Amniotic fluid and maternal plasma volumes were estimated in high-risk obstetric patients suspected of being hypovolemic. Excluding cases of intrinsic maternal or fetal disease, there were good (P less than 0.001) correlations between maternal plasma volume expansion and amniotic fluid volume. In the presence of oligohydramnios, there is usually maternal hypovolemia, and vice versa. Oligohydramnios may often be corrected by vigorous maternal plasma volume expansion, which is sometimes indicated in the treatment of cases of fetal distress. It is presumed that only when maternal plasma volume expansion is normal, is uterine perfusion sufficient to provide amniotic fluid formation in normal amounts. The varying amounts of amniotic fluid seen in normal pregnancies at term probably reflect the varying fetal activities of swallowing and voiding.