Normal amount of water. Amniotic fluid index: what it is and how to calculate. Video: obstetrician-gynecologist M. Borets about the amniocentesis procedure

For every woman, pregnancy is a mystery, which is sometimes overshadowed by various indicators that go beyond the concept of “norm”. Most often, this is a rather vague concept that has a significant gap, but sometimes it happens that even the smallest deviation may indicate problems in the health of the expectant mother or her baby. The norm of the amniotic fluid index also has blurred boundaries, but these data may indicate oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios.

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16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 weeks of pregnancy IAI value: mm

What is amniotic fluid, oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios?

As you know, the baby is kept in a kind of sac - the amniotic sac - throughout the mother's pregnancy, which is filled with fluid - amniotic or amniotic. Throughout pregnancy, the fetus is safe, as the fluid and bladder reliably protect and protect it. When the time comes for childbirth, the amniotic sac ruptures, and the woman’s water “breaks” - this is the same amniotic fluid. The development of a child in the womb occurs spasmodically: there are periods when he grows very intensively, and there are weeks when growth slows down a little.

Amniotic fluid performs three main functions:

1. Protection against infection.
2. Protection from external damage.
3. Helps in the development of two important systems: respiratory and digestive.

Such a difficult-to-understand phrase as the amniotic fluid index simply means the amount of amniotic fluid during pregnancy. If the index is noticeably lower than the normal value, then the gynecologist diagnoses “oligohydramnios,” and if it is higher, then “polyhydramnios.”

Such a deviation as oligohydramnios can be provoked both by various ailments of a woman, and by some individual pathologies in the development of the baby. The causes of polyhydramnios may be infectious diseases of the mother, Rh conflict or fetal anomalies. Regardless of the diagnosis, a woman should be observed by a doctor, undergo various additional tests and be sure to undergo the appropriate recommended treatment.

Indicator norm

Amniotic fluid is the baby's first habitat, so both quantity and composition are important for the normal development of your baby. It is the optimal amount of amniotic fluid that indicates that the fetus is developing according to norms and there is no threat to its life.

In order to find out the volume of amniotic fluid, a woman needs to undergo an ultrasound examination. For each stage of pregnancy there is its own index, according to which the doctor looks at how the pregnancy is progressing. Just as the composition of amniotic fluid changes literally every week, so does its quantity. In addition to the average, there is a fairly large difference in possible fluctuations of this index. Please note that possible fluctuations are very large, so if your indicator is far from normal, this does not mean that you should worry and be nervous.

Why does the amount of amniotic fluid either increase or decrease literally every day? This is due to the fact that the child grows, he begins to swallow liquid, and then remove it from his body - that is, to urinate. But, do not worry about the condition of the baby - the amniotic fluid is renewed every three hours, and completely changes every three days.

Throughout pregnancy, the fetus, located inside the woman’s body, protected from all external influences both infectious and physical with the help of amniotic fluid. This fluid surrounds the baby on all sides and is enclosed in a kind of bubble, also called the amniotic sac or bladder.

What is amniotic fluid needed for?

At the amniotic waters many purposes:

Water composition

The composition of amniotic fluid is very complex, since it is an antiseptic and carries out the functions of transferring nutrients, while maintaining its composition.

The constituent substances and biological materials of amniotic water are: oxygen, hormonal enzymes, protein groups, hydrocarbons, fats, trace elements, vitamins, carbon dioxide, immunoglobulins, o determining fetal blood type, antigens and many others that ensure the vital functions of the child’s body. They also contain vernix, which coats the surface of the fetus, hair and some substances from the body of the carrier.

There is a constant exchange of various substances between the child’s body and the mother’s body through the amniotic fluid.

How is amniotic fluid renewed during pregnancy? The mother’s body processes and renews them in order to remove all harmful secretions from them and return them to their original chemical composition. The water renewal time is about three hours.

Water quantity

The amount of amniotic fluid is not constant and changes throughout pregnancy. Amniotic fluid is synthesized by the mother's body constantly, but in different quantities. The longer the pregnancy, the greater the volume of water. Their largest quantity occurs at week 36, amounting to 1.5 liters. By the time of birth, the amount decreases due to increased fluid secretion by the mother's body.

Table amount of amniotic fluid by week:

Diagnosis of fetal condition

Through the amount and condition of amniotic fluid, medical specialists are able to determine the physical condition of the fetus and the progress in its development. With the help of such an analysis, not only the child’s gender and blood type are determined, but also information about possible abnormalities and diseases of the fetus, including genetic ones. Sometimes, if it is necessary to urgently induce labor (for example, due to the condition of the mother), such tests help determine the degree of development of the fetus.

We continue to talk about amniotic fluid, changes that can occur with it and methods for diagnosing any pathologies using it. We have already said earlier that during pregnancy and during childbirth, the color of amniotic fluid may change. Let's continue our conversation.

If the water is dark brown.
If dark brown amniotic fluid is detected during pregnancy and childbirth, this indicates serious problems that should greatly alarm both doctors and the woman herself. In almost 90% of cases, this color of amniotic fluid indicates the presence of intrauterine fetal death. And in the presence of such odes, the question is no longer about saving the fetus, but about saving the life of the pregnant woman, since such a condition is also dangerous for her. But in today’s time, when diagnostic methods are actively practiced and women’s health is carefully monitored, such situations are very rare, therefore, we simply will not talk in detail about this option. With regular monitoring by a gynecologist, such problems are identified in a timely manner, in advance, and then the situation simply does not reach a similar state of amniotic fluid.

Amniotic fluid is red or reddish in color.
The presence of red amniotic fluid indicates a serious danger not only for the baby in the mother’s belly, but also for herself. Often, a red or pink tint to the amniotic fluid will occur when blood penetrates into the amniotic sac in the presence of bleeding in both the mother and the fetus. You can assess for yourself how dangerous this situation is for the mother and her child. If you find amniotic fluid of a similar color, you should immediately take a horizontal position and under no circumstances move. And your relatives should, without delay, call an ambulance and immediately take you to the maternity hospital. When calling the emergency room, you must inform the dispatcher receiving the call that the pregnant woman’s broken amniotic fluid is red or contains blood.

In such cases, a resuscitation team immediately goes to the pregnant woman, which is equipped with all the drugs and devices necessary to provide assistance. Assistance upon arrival of a regular ambulance team in this case may be incomplete, since the situation is urgent and the count can literally take minutes. It is strictly forbidden to try to deliver a pregnant woman to the maternity hospital under your own power, even if the maternity hospital is literally a 3-5 minute drive from home. With any careless movement, something irreparable can happen and this can lead to the death of the mother and child from bleeding. It is important to remember that we are talking about two people at once, so don’t take risks. It is worth noting the fact that such situations arise rarely, usually with serious injuries after an accident or after being burned, severe injuries and blows to the stomach. Pregnancies usually end well.

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When talking about pregnancy and amniotic fluid, we cannot omit the issue of oligohydramnios. The state of moderate oligohydramnios during pregnancy is not very common; usually, by the end of pregnancy, no more than 5% of expectant mothers suffer from this condition. Oligohydramnios in pregnant women refers to an insufficient amount of amniotic fluid for the full development of the fetus. We have already said what important functions amniotic fluid performs and why there should be a strictly specified amount of it. The composition of amniotic fluid can remain relatively constant; its complete renewal will occur approximately every three hours. If the process of production of amniotic fluid and absorption is disrupted, then the amount of amniotic fluid may exceed the norm or be insufficient. When there is a deficiency of amniotic fluid, a state of oligohydramnios occurs.

It is worth noting that the fact of oligohydramnios itself will not constitute any disease; it is just one of the symptoms. And then the consequences of oligohydramnios will be primarily the consequences of the reasons that caused it. The presence of moderate oligohydramnios towards the end of pregnancy may also be of a physiological nature, and then it will not pose any danger. However, on the other hand, if oligohydramnios begins in the early stages of pregnancy, and subsequently develops to severe, oligohydramnios by the middle or third trimester of pregnancy can lead to disastrous outcomes.

Reasons for the development of oligohydramnios.
The development of oligohydramnios during pregnancy can occur as a result of many reasons and at different stages of pregnancy. Thus, tendencies towards oligohydramnios that manifest themselves from the earliest stages of pregnancy may indicate the presence of severe congenital pathologies in the fetus. This type of oligohydramnios, the causes of which may be pathologies in the structure of the fetus itself, unfortunately, has an unfavorable prognosis for the course of pregnancy and childbirth. Usually this is a congenital absence or incompatible with life abnormalities of the kidneys, and such a pregnancy is often recommended to be terminated for medical reasons, since after birth the baby simply cannot live without kidneys.

Also, another known reason for the formation of oligohydramnios is an increase in blood pressure in the expectant mother. Typically, this condition develops towards the end of pregnancy, and the mechanisms of its occurrence are determined by dysfunction of the placenta. This occurs as a result of impaired blood flow due to the fact that the mother has high blood pressure and small vessels in the placenta go into a state of spasm. Slight oligohydramnios may be normal in the presence of postterm pregnancy, which is associated with the physiological process of aging of the placenta. Equally rare is relative oligohydramnios in one fetus of twins. This is associated with shunt syndrome (blood shunting) in the area of ​​the placenta from one baby to another. This is often called feto-fetal transfusion syndrome, or “robbing” one fetus from another. Typically, the violations in the vast majority of cases are minor and do not threaten the development of any of the children.

The reasons for the formation of oligohydramnios among pregnant women can also be the presence of chronic, old or latent genital infections that were not previously treated or treated incorrectly, and which turned into a latent, sluggish current state. In some cases, the causes of oligohydramnios among pregnant women are factors unknown to doctors. Theories have been put forward that there may be a disruption in the functions of the epithelium that produces amniotic fluid in the area of ​​the amniotic sac itself. Why oligohydramnios occurs in one case or another is not always possible to determine. However, you should always look for the causes of oligohydramnios in pregnant women especially carefully, because oligohydramnios is only a symptom, and the very reason that caused it can become dangerous for the mother and her baby.

Manifestations and symptoms of oligohydramnios during pregnancy.
Manifestations of oligohydramnios during pregnancy, the symptoms of which can be identified by the pregnant woman herself, will be very pronounced and severe. In such cases, there should be very, very little amniotic fluid so that the pregnant woman herself can think that something is not happening in pregnancy as it should be. This happens extremely rarely and usually with very severe pathologies. If the manifestations of oligohydramnios are moderate, and the woman is not bothered by any manifestations of pathology, there may be no external manifestations. Only with a marked decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid may minor signs appear, which will suggest that something is wrong with the amount of amniotic fluid.

If a pregnant woman has severe oligohydramnios, there is very little amniotic fluid so that her baby can move comfortably inside the uterus. This leads to the formation of painful and distinct fetal movements for the mother. Women complain to the doctor that the child kicks hard and often, and his movements cause pain or severe discomfort. Often, moderate oligohydramnios, which occurs in women, practically does not manifest itself in any way, does not have any dangerous symptoms and is diagnosed only during an ultrasound examination.

Tomorrow we will continue the conversation.

Violation of the formation and absorption of amniotic fluid threatens oligohydramnios. Let's take a closer look at this concept.

What is oligohydramnios?

In obstetrics and gynecology, insufficient amniotic fluid is called oligohydramnios.

Amniotic fluid (or amniotic fluid)- the liquid environment in which the fetus is located during pregnancy.

This biological fluid performs several important functions. These include:

• protective function– the water shell protects the child from the penetration of infections (due to the tightness of the shells and the immunoglobulins included in the water), from mechanical influences from the outside (for example, from blows and jolts), loud sounds (water muffles them), external fluctuations in pressure and temperature (maintaining optimal pressure and a constant temperature of 37 ºС, of course, if mommy is healthy and her body temperature does not exceed 37.8 ºС);
• exchange function– the child absorbs amniotic fluid, enriched with nutrients, and releases it back.
  In addition to all this, fetal fluid ensures free movement of the baby inside the womb. Therefore, with a normal amount of amniotic fluid, the baby is cozy and comfortable, he is protected and provided with everything he needs.

What does amniotic fluid contain?

As pregnancy progresses, the composition of the amniotic fluid changes and becomes more varied and rich, making the waters slightly cloudy in appearance. Amniotic fluid is secreted by cells of the aqueous membrane.

At the beginning of pregnancy, amniotic fluid is almost the same in composition as blood plasma. They contain nutrients (proteins and fats), vitamins and minerals, hormones, enzymes and more.

From the second trimester, the composition of this biologically active liquid is supplemented by dead skin cells (as a result of the natural process of replacing the old layer of skin with a new one), fetal fluff (hairs), vernix cheese-like lubricant of the fetal body and waste products (sterile urine).

The fetal waters are renewed every 3 hours.
Drinking water has no effect on the amount of amniotic fluid. Excessive fluid intake will only cause swelling in a pregnant woman.

Normal amount of amniotic fluid

If the amount of amniotic fluid deviates from the norm, doctors diagnose oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios. The amount of fluid is determined by a diagnostician during an ultrasound scan, starting from the second trimester of pregnancy.

The volume of amniotic fluid in medicine is usually referred to as the amniotic fluid index (AFI).

Table - Norm of amniotic fluid index by week

The standards may differ slightly from those given above depending on the type of ultrasound machine. And also the value can be written not in millimeters, but in centimeters (1 cm = 10 mm).

Also, the amount of fetal fluid is characterized by another indicator - the vertical size of the largest (free) water pocket (WC). This size should normally be in the range from 2 to 8 cm (or from 20 to 80 mm), with a borderline amount of water - from 2 to 1 cm (from 20 to 10 mm), and with low water - less than 1 cm (or 10 mm).

What are the causes of oligohydramnios?

Depending on the severity of the pathology, moderate and severe oligohydramnios are distinguished.

You can often find an inscription in an ultrasound report: “a tendency towards moderate oligohydramnios.” This means that the expectant mother may have health problems and needs more careful monitoring.

Moderate oligohydramnios– this is a slight deviation in the amount of fetal fluid from the norm. This type of deviation may be caused by the individual characteristics of a pregnant woman’s body or, in the worst case, may be a prerequisite for the occurrence of a more severe form of this pathology. In any case, doctors recommend preventing fetoplacental insufficiency (FPI).

Moderate lack of water is not a critical situation, because the amount of water is not constant and can change several times a day. Perhaps there was an error in establishing the diagnosis and the fault was with the doctor who made a not very accurate calculation during the ultrasound, because determining the amniotic fluid index is a subjective and approximate matter. Therefore, there is no need to panic; in 8 out of 10 cases, pregnancy ends in the successful birth of a healthy baby.

Severe oligohydramnios poses a danger to the health of the fetus, so you must follow all the instructions of the doctor monitoring the pregnancy.

The causes of oligohydramnios, regardless of the degree of its severity:

• fetoplacental insufficiency;
• problems with the cardiovascular system in a pregnant woman (hypertension and others);
• diseases of the fetal urinary system (kidneys, for example);
• leakage of amniotic fluid (if the integrity of the membranes is violated);
• pathology in the development of membranes;
• bacterial infections suffered during pregnancy or shortly before its onset;
• diabetes;
• late gestosis.

Most often, oligohydramnios occurs due to metabolic disorders in a pregnant woman, as well as after viral diseases (acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, etc.) and with fetoplacental insufficiency.

Personal practice shows that ultrasound doctors often exaggerate the scale of the problem, and a slight deviation from the norm is already a disaster for them. Such pseudo-oligohydramnios causes unnecessary stress for the expectant mother, but in fact the babies are born relatively healthy.

The only thing is that childbirth with oligohydramnios (even slight) can occur with some complications (poor opening of the cervix, painful contractions and prolonged labor due to pelvic or breech presentation of the fetus, which arose due to oligohydramnios). Although complicated childbirth can occur in any woman in labor, regardless of the amount of water.

obstetrician-gynecologist A. Berezhnaya

The occurrence of oligohydramnios during post-term pregnancy is considered a common occurrence, since the placenta has grown old and can no longer fully perform its functions, so it exfoliates. Then doctors prescribe induction of labor or perform a planned caesarean section.

How dangerous is oligohydramnios for the fetus?

Oligohydramnios (or oligohydramnios) is a complication of pregnancy, sometimes even dangerous for the fetus, because it is at risk of infection, which can even result in its death.

For example, when the integrity of the membranes is lost - this is when amniotic fluid leaks - the child becomes vulnerable to infections entering the membranes.

A woman’s reproductive tract is not sterile, pathogenic microorganisms constantly live in the vagina, “plus” the immune system is weakened due to pregnancy. All this can lead to the proliferation of harmful bacteria, which can penetrate inside the uterine cavity and infect the membranes, causing inflammation, called chorioamnionitis in gynecology. Without timely treatment, the fetus itself becomes infected.

This applies to oligohydramnios caused by a violation of the integrity of the membranes.

With severe oligohydramnios, regardless of the reasons for its occurrence, the baby suffers from hypoxia (lack of oxygen), because of this it lags behind in intrauterine development. In addition to all this, it is uncomfortable for the baby to be in such a “nest”; his neck is often curved, and the bones of the face and head are susceptible to deformation due to compression by the walls of the uterus.

Moderate oligohydramnios does not have such a critical effect on the health of the fetus: the baby is weak and lags behind in gaining body weight (so-called malnutrition is observed), his muscle tone is reduced (possible development of torticollis, clubfoot), and mild fetal hypoxia occurs.

If screening and urine/blood/smear tests are normal, the cardiotocogram (CTG) is normal and the fetus is developing well, and the pregnant woman has no complaints about her health, then the diagnosis of oligohydramnios is conditional. Obstetricians will simply prepare to induce labor, since there is a high probability of a post-term pregnancy, or for a caesarean section if the fetus is not in a standard position at the due date.

Diagnosis of oligohydramnios

During an ultrasound examination, the doctor makes some measurements and calculations to determine the amount of amniotic fluid, after which he makes a conclusion about oligohydramnios, a normal amount of water, or polyhydramnios.

A gynecologist can also assume low or high hydramnios at the next measurement of the abdominal circumference and the height of the uterine fundus, but a more accurate diagnosis can only be made with the help of an ultrasound.

At home, you can only conduct a test for leakage of amniotic fluid. If watery discharge is often observed in the underwear, and the baby’s kicks have become painful for the pregnant woman, although such discomfort was not felt before, or the size of the abdomen is too small, although the pregnancy has already exceeded 20 weeks, then it is advisable to conduct a special test. Perhaps the reason for everything is oligohydramnios, caused by leakage of water due to a violation of the integrity of the membranes.

The test can be carried out at home by observing the discharge for some time, or by purchasing a special test for leakage of amniotic fluid at the pharmacy and using it.

The “free” test is carried out as follows: empty your bladder, take a shower (without douching and possible water getting inside the vagina), wipe yourself dry with a towel and lie down on a dry diaper. Lie motionless for 15 minutes, and then get up and see if a wet spot appears on the diaper. Normal discharge is not capable of forming and flowing out so quickly; most likely, it is amniotic fluid leaking. You can find out more accurately by contacting the LCD with a complaint about unusual discharge. There they will conduct a special test and say it is water or normal vaginal discharge.

The pharmacy test looks like a pad, the surface of which will change color to blue or green if amniotic fluid leaks.

Coloring also occurs with bacterial/viral discharge, so if you notice blue-green spots on the surface of the pad, contact your gynecologist.

Any test for leakage of amniotic fluid is recommended to be carried out 12 hours after the last sexual intercourse, douching or use of vaginal suppositories.

Treatment of oligohydramnios

It is impossible to artificially increase the amount of amniotic fluid, so treatment of oligohydramnios comes down to determining the causes of its occurrence. Next, the root causes of oligohydramnios are treated.

To determine the causes of oligohydramnios, the pregnant woman is referred for Doppler ultrasound or cardiotocography (CTG) in order, first of all, to refute or confirm disturbances in blood flow in the placenta.

If fetoplacental blood circulation is still impaired, then the patient is prescribed drugs to normalize it - Curantil, Actovegin.

Moreover, Curantil is often prescribed as a measure to prevent fetoplacental insufficiency.

Often, the treatment complex includes medications that help normalize metabolic processes in the pregnant woman’s body (for example, Magne + B6) and support the normal functioning of the woman’s important internal organs (for example, Chofitol).

It is also necessary to exclude the presence of infections in the pregnant woman. For this purpose, urogenital smears are taken again for STIs and from the throat + nose for cocci, and a blood test is performed for TORCH infections. If infection is present, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.

Childbirth with oligohydramnios

In case of severe oligohydramnios, a planned caesarean section is prescribed. With a small volume of amniotic fluid, the fetal bladder takes on a flat appearance. Because of this, contractions will be irregular and weak, and labor may be long and difficult.

Moderate oligohydramnios is not a contraindication for natural childbirth. Even with a breech or breech presentation of the fetus caused by oligohydramnios, the birth proceeds safely for both the mother and her child.

An insufficient amount of amniotic fluid does not allow the baby to move freely inside the womb. Therefore, the child often takes a transverse or buttock position and can no longer roll over correctly.

There are various exercises that can help turn the baby into the desired position, but their effectiveness has not been confirmed from a medical point of view. Exercise can lead to umbilical cord entanglement, so you need to weigh the pros and cons before doing it.

In the womb, the baby is surrounded by membranes and amniotic fluid. They play an important role in the development of the fetus: they serve as a shield from damage and infection, a source of nutrition and create favorable conditions for movement and development. Each gestational stage (gestational age) is characterized by a certain volume of amniotic fluid, the assessment of which allows us to assess the condition and development of the fetus. The volume of water determines the amniotic fluid index (AFI) - it is calculated in different ways.

Consultation with a doctor based on test results or ultrasound - 500 rubles.

Methods for diagnosing IAF

There are two ways to determine the volume of amniotic fluid:

• Subjective: Ultrasound of the uterus transverse and longitudinal . The examination is carried out using ultrasound. Using ultrasound, the doctor performs transverse and longitudinal scanning and determines the amount of water. Using this method, you can make mistakes, so it’s more accurateconsidered an ultrasound with calculation of the amniotic fluid index.

• Objective: Ultrasound of the uterus with measurement by quadrants.This method is the definition of IAF. The doctor scans the entire uterine cavity using an ultrasound sensor, conditionally dividing it into 4 quadrants by two perpendicular lines. Then in each "compartment" he identifies and measures a vertical pocket, i.e. the deepest pocket free of fetal limbs and umbilical cord. The resulting 4 indicators in total determine the amniotic fluid index. It is approximate, but it can be used to accurately judge the presence of polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios.

This diagnostic procedure is important for all pregnant women, as it allows timely detection of anomalies and pathologies of fetal and placental development. If deviations are detected, the gynecologist takes the necessary measures. In severe cases, it is recommended to terminate the pregnancy. But it is important to understand that the result depends on two components - the quality of the device and the qualifications of the doctor.

Amniotic fluid index table

The gynecologist must take into account the IAF to assess the quality of pregnancy, since a deviation from the norm indicates an anomaly or pathology of the fetus. Data is collected and entered into a table.

For the most accurate and correct research results, the following preparatory activities are carried out:

• cytological and biochemical analysis of amniotic fluid;
• assessment of transparency and shade of amniotic fluid;
• accounting of hormones contained;
• check, volume measurement.

For each stage of pregnancy, a certain norm of the amniotic fluid index is shown. By comparing the normal value with those obtained during examination of a pregnant woman, it is possible to determine the lack or excess of fluid.

Deviations from the norm

Measuring the amniotic fluid index allows you to identify dangerous problems during pregnancy:

• polyhydramnios – increased volume of amniotic fluid;
• oligohydramnios – reduced amount of amniotic fluid.

Polyhydramnios can be of different types:

Reasons for deviations from the norm of the AF index

Polyhydramnios, which occurs in 1-3% of cases, can be caused by the following factors:

According to statistics, oligohydramnios occurs in 0.3-5.5% of cases. The reasons for its occurrence may be:

• abnormal fetal development;
• pathological fetal changes (developmental delay, chromosomal disease, infection);
• diseases of women (cardiovascular disorders, infectious and inflammatory processes, gestosis);
• kidney pathologies (dysplasia, Potter's syndrome, cystomas);
• developmental disorders of the placenta (placental insufficiency, placental defect and infarction);
• post-term pregnancy;
• placental rupture;
• frozen pregnancy.

Symptoms

It is quite difficult for a woman to independently determine the pathological change in the volume of amniotic fluid. The following may be warning signs: symptoms: changes in the motor activity of the fetus, the appearance of discomfort or pain during fetal movement, changes in the shape of the abdomen.

Amniotic fluid index: possible complications

Non-compliance with the norms of the amniotic fluid index indicates not only the presence of oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios. The occurrence of such conditions poses a danger to the health of the woman and her unborn child and even threatens with serious consequences. And it is precisely thanks to the calculation of the AF index that it is possible to prevent the development of possible complications.

Polyhydramnios threatens:

• placental abruption;
• infection of the birth canal;
• impaired fetal development;
• miscarriage.

Oligohydramnios, first of all, poses a danger to the fetus and threatens it with serious diseases.

This pathology can lead to:

• disorders of the respiratory and genitourinary systems fetus;
• hypoxia;
• hypodynamics and pressure on the fetus, which can provoke developmental disorders of the fetus (weight changes, dislocations, deformation of bones, spine);
• miscarriage;
• postpartum bleeding.

Amniotic index is broken: what to do next

Deviation from the norm of the amniotic fluid index provokes developmental disorders of the fetus, therefore, if the indicators do not correspond, careful during the entire pregnancy. You cannot self-medicate, since the safety of the mother and child is at stake. And only qualified assistance from doctors and compliance with all their instructions guarantee a successful outcome for the health of both.

The specialist must determine the reason for the deviation of the index from the norm. If it turns out to be a serious pathology in the development of the fetus or an amniotic cord incompatible with the life of the fetus, then it is recommended . If deviations do not pose a threat to the child’s life, doctors prescribe appropriate treatment aimed at getting rid of the causes of discrepancy with the AF index and normalizing the condition of the fetus, and determine tactics for managing pregnancy and childbirth.

Traditionally, antibiotics are used to restore hypodynamic functions, immunomodulators in the presence of infection, as well as diuretics.

With moderate oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios, a woman should follow the following recommendations:

• reception Curantila, Actovegina (as prescribed by a doctor);
• limiting physical activity;
• healthy eating and adherence to the regime;
• taking a vitamin complex;
• therapy that prevents the development of infectious and inflammatory processes;
• in post-term pregnancy - stimulation of labor.