How to Say It: pah-lee-HI-dram-knee-ohs
Polyhydramnios is too much amniotic fluid. This fluid surrounds the unborn baby. It protects the baby and helps them grow.
Having too much of this fluid can cause problems with labor and delivery. The extra fluid may also stunt fetus growth.
Fetus in Utero, Amniotic FluidCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
The cause is not always known. It may be due to decreased swallowing or increased urination in the fetus.
Things that may raise the risk of polyhydramnios are:
Symptoms may not occur with mild changes. When symptoms appear, they may include:
Signs of polyhydramnios are often found during regular prenatal screening. The doctor will use an ultrasound to:
Treatment depends on how severe the condition is. Mild changes may resolve on their own. The doctor will watch and test for changes over time.
If the condition continues or causes problems, options may be:
This condition cannot always be prevented. Proper care before and during pregnancy may help lower the risk.
American Pregnancy Association
http://www.americanpregnancy.org
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org
Canadian Women's Health Network
http://www.cwhn.ca
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
https://sogc.org
Amniotic fluid abnormalities. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/amniotic-fluid-abnormalities#POLYHYDRAMNIOS. Accessed January 21, 2021.
Polyhydramnios. March of Dimes website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed January 21, 2021.
Polyhydramnios. The Fetal Medicine Foundation website. Available at: https://fetalmedicine.org/education/fetal-abnormalities/amniotic-fluid/polyhydramnios. Accessed January 21, 2021.
Prenatal ultrasound screening. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/evaluation/prenatal-ultrasound-screening. Accessed January 2021.
Wolf F, Peleg M,et al. Isolated polyhydramnios in the third trimester: is a gestational diabetes evaluation of value? Gynecol Endocrinol. 2017 Nov;33(11):849-852.
Last reviewed January 21, 2021 by Mary Beth Seymour, RN
Last Updated: 1/21/2021