Introduction: With the advancement of technology, plethora of tests, techniques have evolved to assess fetal well-being, but there is no single indicator which gives complete picture with certainty. Among all amniotic fluid is a key indicator, which is substantiated in this article. Method: The study was carried out on two hundred women who attended the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Victoria Hospital, Visakhapatnam from March 2002 to March 2004. It is comparitive prospective study comparing 100 cases of oligohydramnios (Amniotic Fluid Index <5 cm) as study group with 100 cases of Normal (Amniotic Fluid Index >5 cm) as control group. Result: As gestational age increases beyond 40 weeks, amniotic fluid index decreases in the study group (32%) when compared to control group (8%). Incidence of oligohydramnios in high risk pregnancies is statistically higher when compared to control group as p< 0.05. Incidence of induction rate is statistically higher in the study group (43%). Discussion: In the oligohydramnios group, mean AFI was 3.75 cm with range 2.1 – 4.85 cm where as in the control group mean AFI was 12.85 cm with range 7.5 – 18.5 cm. The age groups are comparable. In the present study there is no statistical difference in parity between study and control groups. High risk pregnancy associated with oligohydrominos. As gestational age increases beyond 40 weeks, amniotic fluid index decreases.Patients with complications (like Pregnancy Induced Hypertension, Intra Uterine Growth Retardation and Post dates) were found to have oligohydramnios and there by increasing incidence of fetal distress and intervention for fetal distress. Conclusion: Of the various semiquantitaive methods described, the four quadrant technique or amniotic fluid index provides a most convenient and reproducible method of evaluating amniotic fluid volume. As gestational age increases amniotic fluid decreases so we should do timely intervention and induction of labour.

Keywords: Ultrasonography; Oligohydrominos; Hydrominos; FetoPlacental Circulation; Amniotic Fluid Volume; Primi-Para.