In case the baby does not produce sufficient amounts of urine, it may cause oligohydramnios. The amniotic fluid is sometimes consumed by the baby. Before consuming any medicine during your pregnancy, you should consult with your doctor regarding its safety. These medicines affect the level of amniotic fluid in the body. Certain medicationĬertain medicines, prescribed to treat high blood pressure can lead to oligohydramnios. In case the pregnancy exceeds 42 weeks, it can cause placental problems. High blood pressure, diabetes, lupus and pre-eclampsia may result in complications in the placenta. When the placenta is unable to provide adequate nutrients and blood to the baby, the mother may have low amniotic fluid. At times, the labour starts on its own and doctors do not have to induce it in these cases. It prolongs the process so that the labour can be induced by the doctors. Besides protection, it helps to delay the delivery, so that the baby gets enough time to develop. This keeps the mother and baby protected against infection. In case the water breaks prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy, antibiotics are prescribed by the doctor. When the amniotic sac suffers a tear, it gradually leaks out. In case of the water breaks, it does not always gush out.

Oligohydramnios can be caused due to a number of reasons. Causes of Low Amniotic Fluid During Pregnancy? It causes complications in pregnant women if the delivery gets delayed up to the 41st week. At the 42nd week, the level may decrease to half. In case the woman has exceeded her due date by more than 2 weeks, the level of amniotic fluid decreases in the body. Well, low levels of amniotic fluid can be detected in around 8% of the pregnant women, while oligohydramnios occurs in 4% of women. In case the fluid level is below 5 cm, or the fluid pocket is lower than 2 to 3 cm in depth, or the volume of fluid is less than 500 ml when the mother is 32-36 pregnant, the doctors suspect that a diagnosis of oligohydramnios is needed. Amniotic fluid index (AFI) is the most common parameter to measure the quantity of this fluid.

Different methods have been adopted by the doctors to measure the amount of this fluid. When the mother has little amniotic fluid in the womb for the baby, it is known as oligohydramnios. Again, when the fluid is present in excessive quantities, it is known as polyhydramnios.

In particular cases, the quantity of fluid may turn up to be too low. The baby can tumble over with the help of this fluid and the mother feels these movements. During this time, it swallows a certain amount of amniotic fluid.

The baby starts breathing in the second trimester.

Later, foetal urine makes up this fluid for the next 20 weeks.Īmniotic fluid helps the baby to grow and easily move within the womb. In the initial days, it is made up of water, from the body of the mother. This happens around twelve days after the conception. The fluid is produced as soon as the amniotic sac is formed. In a nutshell, it arranges living conditions for the child during the pregnancy days of the mother. It helps in the development of limbs, muscles, digestive system and lungs of the child. Considering its role in the life support system of the child during the pre-delivery days, it is of vital importance. The amniotic fluid protects the baby when it stays in the womb of the mother. Read on for more details on the causes of low amniotic fluid. If the levels of this fluid dip, there can be developmental issues in the unborn child. It is the amniotic fluid that keeps the baby safe and creates an environment for the baby to grow and thrive. Low amniotic fluid can be dangerous in a pregnancy. Some of the main causes for low amniotic fluid during pregnancy includes breakage of water bag, problems in the placenta, certain medication, complications with identical twins health issues with the baby and chronic hypoxia to name a few.

Low amniotic fluid at 36 weeks pregnant