Replacing amniotic fluid to raise HR

chadash · Jan 21, 2006

I have a question and may not word it exactly great, but forgive me in advance. I read something the other day where a woman was in labor and after her water was broken, the baby's HR started to drop. She said "they pumped her full of fluid" to replace the lost amniotic fluid and this brought the baby's HR back up.
Can someone give me info on how accurate this is and a better/further explanation. Just curious.

wow! you mean they actually pumped it into the uterus, or gave her more by IV? Now, your question does not seem so dumb afterall, does it?:)

jarrn03 · Jan 21, 2006

What they were doing is called amnioinfusion. This is done for different reasons. One is when the amniotic sac has broke and water has came out, the cord loses some cushion. If the baby is laying on the cord or it is being compressed in anyway it will cause the heart rate to go down with each contraction. So we replace the amniotic fluid with normal saline to provide a cushion. We also use it to dilute amnioitic fluid when there is meconium present. Does that make sense? It is very useful! It's done very easy through an intrauterine pressure catheder. It's threaded through the lady parts into the uterus.

Julie RN

JentheRN05, RN · Jan 21, 2006

Very good Jarrn that's exactly what I would've said :)

kbclary4 · Jan 21, 2006

Thanks for the explanation. That does make sense. I just didn't have enough info from what I read to reason it out for myself.

ToucanRN · Jan 21, 2006

why would this be an option while the woman is labouring. if there is fetal compromise would it not be quicker to carry out a csection that would take minutes.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 22, 2006

It would depend on the CAUSE of the compromise. In some cases, amnio-infusion IS indicated for certain troublesome FHT readings. You have to have the whole picture---it's not always best to rush to section in all cases. In cases of oligiohydramnios or mec staining amnio-infusion can be beneficial. The latest literature, however, indicates amnio-infusion may not reduce the chances of complications of meconium aspiration syndrome in newborns. Lots more study is needed to be sure, and I am sure it will be forthcoming.

NurseNora, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2006

Although it would be quicker to do a C/S, it may not be necessary. The amnioinfusion can cushion the cord enough that the fetal heart rate changes diminish or go away entirely and the woman can deliver lady partslly. Avoiding a C/S and delivering a healthy baby is a good thing.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 26, 2006

True, Nora. Amnioinfusion can be used to treat severe variable decelerations to cushion the cord, as well. We do this, and it does work often.