High Amniotic Fluid.. Should I Be Freaking Out?!

Mine was high starting at 33 weeks (when my BP went up landing me on bedrest until my ds was born at 38 weeks by induction). He was perfectly healthy. The ultrasound tech at my last visit compared my uterus to an olympic sized swimming pool, but all was well with baby and me!

Oh...let me tell you about too much fluid. I had insane amounts of fluid. My Dr. had never seen that much...seriously. I saw a high risk doc and got monitored 3 times a week from 17 weeks, until he was born. He always looked great. He had no complications. I never had gestational diabetes. One problem, is that he was swimming in there. I had so much fluid, that he never was restricted or forced head down. I had to have a c-section. They were also worried about a prolapsed cord, with vaginal delivery....because I had so much fluid. There were some other things wrong, too...but they didn't have to do with all the fluid. When they did the c-section I heard a massive crash of fluid. They surgical tech was like, "My god, that's a lot of fluid!!) Apparently, it went all over everything, because there weren't enough buckets. I had so much fluid I walked out of the hospital having lost 28 pounds. (I gained 35!!)

He was perfectly healthy, and still is. You are far along enough, that they really should be able to detect something wrong. If a high risk OB tells you the baby looks good, then the baby is good! They deal with babies who aren't good all the time, and they are so relieved to look at one that looks great. (That's what my high risk OB told me, anyway.) Relax. You and baby will be fine!! If MY baby was fine, with the ocean that was inside my belly...your baby has an even greater chance!!

No, you should never "freak out." You're a mother so you need to learn to handle stressful and possibly stressful situations gracefully and with patience. You're not going to do your pregnancy, yourself, or your baby any good if you jack up your blood pressure and cause an actual pregnancy complication like pre-eclampsia.

Worst case scenarios rarely happen and you're not even in the worst case scenario. You're in week 37 (assuming since you said you have 3 weeks to go assuming you don't go to 42 weeks which is possible and normal) and by all accounts the baby is healthy and typical per all examinations so you're both in good standing. If this is your only possible complication then you need to keep yourself under control.

And even if it turns out to be serious, don't you freak out. You have a spouse and a baby that are counting on you to remain calm and do your part keeping your health as in as much of your own control as you can. Practice your breathing exercises. Maintain a good diet and back off junk foods. Keep yourself hydrated. Keep rested as much as you can even if you can't sleep. Take walks.

But don't even consider "freaking out."

First off, stop "freaking out". It is not a real big deal. A normal AFI is about 14; so 28seems to be getting up there, but no need to worry. I think your doctor handled that very poorly if he left you in a worried state of being. Sometimes "polyhdramnious" could be linked to the mom being diabetic, sometimes it can be linked to the baby having swallowing issues (ie. Reflux) and sometime but very rarely it can be related to kidney issues in the baby. Sometimes it does occur for unknown reasons. I really do think the "unknowns" are just baby with reflux and the reflux was never picked up.... Not big deals at all. Once you go to the perinatologist and have your ultrasound and see that the babies kidneys are fine; just RELAX and enjoy your pregnancy. Sometimes babies who are swimming in poly fluid end up not flipping and turn out to be breech, but that would just mean a c-section; not too serious. Do know the poly babies who are breech usually can be easily flipped with an external version and the mom goes on to have a vaginal delivery. Now I am reading that you say the other ultrasounds have revealed normal internal organs; so you need to truly RELAX. At the worst, your glucose test comes back elevated and you have to watch your diet or once the baby is born and is 2 months old and starts to spit up, you relize he has reflux and you place him on a little Zantac until his "little stomach flap" matures. You then go about your merry way.... Truly this is not a big deal. I see almost every poly baby come out normal with the exception of those with reflux that is never discovered until they are at least a month old. Nerological problems are not linked with a high AFI, also known as "too much or high fluid" also known as polyhdramnious. The only girls I worry about with poly are those who have had a previous c-section. If the baby is large and there is a lot of fluid, which puts pressure on the previous uterine scar. Baby and mommy are almost always fine..... BTW, do not worry about the crib. That does not have to be set up a head of time. It can be set up the day you get home or while you are in the hospital even. Did you know that traditional Jewish people do not set up nurseries or a crib until AFTER the baby is born. They do not have things set up and those babies do AMAZING! All you need for a baby are diapers, wipes a couple of blankets, a couple of outfits and a way to feed the baby and you are preparred.... So relax and DO NOT worry!!! Stop given the stress hormones to your baby.

I had that with my daughter, and she's just fine. (I was HUGE!)

I got all of the warnings about birth defects, too. They also told me that most of the time, there's no reason for it, it means nothing, and the baby is fine. So having good ultrasounds is a really, really good sign.
Hang in there mama, it sounds like things are looking good.

PS: if there is an issue with him swallowing, that is corrected by a simple surgery after birth. Not what you ideally want, of course, but it IS fixable.

Mine was super high with my son starting at 30 weeks. He was delivered 2 weeks later because he had non immune fetal hydrops. It was a scary time but he's fine now. I wouldnt worry to worried if everything looks ok because with my son they knew around the 30 week mark something was going on because he had fluid in his belly.

Definitely no freaking out girlie :D I am also 37 wks and just had an ultrasound today and it did make me feel great to see my baby boy almost ready to come out, so yes that will make you feel so much better. With my second my doc sent me for an ultrasound bc she was worried my fluid might be low, but actually when they checked me they actually said it was on the high side. They didn't tell me the number, but my second has absolutely no problems. He isn't quite two and we call him our little genius, he is a smartie. He can say a lot and is very intuitive,loves to read, throws a ball awesome, just a quick kid. He has a big brother to keep up with so that contributes too I think! So really try not to worry, doctors are great bc they have such a wealth of knowledge, but they do tend to point out worst case scenarios bc they do see so much. All pregnancies are different and all babies are different, so really don't worry, it will only cause you angst your last few weeks that are already full of things to think on!! Wish you the best and have a great delivery :D

I had this with my last one. She is now 4 & perfectly fine. With high levels of fluid, when my water broke it was like a hose on full blast ready to fill a pool. It was overflowing onto the floor & the nurse was yelling "oh my god, it's going in my shoes". I could here it splashing on the floor & my husband jumped away from the bed. But there was no time to be embarrassed, my healthy daughter was born 40 minutes later.