What should I do if my amniotic fluid is too small?

  Amniotic fluid is the environment for fetal growth and development. The amount of normal amniotic fluid varies with the period of gestation; in late gestation, the amount of amniotic fluid is about 700 to 800 ml, and if it is less than 300 ml, it is called hypohydramnios. Fetal urinary tract anomalies such as congenital renal agenesis or hypoplasia and urinary tract stenosis are its most common causes, and others such as placental malfunction and amniotic membrane lesions can also lead to low amniotic fluid.  Low amniotic fluid directly affects the fetal growth environment, causing intrauterine distress, malformation rate and perinatal mortality to increase significantly. In addition, hypoamniotic fluid may also lead to fetal lung failure. Therefore, once the low amniotic fluid is identified by ultrasound, appropriate measures should be taken promptly. If the fetus is diagnosed to have severe malformation, it is recommended to induce labor and terminate the pregnancy. If the fetus is not found to have obvious abnormalities, fetal monitoring should be strengthened. In contrast, supplemental amniotic fluid through amniotic cavity infusion can extend the gestational week and improve the survival rate of the perinatal baby, which is currently a more effective treatment for the disease.   Intra-amniotic infusion, also known as intra-amniotic infusion therapy, is an ultrasound-guided injection of an appropriate amount of saline into the amniotic cavity via a special puncture needle to improve the condition of low amniotic fluid, which can improve the effect of low amniotic fluid on the fetus in a short period of time and maintain the normal developmental environment of the fetus. However, a thorough evaluation of the mother and child needs to be performed in hospital before this treatment is performed, and the treatment should be administered under close monitoring to prevent adverse reactions such as allergic reactions, bleeding tendencies, preterm labor, miscarriage, and infection.