The Maternal Body Fluids and Amniotic Fluid in Near Term Pregnancies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between amniotic fluid volume and mainly volume of maternal body fluid compartments and secondly maternal obesity in near term pregnancies.

STUDY DESIGN: A case control study was conducted involving 211 women with near term singleton pregnancies who attended Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine between 2007 and 2009. Patients in Group 1(n=119), included near term pregnancies with normal amniotic fluid index (AFI) and Group 2 included near term pregnancies complicated with idiopathic oligohydramnios (n=92). Oligohydramnios was diagnosed when AFI was measured <8 cm. For determining maternal body fluid status we used valid formulas (defined in methods). Maternal body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy and volume of maternal body fluid compartments including total body water, intracellular fluid volume, extracellular fluid volume, interstitial fluid volume, plasma volume and plasma osmolality were compared between two groups.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of maternal BMI, weight in partum, weight gain during pregnancy, volume of maternal body fluid compartments, plasma osmolality (p>0.05). Besides, there was no significant correlation with these parameters and AFI (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Our data favor that maternal BMI, volume of maternal body fluid compartments and plasma osmolality do not have any effect on amniotic fluid volume in near term pregnancies.