Oligohydramnios: What happens when there’s too little amniotic fluid?
Your baby gets a cushy, fluid-filled home for about 40 weeks in your uterus, and it’s all thanks to amniotic fluid. It acts as a cozy cushion and is key to your baby’s development. But did you know that too little amniotic fluid, a condition called oligohydramnios, can be just as concerning as having too much? While this might sound complicated, let’s break it down and make it easy to understand!
What is Oligohydramnios?
Oligohydramnios happens when there isn’t enough amniotic fluid surrounding your baby. It’s not super common—only about 1 to 3 percent of pregnancies deal with it—but when it happens, it’s something your doctor will keep an eye on. We use ultrasounds to figure out how much fluid is in there, so no guessing games involved.
Why is amniotic fluid important?
Amniotic fluid does more than give your baby room to move around. It’s vital for helping their lungs develop. Yep, babies “breathe” the fluid in, and that helps their lungs grow and expand. So when there’s too little fluid early in the pregnancy, their lungs might not develop properly, which could lead to a serious condition called pulmonary hypoplasia.
Why might oligohydramnios happen?
There are a few possible reasons for low amniotic fluid, and sometimes they’re surprising! Here are some common causes:
Your water broke early…without you realizing it! Thankfully, it’s usually pretty obvious and this isn’t that common.
Baby’s kidneys aren’t working properly. Believe it or not, amniotic fluid is basically baby pee! So if there’s an issue with their kidneys or urinary system, the fluid might be low.
Going past your due date. The placenta slows down after 40 weeks, and less fluid is produced.
Health conditions in mom. Things like high blood pressure, dehydration, and smoking can also cause low fluid.
What does it mean for my baby?
Oligohydramnios can cause problems with lung development early on, but later in pregnancy, the concerns are different. Low fluid levels might increase the chance of issues at birth, like meconium (baby's first poop) or low APGAR scores.
Because of this, if you’re past your due date and have oligohydramnios, many doctors recommend inducing labor. Before then, your care team will likely monitor you more closely with extra ultrasounds and check on your baby’s heart rate to make sure they’re doing okay.
Until next time,
Dr. Jen