Premature labor

 ü
Hydramnios is a condition that occurs when
Is also called preterm labor too much amniotic fluid builds up during
ü
Labor is premature if it starts more than three weeks pregnancy.
before your due date.  ü
It is also called amniotic fluid disorder, or
Risk Factors polyhydramnios
 üSmoking
 üBeing very overweight or underweight before What Are the Risks of Hydramnios?
pregnancy
 üNot getting good prenatal care • Mild hydramnios may not cause any problems.
 üDrinking alcohol or using street drugs during Often, extra fluid that appears during the
pregnancy second trimester returns to normal on its own.
 üHaving health conditions, such as high blood Mild hydramnios is more common than severe
pressure, preeclampsia, diabetes, blood hydramnios.
clotting disorders, or infections • Hydramnios may occur in normal pregnancies
 üBeing pregnant with a baby that has certain with more than one baby (twins, triplets, or
birth defects more).
 üBeing pregnant with a baby from in vitro • Severe hydramnios may mean there is a
fertilization problem with the fetus. If you have severe
hydramnios, your health care provider will look
 üBeing pregnant with twins or other multiples
for these problems:
 üA family or personal history of premature labor
• ü
Birth defects of the brain and spinal column
 üGetting pregnant too soon after having a baby
• ü
Blockages in the digestive system
Symptoms
• ü
A genetic problem (a problem with the
chromosomes that is inherited)
 ü
Backache, which usually will be in your lower
back. This may be constant or come and go, but
How is Hydramnios Treated?
it won’t ease even if you change positions or do
something else for comfort.
In some cases, the symptoms of hydramnios can be
 ü
Contractions every 10 minutes or more often
treated but the cause cannot be treated.
 ü
Cramping in your lower abdomen or
• üYour provider may want you to stay in the
menstrual-like cramps. These can feel like gas
hospital.
pains that may come with diarrhea.
• üYour provider may also prescribe medicine to
 ü
Fluid leaking from your vagina
prevent a preterm delivery.
 ü
Flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or • üThey might remove some of the extra amniotic
diarrhea. Call your doctor even about mild fluid to relieve your symptoms.
cases. If you can’t tolerate liquids for more than • üNonstress tests can be done to make sure the
8 hours, you must see your doctor. fetus is not in danger (Nonstress tests involve
 ü
Increased pressure in your pelvis or vagina listening to the baby's heart rate and
 ü
Increased vaginal discharge monitoring contractions for 20 to 30 minutes.)
 ü
Vaginal bleeding, including light bleeding
• Your provider may also do tests to find out why
Treatment you have extra fluid. These might include:
• ü
Blood tests to check for diabetes or an
 ü
IV fluids infection
 ü
Medicine to relax your uterus and stop labor • ü
Amniocentesis (a test that checks amniotic
 ü
Medicine to speed up the development of your fluid
baby's lungs
 ü
Antibiotics
 ü
Being admitted to the hospital

Hydramnios Hydramnios and Delivery


Hydramnios may cause the mother to go into labor
early.
• It is easy for a fetus with a lot of fluid around it
to flip and turn. This means there is a greater
chance of being in a feet-down position
(breech) when it is time to deliver. Breech
babies can sometimes be moved into a head-
down position, but they often have to be
delivered by C-section.
Umbilical Cord Prolapse
Umbilical cord prolapse is a complication that occurs
prior to or during delivery of the baby.
• üIn a prolapse, the umbilical cord drops
(prolapses) through the open cervix into the
vagina ahead of the baby.
• üThe cord can then become trapped against the
baby's body during delivery.
• üUmbilical cord prolapse occurs in
approximately one in every 300 births.
• ü
The doctor can also conduct a pelvic
examination and may see the prolapsed cord,
or palpate (feel) the cord with his or her
fingers.
How is an umbilical cord prolapse managed?
• ü
Because of the risk of lack of oxygen to the
fetus, an umbilical cord prolapse must be dealt
with immediately. If the doctor finds a
prolapsed cord, he or she can move the fetus
away from the cord in order to reduce the risk
of oxygen loss.
• ü
In some cases, the baby will have to be
delivered immediately by cesarean section. If
the problem with the prolapsed cord can be
solved immediately, there may be no
permanent injury. However, the longer the
delay, the greater the chance of problems (such
as brain damage or death) for the baby.

What are the consequences of umbilical cord

prolapse?
• An umbilical cord prolapse presents a great
danger to the fetus. During the delivery, the
fetus can put stress on the cord. This can result
in a loss of oxygen to the fetus, and may even
result in a stillbirth.

What causes an umbilical cord prolapse?

The most common cause of an umbilical cord prolapse

is a premature rupture of the membranes that contain
the amniotic fluid. Other causes include:
• üPremature delivery of the baby
• üDelivering more than one baby per pregnancy
(twins, triplets, etc.)
• üExcessive amniotic fluid
• üBreech delivery (the baby comes through the
birth canal feet first)

How is an umbilical cord prolapse diagnosed?

The doctor can diagnose a prolapsed umbilical cord in

several ways.
• üDuring delivery, the doctor will use a fetal
heart monitor to measure the baby's heart
rate. If the umbilical cord has prolapsed, the
baby may have bradycardia (a heart rate of less
than 120 beats per minute).