RELATION BETWEEN OLIGOHYDRAMNIOS AND FETOMATERNAL OUTCOMES IN 3RD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY

Abstract

Background: Oligohydramnios is a critical obstetric disorder, which is afflicted with decreased amniotic fluid volume, which is known to increase the risk of poor maternal and infant outcomes, especially during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between oligohydramnios and fetomaternal outcomes in the third trimester and to compare these outcomes with pregnancies having normal amniotic fluid index.

Methods: This descriptive case series study was carried out at Al-Aleem Medical College, Lahore, Gulab Devi Hospital in a period of five months from 1st December, 2025 to 30th April, 2026 and involved 200 pregnant women who were sampled using non-probability consecutive sampling. The study subjects were classified into oligohydramnios (AFI <5 cm) and normal AFI (≥5 cm). The data collected was analysed using SPSS version 26 and chi-square and independent t-tests were used where necessary to analyze data on maternal characteristics, labour outcomes and fetal outcomes.

Results: Women with oligohydramnios had significantly higher rates of induction of labour (62% vs 34%), cesarean section (66% vs 32%), fetal distress (36% vs 14%), and intrauterine growth restriction (29% vs 11%). Fetal outcomes were also significantly worse, including low birth weight (57% vs 22%), low Apgar score (39% vs 13%), NICU admission (44% vs 16%), and neonatal mortality (9% vs 2%) (p≤0.05).

Conclusion: Oligohydramnios is closely linked with unfavorable fetomaternal outcomes and is a high-risk situation that needs to be diagnosed early, monitored precisely, and an obstetric intervention taken to prevent adverse outcomes.