Your baby rests inside a fluid-filled sac in the uterus. This is the amniotic sac and the fluid in it is known as amniotic fluid. The fluid is important for the safety and health of the foetus growing inside you. At times, however, the quantity of amniotic fluid may not be as expected which could lead to health issues to the little life growing inside you. In this article, we shall talk about the functions of amniotic fluid, the possible causes of changes in its volume and tips you could use to increase it. Read on to know more.
The amniotic fluid helps to:
If your body has too much or too less of amniotic fluid, it can cause complications during pregnancy ranging from a cracked placenta to preterm labour. Typically, the amniotic fluid index should be 8 – 18 in a normal pregnancy.
When your amniotic fluid index is less than 5 six, then it’s a low level of amniotic fluid or oligohydramnios. A deficiency of amniotic fluid can affect your child’s hands, feet, lungs, limbs and, rarely, also his face. Low amniotic fluid can happen if:
Here are some tips to increase the amniotic fluid levels during pregnancy:
3. Avoid alcohol during pregnancy since it isn’t good for your baby’s health. Alcohol also leads to dehydration and lowers the level of amniotic fluid in your body.
4. Avoid herbal supplements that function as diuretics (medicines that make you urinate more frequently). Excessive urination makes you dehydrated. So, it’s essential to always keep yourself hydrated to maintain and increase the level of amniotic fluid.
5. Perform light exercises regularly. You should work out every day; even walking helps. Working out regularly during pregnancy helps to increase the blood flow to the placenta and the uterus, thus increasing the level of amniotic fluid in your body.
Note: You should workout only if your gynaecologist hasn’t prescribed complete bed rest.
When your amniotic fluid index is in the range of 20 – 24, then it’s termed as a high level of amniotic fluid or polyhydramnios. High levels of amniotic fluid can cause placental abruptions, premature labour, postpartum haemorrhage and caesarean delivery. The causes of polyhydramnios are:
Polyhydramnios can lead to the following pregnancy complications:
Here are some tips to reduce amniotic fluid during pregnancy:
The right level of amniotic fluid is essential for the baby’s well-being. Get your amniotic fluid level checked regularly during pregnancy and ensure it’s always in the range of 8-20. This will ensure that your baby is safely growing inside your womb.