Natural Ways to Support Low Amniotic Fluid

If you’ve been told your amniotic fluid looks “on the low side,” it’s natural to feel worried and to start searching for answers. While too little fluid can sometimes reflect fetal abnormalities, it is most often a benign variation—especially when picked up on a late-term ultrasound after a long, exhausting work week for the mother. As you and your care team keep an eye on things, it can be reassuring to know there are simple, holistic steps you can take to support your body and your baby that can help normalize fluid variations—without masking a true problem.

Amniotic fluid surrounds our unborn babies in the uterus prior to birth.

It serves many purposes, keeps them healthy, and also reflects their health. During my training long ago as a home birth midwife, we learned to routinely check fluid levels by tapping the belly and watching for the water ripple through the skin. It’s a simple, old-fashioned skill—and yet surprisingly effective as a general screening, as backed up by our stats and ultrasound confirmations when needed. Likewise, we found that when working with simple fluid imbalances in pregnancy, there are some basics that play significant roles.

Everyday Essentials

• Rest and hydrate
  It’s no coincidence that working moms getting a routine ultrasound late on a Friday after a full work week get a “too little water” diagnosis, but are routinely told “everything’s fine” on their Monday morning follow-up. They finally had time to put their feet up and catch up on food and fluids. Babies are on the same page as their mums, and the entire system needs sufficient hydration, nourishment, and rest to function smoothly. Especially towards the maximum stress end of pregnancy.

• Lavish use of good-quality, unrefined salt
  I often suggest generous use of Celtic (or Redmonds) salt to taste on your food, plus at least 1–2 teaspoons per day in the trimester. Amniotic fluid is salty, and so is the expanding blood volume of the mother. While I know this is often contrary to the advice from everyone to your relatives to your doc, I assure you that salt is actually needed in to maintain a healthy, stable pregnancy. Here’s my Monday Myth Buster on IG with more information on salt in pregnancy, or here on FB.

• Sufficient protein
  A solid target is about 1 gram of protein (per pound of ideal body weight) per day. Yes, you may need collagen powders or other supports to reach at least 120-140 grams/day. Do not underestimate the power of essential nutrition as you grow your baby as well as nourish yourself. In my upcoming natural pregnancy and birth course, Navigating Birth, you’ll find extensive information and support on how to have a nourished pregnancy - join the waitlist if you’d like more info on that.

These three components alone have often help normalize fluid levels in an otherwise healthy pregnancy in just a matter of hours or a few days, and are generally simple and safe approaches for most pregnancies. If a little more is needed, here’s another safe and rather amazing naturopathic remedy that I’ve also seen bring great results in my midwifery practice over the decades.

Tissue Salt #9: Natrum Mur

• Nat Mur is known for helping with fluid regulation and distribution in the body’s cells. It’s one of Schüssler’s original 12 primary tissue salts—usually listed as Cell Salt #9 Natrum muriaticum (sodium chloride) . It’s essentially a low-dose, highly dilute, homeopathic mineral combo.

• Consider Nat Mur when there is too much or too little fluid (edema/swelling) in one part of the body compared to another. Sometimes this shows up as “too dry”: dry skin, lips, or eyes, thick discharges, or constipation. Other times it looks “too wet”: watery eyes, loose stools, or edema. For example: Oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios; swollen feet but not swollen face, etc. If swelling is a concern, get all the tips on my blog; “Five Ways to Reduce Swelling in Pregnancy.”

• At potency 6X, Nat Mur is often also called a ‘cell salt.’ My clients take 2–4 pellets in a clean mouth, 2–4 times a day for about three days, pausing or reducing dosing if improvements are noticed. Some need to keep it going a bit longer, while the other pieces—rest, salt, and protein—catch up. Many report the happy side effect of reduced heartburn and acid reflux as well.

• In mild cases of polyhydramnios (too much fluid around the baby), this same naturopathic approach—rest, minerals, protein, and Nat Mur—has many times helped restore more normal fluid balance. It has nearly always been a benign issue more related to hydration and mineral balance. These holistic approaches help the system as a whole and will not hide or mask more serious issues that need treatment. Helping benign fluid issues resolve supports both mom and baby and can minimize complications that could arise from a uterus overextended by excess fluid, including wonky baby positions and uterine tone issues.

Being Proactive

It’s empowering to be able to be proactive for the well-being of your pregnant self and your baby. In addition to working with your care team to keep an eye on any big stuff, remember that rest and nourishment are often underrated in our busy world. Slowing down for some good food, catching up your rest and enjoying some relaxation with your loved one, and enjoying your unrefined salt shaker can go a long way towards helping to normalize simple symptoms. Look to Nat Mur as a possible tool in your natural health tool box if you need extra help with maintaining (and normalizing) fluid balance in the body. And congrats on coming baby!