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Polyhydramnios
Polyhydramnios

Polyhydramnios
Definition:
The presence of excessive amniotic fluid surrounding the unborn infant.

Considerations:

Amniotic fluid surrounds and cushions the infant throughout development. Decreased or excessive amounts of amniotic fluid may be associated with abnormalities in the fetus.

Polyhydramnios occurs when the fetus fails, for any number of reasons, to swallow and absorb amniotic fluid in normal amounts. This may occur as a result of gastrointestinal obstruction, neurological problems, or a variety of other causes.

Common Causes:
What to expect at your health care provider's office:

This condition is usually discovered during pregnancy, and evaluated prior to delivery; if a fetal abnormality is discovered, the baby will be delivered in a hospital with specialists who can provide immediate evaluation and treatment.

Documenting polyhydramnios may include:

  • history of this pregnancy
  • history of past pregnancies and health of the children delivered
  • other family history
  • ultrasound scans of the fetus

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider as the cause of polyhydramnios, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.

Review Date: 2/5/2002
Reviewed By: Peter Chen, M.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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