The significance of polyhydramnios diagnosed during labour or at caesarean section.

In the 38 cases of polyhydramnios reported here the diagnosis was made only at the time of artificial rupture of the membranes to induce or augment labour, or at Caesarean section. Usually this was a benign finding often associated with overweight in the mother (60%) or baby (39.4%). However there was an increased incidence of major congenital abnormality (13.1%) resulting in a high perinatal mortality rate (10.5%); the paediatrician should therefore be alerted prior to delivery of these patients.