Causes of increased amniotic fluid in late pregnancy

Whether there is too much or too little amniotic fluid, it will have a certain impact on the normal development of the fetus. If there is too much amniotic fluid, it may even cause intra-abdominal death of the fetus, seriously threatening the life safety of the fetus. Therefore, if there is too much amniotic fluid, it is necessary to find out the cause in time and then carry out appropriate treatment. Below, we will introduce to you the causes, effects and solutions of excessive amniotic fluid!

1. Causes of increased amniotic fluid in late pregnancy

1. Excessive amniotic fluid in pregnant women is often accompanied by fetal malformations, among which central nervous system malformations and digestive system malformations are the most common.

2. There are abnormalities in the placenta and umbilical cord of the fetus, such as placental chorioamnionitis, velamentous umbilical cord, etc.

3. Multiple pregnancies are more likely to have polyhydramnios than single pregnancies, especially monozygotic twins.

4. If the pregnant woman suffers from diabetes, hypertension, acute hepatitis, severe anemia, or there is blood type incompatibility between mother and baby, it may also lead to polyhydramnios.

2. The impact of excessive amniotic fluid in late pregnancy

1. For the fetus, excessive amniotic fluid will increase the perinatal mortality rate, and it will also make premature birth, umbilical cord prolapse, and placental abruption more likely to occur, affecting the prognosis of the perinatal baby.

2. For pregnant women, excessive amniotic fluid may cause placental abruption, uterine atony, postpartum hemorrhage, etc. It may also cause fetal abnormalities and lead to difficulties in delivery.

3. What to do if there is too much amniotic fluid

Due to excessive amniotic fluid, the risk of umbilical cord prolapse (the umbilical cord falling out of the cervix) or placental abruption when the water breaks will also be higher. Both situations require an immediate cesarean section (C-section). This is why when the amniotic fluid is too high, the doctor will ask you to go to the hospital early to wait for delivery. Or, if your water breaks before labor starts, your doctor will admit you to the hospital right away. Additionally, because your uterus is overstretched and may not contract well, your likelihood of postpartum hemorrhage increases. Therefore, your doctor will closely monitor your condition after you give birth.