Too little amniotic fluid
Dr. rer. nat. Daniela Oesterle is a molecular biologist, human geneticist and trained medical editor. As a freelance journalist, she writes texts on health topics for experts and laypeople and edits specialist scientific articles by doctors in German and English. She is responsible for the publication of certified advanced training courses for medical professionals for a renowned publishing house.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.If the amniotic sac does not contain enough amniotic fluid, doctors speak of oligohydramnios. This can develop at any point in pregnancy. A lack of amniotic fluid should be treated because of possible dangers to the child. Read more about the possible causes and complications as well as the treatment for insufficient amniotic fluid here.
Amniotic sac: important habitat
The unborn child finds all the conditions for healthy development in its living space, the amniotic sac. Above all, this includes the amniotic fluid, from which it can obtain important substances for its development. In addition, the amniotic fluid enables the child to move freely. So it can build up its muscles and grow evenly.
In the course of pregnancy, both mother and child produce amniotic fluid and consume water that has been used up. These exchange processes are regulated by a variety of mechanisms. For example, the maternal placenta as well as the child's kidneys, lungs, mouth or nose are involved.Minor disturbances therefore quickly cause an imbalance, which manifests itself in too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios) or too little amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios).
Too little amniotic fluid is formed in 0.5 to five percent of all pregnancies; the phenomenon is therefore relatively rare.
Trigger for too little amniotic fluid
If the amniotic sac in a pregnant woman does not contain enough amniotic fluid, the following causes are conceivable:
- Functional weakness of the placenta (placental insufficiency)
- Diseases of the child's renal system
- High blood pressure of the mother or child
- premature rupture of the bladder
- too little growth of the child
- congenital genetic defects
- Transfusion syndrome in twin pregnancies, when the children share the same placenta but each have their own amniotic sac: An uneven blood exchange between the children can lead to a twin being undersupplied and "swimming" in too little amniotic fluid.
How does the doctor recognize insufficient amniotic fluid?
The doctor can use the routine ultrasound examinations to determine whether there is insufficient amniotic fluid. Usually his trained eye is enough. The following values from various measurements can underline his suspicion:
- Amniotic fluid index (values less than five centimeters)
- Deepest amniotic fluid reservoir (values less than two centimeters)
- Two-diameter amniotic fluid reservoir (values less than 15 square centimeters)
Too little amniotic fluid: Dangers
If the amniotic sac does not contain enough amniotic fluid, this can endanger the unborn child. This is because a reduced amount of amniotic fluid can make the child unusually small at birth. If a functional weakness of the placenta is responsible for the reduced amount of amniotic fluid, in the worst case it can lead to infant death around the time of birth.
Furthermore, too little amniotic fluid increases the likelihood that the umbilical cord will be pinched. Then the child is supplied with too little oxygen and other vital substances. Crushing the umbilical cord before or during childbirth therefore harbors great risks. It often happens that the unborn child excretes stool (= meconium) and breathes in (= meconium aspiration) while still in the womb or during birth. This affects his breathing and can have other serious consequences.
Too little amniotic fluid also increases the stress a child is exposed to during the birth process.
No reason to panic
Despite the potential dangers described, there is usually no need to worry for pregnant women with insufficient amniotic fluid. Often an infusion with a solution similar to the amniotic fluid into the amniotic sac is sufficient. If the pregnancy is already advanced or the due date has passed, the medically controlled induction of the birth - if necessary via a caesarean section - can be considered.
The bottom line is that too little amniotic fluid carries certain dangers, but modern medicine can meanwhile do a lot to avert harm to mother and child.
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