Expert: Lawrence Jay Rappaport <B>M.D.</B> - 10/13/2005
Question I am 24, have two kids and one due on October 30. For the last two weeks I have had to have an ultrasound due to a reduced amount of fluid. This week the number went up a little bit, the nurse said that at next weeks ultrasound if there is still reduced fluid they will possibly induce. Why could they induce next week and not this week? If the reduction in fluid is a cause to induce next week why would that be different this week?
Answer You are now 37 weeks 4 days pragnant. If you have a low amniotic fluid index, it is dangerous for the baby to stay in such an environment and it should be delivered. However, until you reached 36+ weeks, the baby's lungs were not mature enough to be able to survive in the outside world. We usually wait until you are , at least, 36+ weeks gestation before we induce so that we are sure that the lungs will be mature. The amniotic fluid index should be over 5. If it is less than 5, the baby should come out. The closer to term that the baby gets, the more mature its lungs will be.
