Low Amniotic Fluid

Welcome to Share. I am so sorry that you are going through this and having to even absorb hearing alternate outcomes. I'm hoping that your appointment on Tuesday will give you more information. I'm not a doctor, but in reading other stories, I've heard that amniotic fluid can increase. Are you on (modified) bedrest? With my second son, I went in for a routine ultrasound and was found to have lost a significant amount of amniotic fluid. I was 34 weeks along and we delivered within hours. I hope your little one can stay safely inside for many more weeks. Please keep us posted.

Thinking of you,

Lindsay

I am sorry that you are having to worry so much with your first pregnancy.

I had low amniotic fluid during my tird pregnancy. If I remember right it was diagnosed at my 20 week ultrasound. My doctor kept an eye on it every week with an ultrasound to measure the fluid. I lost count of how many times he told me, "if it does not go up by next week we will have to induce." Every time he said that, it went up enough to make him happy.

I found that when I took it easy and stayed off of my feet my fluid levels where higher. I am not sure what the connection is, but it helped. I went to 37 weeks with that pregnancy and went into labor on my own. My daughter was born healthy and breathing great. She was small because she was a little early, but no problems with her lungs.

We never did find out the cause of the low fluid, but all ended well. I know it is hard, but take a deep breath and have positive thoughts. Most important is if your heart is telling you to get a second opinion, get it. I hope your pregnancy starts getting a little easier.

Laura

Thank you Lindsay for your uplifting words I am also hoping for the best on tuesday.....My doctor just told me to come in if I have any type of pain or not normal liquid to come out of me....I have read that low amniotic fluid can cause a miscarage so I put it on myself to be on moderate bedrest...... No major activities for me because I don't want to cause my body to have a miscarrage. That's all I can do right now and hope for the best.

We are all hoping for the best with you. Keep drinking water and taking it easy! I hope it turns around with your next appointment and your baby can have a chance! Keep us updated.

Shannon

I'm so sorry to hear of the complications you are facing. I am hopeful that Tuesday's appointment goes well. You're already being a rock star momma by limiting what you're doing and drinking as much water as possible.

Please keep us posted, I'll keeping ya in my thoughts. There is also a great thread in the Parent to Parent section for preggo mommas. You can find it here: http://www.shareyourstory.org/webx/.ef9d38d/473

The mommas there are super supportive, and lots while on bedrest hang out there and share appointment updates.

Again, keep us posted!
Lauren

To Laura, Shannon & Lauren,
Thank you all for taking time to read my post and being very supportive. I will keep you all updated and I am just keeping faith that my baby will be just fine. My rock is my husband, he keeps me grounded on the positive when sometimes I am thinking of the worst....Thank you ladies for your advise Specially Laura.....Your story gave me hope.....I know that with determination anything is possible. I will just rest, drink lots of water and think positive XOXO Ladies <3

Hi and welcome to Share. I am so sorry your pregnancy isn't going how you had wanted it to. It is so difficult to face a health crisis with your baby. Please know we are all here for you.
Laura

I read your story and immediately had to respond. I went through the exact same thing as you are. My pregnancy was going well until the day I went in to find out the sex of my baby. I believe I was about 19 weeks pregnant. They told me my amniotic fluid was low and I was referred to see a specialist. A week later I went to see the specialist and she did another ultrasound and my fluid was extremely low. We couldn't figure out the reason. Baby was growing normal and we were just confused. The specialist told us that we should consider an abortion because the baby would not have a chance of survival and if the baby did survive she would have a lot of problems and deformities due to the fluid being so low. My husband and I were devastated. It was our first baby and we loved her so much already. We knew that an abortion was not an option for us. We decided to continue along with the pregnancy and we also changed doctors. I was seeing my new specialist once a week. I put myself on complete bedrest at home. I drank a gallon of water everyday. Sometimes my fluid would increase just alittle and sometimes it would decrease alittle. The main goal was to try to keep the baby inside my belly as long as possible. Once a week I was at my specialists office, checking the babys heartbeat and measuring my amniotic fluid. To everyones surprise, the baby was growing and thriving, even though she barely had any room to move around with barely any amniotic fluid left. At 26 weeks pregnant I was admitted into the hospital to be on complete bedrest and I had a monitor strapped to my belly 24/7 to monitor the babys heartbeat. At 29 weeks, the nurses come running into my room in the middle of the night. The monitor was not picking up the babys heartbeat so we knew immediately the baby was in distress. I was rushed down to emergency surgery for an emergency c-section. My daughter was born, 2 lbs 9 oz, at 29 weeks. She spent 2 months in the Nicu. She will be 2 years old in 2 weeks. She is 100 percent healthy. No problems. She has reached all her milestones and is now 26 lbs. My husband and I never gave up. Sometimes I want to take my daughter to see the first specialist who told me to have an abortion so I can just tell her that if I had listened to her my beautiful daughter would never be here. She was so negative and I'm sure she was just doing her job but I did not give up hope. An abortion was not an option for us and it was the best decision we ever made. Just listen to your heart. Be strong. Be hopeful and pray. Its not going to be easy but you have to be strong for that little baby inside you. Feel free to email me if you have any questions for me. Good luck to u and your husband.

Oh, I just have to stress to you one last thing. Put yourself on 100 percent bedrest. Even if the doctors don't tell u that, just do it. I stayed off my feet, only got up to use the restroom and to go to my appointments. Drink a lot of water. I drank a gallon a day. But I truly believe being on complete bedrest really helped. My husband brought me my meals in bed and I did NOT get up unless I truly needed to.

How was today's appointment? Please keep us posted when you can.

I have to thank everyone that has been replying and giving me lots of help. My ultrasound and echo exam was yesterday and instead of me getting good news its like my whole world slowly is falling apart. I have no amniotic fluid...My water is broken but the doctors have not given me no explanation on why I have no fluid any more. They said its probably due to my diabetes but they did no test or anything. To make matters worse my baby's heart has a deformaty which 95% of people that don't operate die during the 6 months and if they do operate 10% of the operated survive the surgery. My heart is just breaking.....This is my first child and never in a million years did I think something like this will happen to us. My baby also and doctor's aren't for sure but they think something could be wrong with its lungs but they can't know for sure until the baby is born. They gave me 2 options to induce the pregnancy and watch my baby die or do nothing and have the baby til its ready to come out and also watch it die due to the lack of water because the lungs won't form correctly.....They told me that the babies lungs will be like a dicenflated balloon. I asked them if they could do anything else, try to do something to give my baby a chance but they told me its too little and it will likely not survive and for the size the baby is there are no tools or equipment to keep it alive. I have the hope that someone else will tell me otherwise that is why im getting a second opinion tomorrow and will be transferring my care to U of C......I feel like masonic is not even willing to try and give my baby a chance to live that is why my heart is telling to get a second opinion and its all in gods hands now. If I get the same answer then I will just have to enduce in my heart that is the right thing to do because my baby has no more water and even though they tell me its fine and it can survive in your stomach How do I know my baby isn't struggleling catching its breath. I hope and pray to get another diagnosis and at least know that I did as much as possible to give my baby a chance to live and if it comes down to that I just hope my baby is strong and is willing to fight because I may seen strong on the outside but my heart is just breaking and every time I cry I feel like I am giving up and I don't want my child to feel that...I need to be strong and hope for a better tomorrow.

I had to correct....My water is not broken. and the doctors could not give me an explanation on why I have no more amniotic fluid...They just said it prpbably has to do because of your diabetes.

Ladyx,

I'm so very sorry to hear this news. I was thinking about you yesterday crossing all crossables for good news. I'm thankful to hear you will be seeking a second opinion.

Please be gentle with yourself, crying is not a sign of giving up, it's a total mommy sign of your love for your little one. Let those tears go when they need.

I hope you find the support you need tomorrow, and please know, no matter the road you find yourself on, we'll be here to offer support and an ear.

Keeping you in my thoughts,
Lauren

Ladyx,
    I'm so very sorry to hear of this update! I wish that the doctors has better news for you and your little one. Don't feel like you're giving up on your little one, it sounds as if you're doing everything you possibly can to give your sweet one the best chance possible by seeking another opinion and getting the best picture of exactly what is happening. Please keep us posted on what they say tomorrow, I'll be keeping you close in my thoughts and prayers. Many many hugs!
Stacy

I am so very sorry to hear that the prognosis is not what we were hoping for. I hope that getting a second opinion can give you some answers about what is happening and why. You are showing a great deal of strength by fighting for your baby and no matter the outcome, there can be no doubt of your love. Keeping you close in my thoughts.

Shannon

Hello and welcome to SHARE. I am so sorry to read about what is going on for you and your little baby. I had many problems with my first pregnancy as well. The doctors gave my baby a very poor prognosis. They also offered to induce me early to terminate the pregnancy. My husband and I followed our hearts and decided to continue with the pregnancy. We were very scared because we did not know what to expect.

My son Marco was born at 29 weeks. He fought for 4 hours before he died. It was an extremely sad and difficult time for us, but in the end, we knew we had done everything possible to fight for him, and were at peace with that.

Every circumstance is different. Only you can decide what is right for you. All I can say is that you should follow your heart. I am very glad that you are going for a second opinion tomorrow. We had 3 opinions before delivering my son. It can get a bit confusing hearing different things from different doctors. Try if you can to write down your questions and the answers they give. Don't leave until all your questions are answered.

Please know that whatever you decide to do, we are here for you. Please be kind to yourself and gentle with yourself. With whatever decision you make, you will probably second guess yourself. That is only natural, and only shows the love you have for your baby. Try as hard as you can to take things just one day, one step at a time...that is all you can do. It is ok to feel sad and scared. Let yourself feel those emotions and process them.

Please keep us posted on things. I will be keeping you and your little one in my thoughts.

Libby

Hello,

I am so sorry to hear that you are having problems with your pregnancy. That is the last thing we ever expect or want to hear.

When I was 16 weeks pregnant with my second child, my cervix started to open. We were told there was nothing the doctor could do, that I would lose the pregnancy. A different doctor came on call a few hours later and offered us a shred of hope. She was able to stitch my cervix shut and I was put on complete hospital bedrest. A week later, we found out that I had lost virtually all of my amniotic fluid (the doctor thought it had leaked away without me noticing). Like you, I was told that the best option was to terminate the pregnancy. My child would never breathe, would have all kinds of birth defects, etc. We chose to continue with the pregnancy even though the likelihood I would lose the baby before or shortly after birth was so high.

I drank several liters of water a day for the next 11 weeks. At 20 weeks, my baby girl was diagnosed with clubbed feet due to the low fluid level. At 24 weeks, I was given the steroid shots to help develop the baby's lungs, even though I still had virtually no amniotic fluid. At 25 weeks, an ultrasound showed that the amniotic fluid level was slightly higher. At 26 weeks, I had a low-side-of-normal amniotic fluid level. And at 27 weeks, my water broke a second time and I delivered my baby girl.

My baby girl is a fighter. She was immediately put on a ventilator to help her breathe. Less than 3 days later, she was off the vent. We had our ups and downs in the NICU, which is to be expected, but she pulled through. Two weeks before her due date, my baby girl came home from the hospital....no oxygen, monitors, or medicines needed. We spent a year treating her clubbed feet, but she was walking normally by the time she was 15 months old.

My little girl is now a healthy 6 year old. She has mild asthma (as do I) and is small for her age (as am I). Other than that, she has no lingering effects from her early birth. I have often thought about taking her to visit that first doctor who told us there was no hope. She is my little miracle girl.

Hang in there. This is a long and difficult road. I can't tell you how many times I cried during my pregnancy or how many times I felt completely hopeless. Believe me when I say that as long as your baby has a heartbeat, there is hope. The doctors can give us their best guess as to what will happen, they can give us the odds, but they have no way to know how *our child* is going to do. Only time can show that.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Mary

Hello Ladies and thank you all for the advice and support that you all have given me threw this hard time. As you have read this has not been an easy road for me and I haven't updated on my story not because I did not want to but it has just been a unreal roller coaster ride that I have been threw since my second ultrasound that I had on the 17th of January.

On the 19th of January I went for my second opinion to one of the top hospitals with the best NICU Department in Chicago, I was so hopeful that they could give me some hope but after my ultrasound and the doctor looking at everything she told me the same thing. My heart at that moment felt break more. Considering everything that the first doctors told us me and my husband knew what we wanted to do. After the second opinion it became clear to us that if we really loved our baby we would not want it to suffer. Even though the doctors said your baby is breathing and getting its nutrition from you....How can they assure me my Baby isn't hurting or suffering and struggling to catch its breath. My Husband and I came to a decision to induce the pregnancy.

That same day after my consultation my husband, mom, and myself walked to labor and delivery at 7pm. They put something inside me to help me start dilating.... Exactly the name I can't remember but they put five of them inside my vagina. One thing I do remember before they even started the process the doctor told me that I was already dilating, just starting to open up a little bit. At that moment it became clear to me that my baby wasn't okay inside me no more and if I had not chosen this I would have just had a miscarriage.

At 12am thats when it all started. I knew that it would only take either a few or several hours before I would start getting into labor. After my body could not take no more pain and my husband was just tearing up because of the pain I was in at 1:30pm I got some pain medicine threw my ivy. After the medicine kicked in I was okay til 3:30pm when I just got real bad contractions to the point where the medicine was not enough. I felt a urge to push but I had to wait for the doctor's and nurses to come. When they all came and had what they needed for labor they told me to start pushing......At that moment I started crying and I yelled its not that im not ready to push I am just not ready to see my baby die!!!!!

At 3:45 I gave birth to a baby boy that we baptised with the name of XAVI. After Xavi was born the nurse wrapped him in the blanket and I heared her say there is a heart beat. they gave him to me and I did skin to skin while I held him. At first I was very emotional and crying histeractly.....But My mom told me to calm down and after that I realized that I needed to calm down because I needed to be with my son and spend as much time as I can with him for the time that I have him. Does few minutes that I had with Xavi I will never forget and I will always cherish does few minutes for the rest of my life. At 4pm thats when my baby boy left his daddy and I and went to heaven.

His name is Xavi just how my husband and I wanted. Til that moment we did not know he was our Xavi but his dad knew from day one that he was our baby boy. I know he is in a better place and that he is the angel that will be looking down on me and my husband but this all seems still so unreal. No matter all the pain I go threw and all the complications I have had after delivery it is all worth it to me because I got to hold my son and see his beautiful face. He had my nose and ears His dads lips, cheeks and exactly the same shape of his dads toes and fingers.

No one can take the time I had with my son. I know I have to move pass this but I can never forget how half way threw my pregnancy from what I thought was a pregnancy going good went so bad. In 10 days my life got turned upside down from what I thought the 10th of January would be a happy moment to find out the sex of our child we come to find out that I had low amniotic fluid.Ten days later I gave birth to my baby who was born on January 20th and passed away a few minutes later. We buried Our first child our Baby boy Xavi on the 28th of January.

I will never forget everyone that read my story and was here for me threw this hard time.... It has just been so difficult for me and I apologize for not keeping you all updated. I wish things would be different and my story had a different ending but god does things for a reason and he chose to take my son and have him next to him as an Angel..... It will take take and it won't be easy but threw this hard time I have met so many ppl that have lend a hand in this time of need and that only makes me want to give back and help all those who have helped me.

Thank you all Xochitl R.

Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry for the loss of your little guy Xavi. I was so hoping that he would beat the odds. That decision must have been so hard for you, but you're right it does sound as if your body was already preparing to make the decision for you. I'm glad that you got to spend those precious few minutes with your special guy loving on him. Please don't feel bad for not updating us, you needed some time to take care of you. I hope that his funeral was a peaceful day for you and that you felt his presence all around you. Please feel free to come back here any time you need any support from us. We're here for you whenever you need. Many many hugs to you.

Stacy

Thank you stacy.....It was peaceful but I could not help the tears and pain that I had. All I felt in that moment is I don't want my baby to leave me and why did this happen to us. I know his spirit is in heaven but I could not help in saying that because he was physically there. I held him for the last time that day and when I kissed him he was as warm as the day he was born. He will always live in me and That makes me happy. I will see him again one day and I know the feeling will be like the first time I met and held him.

I am so sorry for your loss of your sweet Xavi. I also held my baby as she died and you are so right that you will always cherish those moments. Please know that we are here for you as you navigate the difficult journey of grieving your son.
Thinking of you.
Marissa

I am sorry for the loss of Xavi. There is nothing that can prepare you for the loss of your baby. I also made a decision to be induced at 30 wks, cause no matter what I did the outcome would have been the same. It is the hardest thing to be asked to deliver your baby when you know he will pass. My son Baron lived for 30 min and i held him the whole time. It is those few moments almost 2 yrs later that I cherish so much. I hope you find some peace in knowing that Xavi knew only his parents love his whole life.
We are all here for you to help you thru the pain. Remember to take it easy on yourself.
Thinking of your family
Brooke