Low Amniotic Fluid at 37 Weeks

Veronica - posted on 11/15/2012

Hi, I am 38weeks and was just told 2 hrs ago that I have low amniotic fluid. I also have gestational diabetes, and it has made me very nervause. But I know that God designed our bodies to have babies. Don't get too worried because that will only add stress to your baby. The best thing you can do is walk, have sex and DRINK TONS OF WATER! Don't take caster oil to help induce labor, it will give you horrible pains! Avoid medical interventions as well, they will cause more pain and terrible risks to both you and your baby.

Good luck, and God bless you. With Him at your side all is possible.

Courtney - posted on 09/16/2009

I had low amniotic fluid toward the end of my pregnancy. I had to keep the fluids up but my dr. ended up inducing me a few days early. Dont be scared. I am convinced that my baby sucked up all the nutrients in the amniotic fluid and made it so low and that why she is so cute. :) you will be fine and so will your baby. You may just end up having him/her sooner than you thought

Jessica - posted on 09/15/2009

Drink LOTS and LOTS of water!! Rest as much as you can.

C-sections are not the easy way out, they come with a lot of risks. Go check out http://www.theunnecesarean.com/ and http://www.ican-online.org/.

Valerie - posted on 09/13/2009

I had low amniotic fluid and was induced at 35 weeks. If they offer for you to be induced my advice is to do it . Everything went fine with my induction even at 35 weeks, but it is just better to be on the safe side.

Jennifer - posted on 09/13/2009

When I was 40 weeks and not dilated they checked my fluid- I only had 3cm. My ob suggested a c-section. They gave me the option of being induced but they couldn't guarantee a vaginal birth. I went ahead with a c-section because we were afraid of cord damage. Everything went well and my little one is now a health 2 year old. I wish you the best.

Ruby - posted on 09/12/2009

This did happen to me with my first baby. The baby will be fine but you do need to have the baby now. My son ended up in distress and I had a C-section. With all my kids. It is not so bad. If you use a pillow and the bed buttons to get up and down, slide off the bed and then shuffle when you walk, it is okay. The walk is called the C-section shuffle.

Lourdes - posted on 09/12/2009

at 37 weeks with low amniotic fluid you can be considered term and delivery should be the choice. Low fluid

can cause intrauterine growth restriction, the cord can become compressed easier, and

meconium stained fluid. It doesn't have to be c-section you can be induced and they can infuse fluids via a intrauterine catheter to cushion the cord and help prevent c-section. You should discuss this with your doctor.

Monica - posted on 09/12/2009

When I delivered my now 17 year old I had VERY little amniotic fluid.. so little when I went to the hospital the staff said there was no way my water broke. I ended up having a c section only because I didnt dialate past 2 after 24 hours of Pitosin. There were no complications for the baby. The reason I had so little is because my baby weighed 9lb 5oz Good luck and hang in there

Margie - posted on 09/12/2009

I meant to add a NOT to my response as it changes everything! SORRY.

Margie - posted on 09/12/2009

At 37 weeks even if you did go into labor your doctor would do anything to stop delivery. You are continually making fluid so you are doing fine. If you weren't making new fluid to keep up then worry and they would induce. Just work with and trust your doctor. Goal is to have a healthy baby -- vaginal delivery or C-section!

Please don't worry as this will cause undue stress with your body and eventually the baby. If you are truly concerned: Call you doctor's phone number and visit with him or his nurse and do as she directs and Do Not Worry! Listen to your gut feeling and relax. You can also visit with the nurses in the ER at the hospital where you will be delivering and they will reassure you.

Nicole - posted on 09/12/2009

This happened to me with 2 of my pregnancies! I was induced and the kids are great!

Deanna - posted on 09/12/2009

Thanks to all of you Ladies! As it turns out, at my Dr. appt on Thursday my Amniotic Fluid dropped to 4.7cm. I was induced yesterday, 9.11, and had our daughter at 5:39pm! Labor went well. Our daughter does have some issues with her lungs and will have to be monitored for a few days... We are very hopefully for things to turn out for the best! Thanks again for your comments!

Shannon - posted on 09/11/2009

HI there,

With my 3rd son I had low fluid also, I was induced at 37 weeks due to it being too low. He was just fine at birth, absolutely no issues. He is now a very active and healthy 5 year old. I am now almost 37 weeks with my 4th (girl this time... so they say) :) and I am going through the same low fluid issue. We're taking it one week at a time and having an ultrasound each week. My doc. is thinking it may be more hereditary than any issues with the baby. I wish you the best and hope you have a healthy baby!

Elizabeth - posted on 09/11/2009

I was full of fluid with my son and I had a c-section so I would not be of help. I do though have a friend who is a Labor and Delivery Nurse and she says that the baby should be fine. At 37 weeks, the baby should be fine.

Kay - posted on 09/11/2009

Me again Deanna,
I forgot to say that my first was an emergency section because he was breech...

Kay - posted on 09/11/2009

Hey Deanna,
Both of my children were low fluid, c-section babies and both turned out great born 3 days early!
I was told the low fluid was because |I am a smoker, but no one ever told me to drink more water!
After being surprised by low fluid levels and having an "emergency section" the first child, my ob was watching for this the second time and found it early.
As he was out of the country but expected back the next day, the induced for 24 hours...with absolutely no luck! I was asking the nurses to check the monitor printout...(Was that a contraction?) Couldn't feel a thing and wanted to go home!
When the ob arrived after the 24 hrs, my daughter was delivered safely by section.
After having heard everyone tell me I needed to have at least one baby naturally (and wondering whose rule book they were reading) I felt very relieved to not have to face a long painful labour. I liked the c section while listening to the birth stories of many post partum moms!
Be of good cheer, you are being monitored closely and all will be well for you and baby!

Breanna - posted on 09/11/2009

Hi Deanna,

I at 37 weeks my amniotic fluid meausred at 5 cm. It had been up an down for about two weeks. I had gestational diabetes and the doctor wanted to make sure my baby was okay so I had a c section, only because my first child was delivered the same. My son was born 5lbs 5oz., he was healthy and we had no complications.

Amy - posted on 09/10/2009

Hi Deanna, I had a breech baby and so thankfully I was getting weekly u/s from 37 weeks on. I went in on a Monday and Dr. noticed my fluid was very low!!! like measuring 4! I had to go to hospital for a stress test and a high tech u/s, that showed my fluid as about 6. I followed up again on Thursday and everything was still OK. I went the following Monday and again measuring at a maybe 4, so Dr. ended up having me go to hospital that afternoon for a c-section. Don't mess around with the low fluids, if you feel baby slowing down in the movements, get straight to the hospital. Your little one will be better off on the outside then in with now fluid, that's how they're surviving right now. Wish you all the best for healthy baby soon!!!

Leeann - posted on 09/09/2009

MY FLUIDS WAS LOW WITH MY FIRST PREGNANCY AND THEY DID A EMERGENCY C-SECTION.I TOLD MY DOCTOR I THOUGHT I FELT LIKE I WAS PEEING ON MYSELF AND WAKING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FEELING LIKE I WAS SWEATING OR WET AND HE DID A TEST AND MY FLUIDS WAS LOW AND THEY DID A EMERGENCY C-SECTION

Shonda - posted on 09/09/2009

Time to deliver. Set the date & get it over with. If you leak too much fluid waiting for dialation it endangers the baby & your health. C sections really aren't that bad.

Melissa - posted on 09/09/2009

i had the same problem i just had my youngest in january and i lost most of my fluid at week 37 they just induced me and did a c-section. with my first i was the same way only they werent suppost to c-section i just had other complications so i would say they will probably induce you since you have low amniotic fluid at 37 weeks

Stephanie - posted on 09/09/2009

I was hopitilized at 33 weeks with my son and it was discovered that my fuid level was a 4 and my placenta had aged too fast. I was given IV's and put on bed rest. They were ready to take my son then, but my levels came back up. I ended up having my water break at 36 1/2 weeks. I didn't have any problems and my son was born without problems, but since they were goignto take him at 33 weeks I went through the shots for his lungs. I just had to drink lots of water to keep my levels up. My levels up to delivery were at 7. Good Luck. Remeber you are alomost there, they consider anything over 38 weeks to be full term! PS. I had a c-section because my son was breach.

Maria - posted on 09/09/2009

Well I belive I had the same Problem. I went into Labor 4 days late. When i got there they said my Fluid was very low and i wasn't even diealated. They were nervoius because i was already late. so they hooked me up and gave me water withen a few hours my fluid was fine and had my Daughter 2 hours later. I hope this helps

Michelle - posted on 09/09/2009

I am a labor and delivery nurse so I hope I can help. The good news is 37 week babies are usually healthy, the most common health problems they face are poor feeding and hyperbilirubinemia (or jaundice). Amniotic fluid is made by 3 things, the placenta, the baby's urine (yes, they swallow and pee in utero), and some is excreted through the baby's skin. When the amniotic fluid is low, in can be due to your dehydration, or poor placental function, and because there isn't adequate amounts of fluid, the umbilical cord can be compressed more easily because there isn't enough cushioning. It is up to your doctor, but 5 cm of fluid or less is usually indication for induction of labor. A normal placenta replenishes up to one liter of amniotic fluid a day, so your fluid may be increased by tomorrow. Good luck, I hope this was helpful.

Cathralynn - posted on 09/09/2009

I never had a number, my fluid was measured every week cause I had gestational diabetes. But docs said it was low, I had to drink 8oz of water every hour. Horrible! As if I didn't have to pee enough already! Anyways, my daughter was born naturally at 36weeks and six days. She was six and a half pounds and healthy. Never had any troubles even tho she was early. Don't worry and do your best to follow docs orders.

Monica - posted on 09/08/2009

This didn't happen to me...but from what I've heard you should be fine. At 37 weeks you are considered full term which = no worries. If your fluid gets below the allowed amount they will induce you otherwise they will allow you to go into labor naturally. No stress mama....all will be ok :)

Lourdes - posted on 09/12/2009

at 37 weeks with low amniotic fluid you can be considered term and delivery should be the choice. Low fluid

can cause intrauterine growth restriction, the cord can become compressed easier, and

meconium stained fluid. It doesn't have to be c-section you can be induced and they can infuse fluids via a intrauterine catheter to cushion the cord and help prevent c-section. You should discuss this with your doctor.

Melissa - posted on 09/09/2009

i had the same problem i just had my youngest in january and i lost most of my fluid at week 37 they just induced me and did a c-section. with my first i was the same way only they werent suppost to c-section i just had other complications so i would say they will probably induce you since you have low amniotic fluid at 37 weeks