rehmannia, and 15g ophiopogon. This recipe helps to replenish qi, nourish blood, and nourish yin. It can increase the production of amniotic fluid, thereby increasing the amount of amniotic fluid. Usually, taking 5 to 7 doses will have a significant effect.

3. Special reminder for abnormal amniotic fluid

18%~40% of patients with polyhydramnios have fetal malformations, mainly central nervous system malformations and gastrointestinal malformations. About one-third of women with oligohydramnios also have fetal malformations, mainly urinary system malformations.

Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women with too much or too little amniotic fluid must rule out fetal malformations through color ultrasound, biochemical examination, amniotic fluid culture and umbilical cord blood culture before considering appropriate intervention measures.