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How to Increase Amniotic Fluid

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When you become pregnant, your uterus will form an amniotic sac that will produce
Explore this Article
amniotic fluid. This fluid acts as protection for your baby while he or she is in your
uterus. Oligohydramnios is a condition that can develop where your amniotic fluid Increasing Amniotic Fluid with
Medicine
levels decrease. This can cause problems for your pregnancy, so it is very important
Increasing Amniotic Fluid with Home
that you bring your fluid levels back up through both medical and at-home intervention. Management
Understanding Oligohydramnios
Article Summary
Related Articles

Method
Increasing Amniotic Fluid with Medicine
1

1 Understand that treatment is based on how far along you are in your pregnancy. The
recommendations your doctor will have for treatment will be based on how far along in your pregnancy you
are. Generally, your doctor will recommend one of the treatments listed in this section, as well as rehydration at
home, which is outlined in the second section of this article.[1]
If you are not yet in full term, your doctor will monitor you and your levels very closely. Tests such as
non-stress and contraction stress tests may be done to monitor your baby’s activity. Your doctor may
also suggest one of the following medical treatments listed in this method.
If you are close to full term, your doctor may recommend that you deliver your baby via cesarean section
as low amniotic fluid levels right before pregnancy can be dangerous for both you and your baby.

2 Get an injection of amniotic fluid. In this process, your doctor will inject the leaking amniotic fluids back
into the amniotic sac with a needle. This will help your condition because it will increase the amount of
amniotic fluid in your uterus. This procedure is a lot like amniocentesis (a way to check your amniotic fluid
levels), except that instead of withdrawing the amniotic fluid, the doctor injects the leaking amniotic fluids back
into the amniotic sac with a needle. [2]
This procedure is often used as a short term fix because amniotic fluid levels tend to drop again after a
couple of weeks. However, doctors choose to use this method because it helps them to find the problem
that is causing your amniotic fluid levels to be low.

3 Get fluid intravenously. Some pregnant women are admitted to the hospital for additional intravenous
fluid therapy if natural means of rehydration (like drinking lots of water) are not able to increase the amount
of amniotic fluid. If you have tried rehydrating at home with no changes in amniotic fluid levels, you will most
likely have to get an IV to stay hydrated.[3]
Once your amniotic fluid levels are back to normal, you will most likely be discharged.
Keep in mind that sometimes IV therapy will continue until you are ready to give birth if you are having
troubles staying hydrated.

4 Use a catheter to increase fluid levels. Amnioinfusion is when Lactated Ringer’s Solution or a regular
saline solution is infused into the amniotic fluid sac by a catheter. Doing this increases the amniotic fluid
levels around your baby and provides extra padding for your baby and the umbilical cord.[4]
The amount of saline injected will depend on how low your amniotic fluid levels are.

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Talk to your doctor about having a shunt placed in your body. Shunts are used to move body fluid from one
place in your body to another. In this case, a shunt diverts fetal urine into your amniotic fluid cavity if the reason
you have low amniotic fluid levels is because of fetal obstructive uropathy (kidney problems that decrease
amniotic fluid).[5]

Method
Increasing Amniotic Fluid with Home Management
2

1 Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. One of the simplest ways to increase your amniotic
fluid is to make sure that you are always hydrated. When you increase the amount of water you have in
your body, your amniotic fluid levels will also rise.[6]
Drink water throughout the day and try to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses at a minimum.

2 Eat fruits that have water contents. A great way to stay hydrated while also getting good nutrients is to
eat fruits and vegetables that have high water concentrations. As stated above, when you increase the
amount of hydration your body gets, you will also increase the amount of amniotic fluid you have. Good fruits
and vegetables to eat when needing hydration include[7]:
Vegetables like: Cucumber (96.7% water), iceberg lettuce (95.6%), celery (95.4%), radishes (95.3%),
green peppers (93.9%), cauliflower (92.1%), spinach (91.4%), broccoli (90.7%), and baby carrots
(90.4%).
Fruits like: Watermelon (91.5%), tomatoes (94.5%), star fruit (91.4%), strawberries (91.0%), grapefruit
(90.5%), and cantaloupe (90.2%).

3 Avoid herbal supplements that can dehydrate you. Some herbal supplements can act as diuretics that
make you have to urinate more. The more you go to the bathroom, the likelier you are to become
dehydrated. It is very important that you stay hydrated when you are concerned about your levels of amniotic
fluid. Herbal supplements to stay away from include:
Dandelion extract, celery seed, watercress, and parsley.[8]

4 Stay away from alcohol. If you are pregnant, you should not drink alcohol at all because it is not good for
your baby’s health. Alcohol can also dehydrate you and cause your amniotic fluid levels to shrink.

5 Do light exercise regularly if your doctor has not asked you to get bed rest. You should try to get at
least 30 to 45 minutes of non-weight bearing exercise every day. Exercises promote an increased blood
flow to the different areas in your body. If there is an increased blood circulating in the uterus and placenta,
there is also an increase in the amniotic fluid index and fetal urine production rate (the amount your baby
urinates). As your baby passes more urine in the amniotic sac, the volume of the amniotic fluid increases.
Exercises you should consider doing include:
Swimming or water aerobics. These are the best exercises to do when you are pregnant because it
takes all the weight of your baby off of you.
Walking and light hiking.

6 Lie on your left side when you relax. If your doctor has asked you to stay in bed (what is referred to as
complete bed rest) you should lay on your left side when you can. When you lie on your left side, your
blood flows more smoothly through the uterine blood vessels and allows your baby’s blood flow to also move at
a regular rate. This may cause the amniotic fluid index to rise.

7 Talk to your doctor about changing your prescription if you are taking Angiotensin Converting
Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE). ACE inhibitors are medications that help to lower your high blood pressure by
stopping your body’s conversion of Angiotensin I to Angiotensin II. While it is normally good to take these
medications, you should not take them while you are pregnant because they can lower the amount of amniotic
fluid that your body creates.[9]

Method
Understanding Oligohydramnios
3
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1 Understand what amniotic fluid’s purpose is. The most important thing that amniotic fluid does is keep
your baby safe while he or she is in the womb. It does this by cushioning your baby. It also has other
functions, which include:
Keeping the baby warm.
Acting as a lubricant. Sometimes, some babies are born with webbed fingers and toes due to insufficient
amount of amniotic fluid.
Promoting proper lung and kidney development.
Helping the baby move freely, which in turn lets him/her exercise the limbs and become strong.

2 Be aware of the symptoms of oligohydramnios. Oligohydramnios is the condition that occurs when your
amniotic fluid gets very low (specifically below 300 ml). If you are concerned that you might have
developed this condition, you should always talk to your doctor. If you are concerned you might develop the
condition in the future, it is helpful to know what to look for. Symptoms include:
Leakage of amniotic fluid.
Your abdomen is smaller than you think it should be given your gestational period (how long you have
been pregnant).
Feeling like your baby is moving around less.
Smaller than expected urine amounts when you go to the bathroom.
Visible lack of amniotic fluid when you get an ultrasound.

3 Be aware of the risk factors that could lead you to having low amounts of amniotic fluid. There are
some conditions or factors that can predispose you to having troubles with your amniotic fluid amounts.
Some of the more common reasons include:
If your baby is small for his or her gestational age.
If you have high blood pressure while you are pregnant (a condition called pre-eclampsia).
If your placenta partially or completely peels away from your uterine wall even before the onset of
delivery. This condition is known as abruptio placenta.
If you are having identical twins. If identical twins share a placenta, sometimes their amniotic fluid levels
become out of balance. This happens when one twin gets more blood via the placenta than the other.
If you have certain medical conditions like lupus.
If you are in post-term pregnancy. If your pregnancy has gone over 42 weeks, you have a higher risk of
low levels of amniotic fluid due to declining placental function – amniotic fluid starts to decrease by the
38th week of pregnancy.

4 Understand that low levels of amniotic fluid can generally only be diagnosed by ultrasound. The
actual volume of amniotic fluid cannot be safely measured directly so the condition is diagnosed by using
ultrasounds that check the amniotic fluid index (AFI).[10]
A normal AFI range is between 5 and 25 cm.

Community Q&A

Question

How can I increase the liquid level in 38 weeks of pregnancy for normal delivery?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Drink 2 liters of water per day and consume plenty of fruits to stay hydrated.

Question

My amniotic fluid is 7 cm, is this normal or not?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

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It depends on the number of weeks you are pregnant. If you are close to your delivery, your water levels should be
at least 10 cm or more, but this is nothing to worry about. Drink 1.5-2 liters of water daily, eat fruits such as
watermelon, pears, apples, and strawberries, Drink at least a glass or two of milk per day and a glass of juice or
coconut water per day. The main idea is to keep yourself hydrated as much as possible. Sleeping on your left side
also helps to increase your water levels.

Question

I'm 34 weeks pregnant and my fluid level is 8. Is that okay?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

It is likely not sufficient. Drink plenty of water, eat fruits that have a high water content and consult your doctor.

Question

My amniotic fluid is 6.1 and I'm 28 weeks pregnant. How can I increase my amniotic fluid?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

One natural way is to drink plenty of water, about 8-10 glasses a day. Eating a healthier diet with more fruits and
vegetables helps as well. You should always call your doctor with any concerns you have about amniotic fluid levels.

Question

I am 25 weeks pregnant and my amniotic fluid is leaking. What is the best way to deal with this?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Stay calm, call your doctor and go to the nearest hospital.

Question

My wife's AFI is 26 CM. Should I be worried about this?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

That seems bit high, but I would only be concerned if the doctor is concerned.

Question

How can I tell if I have a normal amniotic fluid level?

wikiHow Contributor
Community Answer

Ultrasound can tell you that. Usually, your doctor will measure your fundal height at every appointment, and if there
is something abnormal, they will usually refer you for a scan. During the scan, the technician will measure the baby,
look at its position and look for any other abnormalities.

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Tips

Make drinking water more enjoyable by adding splashes of fruit juice to it to give it some flavor.

Warnings

If you are at all concerned that you may have low levels of amniotic fluid, talk to your doctor right away.

References

1. Outline in obstetrics. A textbook and reviewer for nurses and midwives by Maria Loreto J. Evangelista – Sia. 2008
Edition
2. William’s Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch. 21.
3. Copel, J., D’Alton, M., et al (n.d.). Obstetric Imaging 1st Edition.
4. Maternal & Child Health Nursing: Care of the Childbearing & Childrearing Family 5th Edition. Philadelphia:
Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.Smeltzer, S. C., & Bare, B. G. (2008).
5. Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 11th Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, &
Wilkins.
6. http://reference.medscape.com/article/975821-treatment
7. http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20709014,00.html
8. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/worst-dehydrating-foods_n_3354216.html
9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9406146
10. Nabhan AF, Abdelmoula YA. 2008. Amniotic fluid index versus single deepest vertical pocket as a screening test for
preventing adverse pregnancy outcome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

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