Determining the quantity and quality of amniotic fluid during pregnancy is an important component of monitoring the process of bearing a child. Amniotic fluid (the scientific name for amniotic fluid) performs many very important functions during pregnancy. Probably all expectant mothers are familiar with this term, and some have to worry about the pathologies associated with this indicator. So what is amniotic fluid, and why is it so important for carrying a baby?
What is amniotic fluid
Let's look at where amniotic fluid comes from and what it consists of. After the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, its division begins. In this case, the embryo, umbilical cord, placenta and fetal membranes are formed. The membranes are a sealed bladder filled with sterile fluid. On the 13-14th day of pregnancy, the bladder fills the entire uterus, and until the end of the 14th week of pregnancy, amniotic fluid seeps into the baby’s body through his skin. Then the skin of the fetus becomes thicker, and water enters its body in other ways, in particular, through the digestive tract.
Amniotic fluid is formed by the sweating of blood plasma from a woman's blood vessels. In the last trimester of pregnancy, the baby's lungs and kidneys take part in the production of amniotic fluid.
At the beginning of the birth process, after the rupture of the membranes, fluid penetrates the birth canal and washes it. This helps the child move forward.
How to protect yourself from pathology?
Expectant mothers, in consultation with a specialist, receive detailed instructions on proper behavior and nutrition during pregnancy, when they need to minimize the use of medications, spend more time in the fresh air and minimize stress factors.
It would be a good idea to play it safe and get tested after each illness, and then, together with your doctor, vary the treatment, because in many cases you can do without strong antibiotics. If the procedures are timely, the waters may become clear again and pose no danger to the unborn baby.
Deviations
The volume of amniotic fluid is an indicator of the progress of pregnancy. Sometimes the expectant mother experiences oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios.
Low water
Oligohydramnios is a decrease in the volume of amniotic fluid, which is associated with impaired formation and absorption. Oligohydramnios is especially dangerous during the 18-26th weeks of pregnancy. It can lead to termination of pregnancy, intrauterine fetal death or death of the child in the first day of life. In addition, sometimes oligohydramnios contributes to the development of intrauterine fetal defects and intrauterine infection. With moderate oligohydramnios, a child may be born with varying degrees of malnutrition, that is, a discrepancy between the size of his body and the given stage of pregnancy.
The main causes of oligohydramnios are the development of diseases in the mother such as gestosis, hypertension, infectious and inflammatory diseases, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Oligohydramnios is most often diagnosed by ultrasound. Treatment tactics depend on the duration of pregnancy and its other indicators.
Polyhydramnios
Polyhydramnios is characterized by excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid. The most common complications of this condition during pregnancy are miscarriage and premature birth. Rarely, but still, there are circulatory problems in a woman, which becomes an indication for termination of pregnancy.
Most often, polyhydramnios occurs in women suffering from diabetes mellitus, infectious diseases, Rh conflict, fetal abnormalities and multiple pregnancies.
Polyhydramnios is usually diagnosed by ultrasound. The treatment method depends on the cause of polyhydramnios and its degree.
Danger and consequences
If the turbidity of the amniotic fluid during pregnancy occurs in the last weeks of gestation, then there is no need to worry too much. This is normal and not dangerous, as it indicates the baby is preparing for birth. But you can interpret what you see in this way only when the turbidity is insignificant. We will consider other cases below.
If cloudiness is detected at 1,2 or 3 months, the doctor will suggest terminating the pregnancy. This will be justified by the fact that an abnormal shade of amniotic fluid will significantly harm the fetus. Since the child needs to develop a large amount of time, and he will be in an unhealthy environment, he may develop various abnormalities and diseases.
Such children are born with external and internal defects and serious mental disabilities. Most do not live to the required date of birth, dying in utero.
If troubled waters are discovered in the second trimester, then it is no longer appropriate to have an abortion. All we can do is hope for the best and fight. Such manifestations lead to the appearance in the child:
- pneumonia;
- suppuration;
- conjunctivitis;
- serious lack of oxygen (hypoxia).
If there is meconium in the waters, then one or more of the above occurs.
If the color of the water is pinkish, then this is a sign of the presence of blood. This appears when the amniotic sac breaks its integrity. This ends with intrauterine infection and death of the baby.
Turbidity in the water at the beginning of the third trimester is a reason to get examined. This may be due to:
- infection;
- placental abruption;
- rupture of the amniotic sac.
If anything like this is detected, it makes sense to think about premature delivery. This is the only way to save the baby, to protect him from death.
As mentioned above, turbidity that occurs shortly before delivery is not dangerous. These are particles of exfoliated skin and fetal fluff.
It is not very good when there is baby feces in the waters. Sometimes it provokes various diseases and weakens the immune system. All this manifests itself after birth. Some experts argue that meconium in the amniotic fluid before birth does not affect the baby’s health in any way.
Leakage of amniotic fluid
Amniotic fluid leaks from the fetal bladder as a result of its thinning and the appearance of microcracks on its walls.
Leakage of amniotic fluid in the early stages of pregnancy is a very dangerous symptom, which often becomes the reason for the need for an abortion. In addition, such leakage of amniotic fluid is often missed by both the pregnant woman and the doctor, or is mistaken for urinary incontinence.
Leakage of amniotic fluid in the last weeks of pregnancy is difficult not to notice, since in this case a large amount of fluid is released. Usually contractions begin after this.
What is the reason for leakage of amniotic fluid? Most often, experts point to the following factors:
- incorrect presentation of the baby;
- infections of the female genital organs;
- chronic diseases and bad habits of the expectant mother;
- cervical insufficiency;
- multiple pregnancy.
In order to notice the leakage of amniotic fluid in time, a woman is recommended to wear light-colored underwear and use a white panty liner. At the slightest suspicion, you should consult a doctor.
To independently determine the leakage of amniotic fluid, you can use the pharmacy Nitrazine test. The doctor clarifies the diagnosis by examining a smear for microscopy.
Treatment tactics for amniotic fluid leakage depend on the duration of pregnancy and other factors of its development.
There are several reasons for the occurrence of green water in a pregnant woman
Green waters during childbirth are now such common occurrences that a hundred experts are already sounding the alarm about the global problem of the full development of a child in the womb. However, do not immediately panic if green waters were recorded at one of the consultations
The fact is that the reasons for their occurrence vary in degree of importance.
It should also be noted that the appearance of green waters is still under study; many aspects have not yet been studied by medicine.
The reasons for green waters during childbirth are the following:
in 30% of cases in women giving birth, green amniotic fluid is caused by minor stress of the baby. Due to its sensitivity, a child during a protracted labor may excrete original feces, because of this the waters will turn greenish; the risk of hypoxia. It is explained by a lack of oxygen in the womb. Spontaneous contraction of the child's anus occurs and, as a result, original feces are released. This explains the strange coloring of the amniotic fluid; if the pregnancy has exceeded the term, the placenta begins to age, and the baby experiences a lack of oxygen; During pregnancy, a woman suffered from a cold or sexually transmitted infection. Various acute respiratory viral infections, bronchitis, inflammation of the bladder and other diseases easily become the cause of infection of intrauterine fluid; as an option the appearance of green waters can be considered genetic abnormalities in fetal development
Fortunately, such violations are extremely rare, so you should not focus on them; the appearance of green waters is also triggered by food the day before: fresh peas or apple juice. This theory has not yet been proven, but it should not be overlooked either.
What are the dangers of green waters during childbirth?
The color of the amniotic fluid can determine the nature of the pregnancy. If the waters are clear, this is a signal that the baby is feeling good and was born healthy. By the way, doctors in such a situation do not provoke premature birth, but give the baby the opportunity to be born at the scheduled time.
Green amniotic fluid means one thing - meconium has entered it, and, simply put, the baby has pooped. If tests show a high degree of contamination, the situation requires immediate medical intervention. It is also possible to use emergency measures.
If such a situation occurs at home, you, as a pregnant woman, need to go to the hospital immediately. Doctors will take the necessary measures to keep the baby healthy and prevent him from taking an unfortunate sip of harmful liquid.
If you find green water in the hospital, then you need to inform your doctor and conduct additional tests. In most cases, doctors perform a caesarean section to remove the baby from the contaminated environment as quickly as possible.
Turbid amniotic fluid during pregnancy
Normally, the amniotic fluid should be clear. However, after the 37th week of pregnancy, its clarity decreases and a slight cloudiness appears, which indicates that labor is approaching.
Turbid amniotic fluid can be seen on ultrasound. Cloudiness of amniotic fluid in the early stages indicates a high risk of developing fetal defects, congenital diseases, and spontaneous abortion. Therefore, in many cases, the doctor recommends that the woman have an abortion.
In the second half of pregnancy, cloudiness of the amniotic fluid often signals the possibility of the birth of a child with purulent diseases, conjunctivitis, pneumonia and other diseases.
Usually the cause of cloudy amniotic fluid is a chronic or infectious disease of the woman, taking certain medications and the threat of miscarriage.
Baby movements at 20 weeks of pregnancy
The 20th week of pregnancy for first-time mothers is marked by the baby’s first movements. Of course, you could have felt these gentle touches before: many mothers compare the baby’s first movements with the touch of a butterfly’s wings, while others say it’s like a fish swimming in the stomach. If your baby pleased you with his activity earlier, now you can clearly distinguish his movements from the work of the intestines and other sensations.
Your baby is still very small, so he can move freely in the uterus. Of course, he rests most of the time. But from time to time it can seriously disturb the mother with its activity. Observe how your baby behaves, talk to him and sing songs - this will help him calm down. If you notice that the baby has become too active and does not calm down, this may indicate a lack of oxygen or an uncomfortable position that the mother has taken. Try changing your position, walking around, going out into the fresh air.
