Amniotic fluid above the normal range for gestational age is called?

• A. Polyhydramnios
• B. Oligohydramnios
• C. Hydramnios
• D. Amniotic fluid excess

Answer: (A)

Excess amniotic fluid is called polyhydramnios. It means the volume of amniotic fluid is higher than normal for the gestational age. This occurs when fetal urine production outpaces swallowing or when swallowing is reduced, often due to conditions like maternal diabetes, fetal anemia, or fetal/GI or neural tube anomalies that impair swallowing, and even in twin pregnancies with abnormal transfusion. In ultrasound practice, we assess with the amniotic fluid index or deepest pocket; polyhydramnios is typically defined as an AFI greater than about 24 cm or a deepest pocket over roughly 8 cm. Hydramnios is an older term sometimes used interchangeably, while oligohydramnios means too little fluid.