Your health care provider uses ultrasound to measure the amount of amniotic fluid. How do you know if you have oligohydramnios?Īmniotic fluid levels are checked regularly during pregnancy. In general, the earlier it happens during pregnancy, the higher the risk to the baby. This is because the amount of amniotic fluid usually decreases by that time. The risk of having oligohydramnios increases for people who are at least 2 weeks past their due dates. Oligohydramnios can happen at any time during pregnancy, but it’s most common in the last trimester (last 3 months). This can cause breathing problems at delivery. If the amniotic fluid is too low during this time, your baby may not make enough lung tissue. Your baby’s lungs grow a lot in the middle of the second trimester (16 to 24 weeks). The fluid pushes the air sacs in the lungs open and helps them grow. The baby also “breathes” the fluid into their lungs. Your baby swallows the fluid and passes it out as urine (pee). The fluid is made by your baby’s lungs and kidneys. It’s very important for your baby’s development. Amniotic fluid also helps your baby’s lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract grow. This helps protect your baby and allows them to move and kick during development. Your baby stays in this fluid throughout your pregnancy. This watery fluid is inside the amniotic sac (membrane). Amniotic fluid is the fluid that surrounds your baby while they’re in your body before birth. Oligohydramnios is when you have too little amniotic fluid.

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