- With Mayo Clinic obstetrician and medical editor-in-chief
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
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Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
"Nothing helps people stay healthy more than the power of real knowledge about health." — Dr. Roger Harms
As medical editor-in-chief, Dr. Roger Harms is excited about the potential for MayoClinic.com to help educate people about their health and provide them the tools and information to live healthier lives.
The Auburn, Neb., native has been with Mayo Clinic since 1981 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Harms is a consultant and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and his specialty areas include office gynecology, high-risk obstetrics and obstetrical ultrasound.
From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Harms was director for education for Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Harms was the 1988 Mayo Medical School Teacher of the Year and served as associate dean for student affairs and academic affairs before taking this leadership role. He is the co-author of the "Mayo Clinic Model of Education." In 2008, Dr. Harms was presented the Distinguished Educator Award, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Dr. Harms is vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and medical editor of the Pregnancy section on this Web site. In addition, Dr. Harms is editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book, a month-by-month guide to everything a woman needs to know about having a baby.
"My medical education experience has grown out of a love of teaching, and that is what this site is about," Dr. Harms says. "If any visitor to this site makes a more informed and thus more comfortable decision about his or her health because of the information we provide, we are successful."
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Question
Low amniotic fluid: Should I worry?
I'm 24 weeks pregnant. At my last ultrasound, my doctor said I had low amniotic fluid. Should I be worried?
Answer
from Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios) may be cause for concern. Amniotic fluid provides a cushion that protects your baby from injury and allows room for growth, movement and development. Amniotic fluid volume also reflects the baby's urine output — which is an important measure of a baby's well-being.
Amniotic fluid normally decreases in the last weeks of pregnancy. Various factors may contribute to low amniotic fluid earlier in pregnancy, including:
- Premature rupture of the amniotic sac
- Certain chronic conditions in the mother, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and lupus
- Certain medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Certain health conditions in the baby, such as a kidney or urinary tract problem, a heart or lung defect, or a genetic disorder
There are few treatments for low amniotic fluid. Drinking more water may help. In some cases, bed rest is recommended. During labor, it may be possible to infuse saline into the sac holding your amniotic fluid to cushion the umbilical cord. If the baby's heart rate drops or the umbilical cord is compressed, you may need a C-section.
Your health care provider will carefully monitor your pregnancy to help prevent complications.
Next questionRh factor in pregnancy: When is it a problem?
- Cunningham FG, et al. Disorders of amniotic fluid volume. In: Williams Obstetrics. 22nd edition. U.S.: McGraw-Hill; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=725692. Accessed April 21, 2009.
- Amniotic fluid abnormalities. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_4536.asp. Accessed April 21, 2009.
- Underwood MA. Amniotic fluid: Not just fetal urine anymore. Journal of Perinatology. 2005;25:341.
- Ross MG, et al. National institute of child health and development conference summary: Amniotic fluid biology — basic and clinical aspects. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. 2001;10:2.
- Feldman I, et al. Is oligohydramnios more common during the summer season? Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2009;280:1.
- Beloosesky R, et al. Oligohydramnios. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 12, 2009.
- Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2007:1.
