Actress Kang Eun-bi revealed her unfortunate situation as a high-risk pregnant woman hospitalized.
Kang Eun-bi recently posted on her social media, "I am currently hospitalized as a high-risk pregnant woman on the last day of 2025, the first day of 2026, and at this very moment," along with a photo. In the released photo, Kang Eun-bi appears emaciated, wearing a hospital gown.
Kang Eun-bi, who announced her pregnancy last September, stated, "I was hospitalized at 20 weeks and 2 days due to premature rupture of membranes," and shared, "I was diagnosed with zero amniotic fluid at 20 weeks and 4 days." She mentioned, "There were talks of pregnancy termination, but I couldn't easily give up on (the baby)" and added, "I have been looking into what I can do and if there are ways to regenerate amniotic fluid day by day."
Kang Eun-bi expressed, "I heard that there might not be a hospital willing to take me, and I am in despair, tears, and indescribable pain," and revealed, "Some may say I am foolish, but all I see now is our baby enduring inside me."
Meanwhile, Kang Eun-bi got married last April after 17 years of dating. Her husband is an alumnus of Seoul Institute of the Arts, where dating rumors surfaced in 2008.
Amniotic Fluid: A Measure of Fetal Health
Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds the fetus in the uterus. The fetus grows surrounded by a thin membrane called the amniotic sac, which contains clear amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid acts as a cushion, protecting the fetus from damage and stabilizing its body temperature. The composition of amniotic fluid is similar to maternal plasma, and as the fetus grows, phospholipids, fetal cellular components, lanugo, urine, and other substances are included in the amniotic fluid.
Amniotic fluid is also essential for the development of the fetus's lungs. The immature fetus's lungs appear like thin plastic. When the fetus swallows and inhales amniotic fluid, it stimulates lung tissue, leading to maturation, volume growth, and respiratory movements.
Amniotic fluid can be used as a measure of fetal health. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze amniotic fluid during pregnancy to check for chromosomal abnormalities and bacterial infections. This is especially important for older pregnancies or if there has been a previous experience of giving birth to a baby with chromosomal abnormalities.
Maintaining Appropriate Amniotic Fluid Levels
As seen in Kang Eun-bi's case, the amount of amniotic fluid is also important. The volume of amniotic fluid varies depending on the gestational age and individual differences. Typically, at 8 weeks of pregnancy, it is less than 10ml, while in the mid-pregnancy, it is around 630ml, and it can increase to nearly 2000ml between 30 to 38 weeks.
It is crucial to maintain an appropriate amount of amniotic fluid. Too much or too little can adversely affect both the mother and the fetus. If there is too little amniotic fluid, fetal development may be slow, and it can cause problems with kidney function. In late pregnancy, insufficient amniotic fluid can hinder the force needed to open the uterus for delivery. Conversely, if there is too much amniotic fluid (over 2000ml), it can impair the fetus's ability to swallow and digest, and there is a risk of preterm birth.
To maintain appropriate amniotic fluid levels, it is advised to avoid weight loss during pregnancy and consume natural foods as much as possible. It is recommended to eat healthy and good foods, but it is also okay to indulge in cravings occasionally when under stress.
Gaining excessive weight is also not desirable. An increase of 7 to 18kg compared to pre-pregnancy weight is considered appropriate. If weight gain is excessive, the risks of gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension increase. Gestational diabetes increases amniotic fluid levels, while pregnancy-induced hypertension decreases them.
