Is borderline oligohydramnios a problem at term pregnancy? a prospective study of a tertiary hospital

Abstract

Aims: The objective of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis and ascertain the perinatal and early postnatal outcomes in term pregnant women who have a borderline amniotic fluid index (AFI) in comparison to those with a normal AFI. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 376 pregnant women of 37-42 weeks gestational age. Ultrasound evaluation was performed, and the AFI was calculated. Borderline and normal AFI were defined as 5.1 < AFI < 8 cm and 8.1 < AFI < 24 cm, respectively. Age, body mass index, gestational age at delivery, gravida, and parity were compared between the borderline and normal AFI groups, patient demographics, obstetric data, and information on delivery complications data were recorded. Newly born babies received a thorough physical evaluation and were followed up for two months by a neonatologist. Umbilical artery pH, birth weight, admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), neonatal complications were also reported. Results: There were 202 patients in the borderline AFI group and 174 patients in the normal AFI group. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of normal delivery, operative vaginal delivery, elective cesarean delivery, or emergency cesarean delivery (p=0.088). Apgar score at 5 minutes, umbilical artery pH value, birth weight, admission to the NICU, small for gestational age, and cesarean delivery for non-reassuring fetal heart rate testing were not statistically different between the groups (p=0.139, p=0.644, p=0.790, p=0.317, and p=0.16, respectively) Conclusion: Our study indicates that borderline oligohydramnios does not have an adverse effect on perinatal or early postnatal outcomes in term pregnancy.