I have had great success helping women deliver full term using aloe vera. I know aloe vera has been used as a laxative, but it is also very useful, in capsule form, for ridding the body of excess fluid. The mother will not lose more amniotic fluid than necessary. (She will not experience a dry birth. And, yes, there is such a thing. I have seen it only once, though.)
During my fourth pregnancy I experienced polyhydramnios. Twins were suspected when I was at 20 weeks. My fundal height had increased 10 cm in 4 weeks. An ultrasound revealed a single baby. No one ever told me what polyhydramnios was, or that I had it. It was quite uncomfortable. Although it was my shortest birth--5 hours from start to finish (my usual time is about 20 hours)--he was not my largest baby--9 lbs.6 oz. compared to my third baby, a 10-pounder.
I knew I had polyhydramnios because when my membranes were ruptured, lots and lots of amniotic fluid poured out, and after my baby was born there was still copious amounts of amniotic fluid. It squirted out, literally soaking my midwife and my husband. Although I'm grateful for the quick and relatively easy birth I had, I wish my CNM had explained what polyhydramnios was and offered some relief.
-Alison
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 1 Issue 36, Sep 3, 1999)
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