Word parts
What it means
A shortage of the fluid in the amniotic sac, found on ultrasound. Causes include leaking membranes, a placenta that is not working well, pregnancy past the due date, and fetal kidney or urinary tract problems (the fluid is mostly fetal urine later in pregnancy). Too little fluid can let the umbilical cord be squeezed and can keep the baby's lungs and limbs from developing normally. The opposite is polyhydramniospol-ee-hy-DRAM-nee-osToo much amniotic fluid around the baby during pregnancy.poly- much, manyhydr/o wateramnios the sac around the fetusFull entry .
For the nurse
Watch the fetal heart rate tracing for changes that suggest cord compression, and teach the client to report leaking fluid and to count fetal movements as directed.
Related terms
hydr/o
A word part that means water or fluid.
amniotic fluid
The fluid inside the amniotic sac that surrounds and protects the baby during pregnancy.
polyhydramnios
Too much amniotic fluid around the baby during pregnancy.