Premature rupture of membranes requires what examinations?

Written by Yue Hua

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Updated on September 07, 2024

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To diagnose premature rupture of membranes, first, a pH test of the vaginal fluid must be conducted. The normal pH value of vaginal fluid in women ranges from 4.5 to 5.5, whereas the pH of amniotic fluid ranges from 7.0 to 7.5. If the membranes have ruptured prematurely, the pH value would be greater than 6.5. Additionally, a smear test of the vaginal fluid can be done by placing vaginal secretions under a glass slide and examining them under a microscope. If fern-like crystals are observed, this indicates the presence of amniotic fluid. Furthermore, an ultrasound examination can be conducted. If the ultrasound shows a rapid decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid, this can assist in the diagnosis.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

1min 2sec

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Is premature rupture of membranes prone to infection?

After premature rupture of membranes, various aspects of impact on both the mother and the fetus can occur, but the most important is the risk of infection. After the rupture of membranes, since the amniotic cavity is connected to the vagina through the cervix, the bacteria present in the vagina can potentially enter the amniotic cavity through the cervix and cause an infection inside the amniotic cavity. Therefore, after the rupture of membranes, the most crucial action is to prevent infection, primarily using antibiotics for treatment and closely monitoring indicators of infection. Monitoring for infection after premature rupture of membranes can be done in the following ways: first, pay attention to the characteristics of the amniotic fluid, which often has an odor in case of infection; second, monitor infection indicators, including white blood cells and C-reactive protein; third, observe if the pregnant woman exhibits any symptoms of fever.

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Written by Zhao Li Li

Obstetrics

56sec

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Can I have a bowel movement if my membranes rupture early?

According to the current situation, if premature rupture of membranes has occurred, it is first necessary to clarify whether the amount of vaginal discharge is within the normal range. If a large amount of amniotic fluid flows out of the vagina after activity, try to minimize movement as much as possible. Generally, it is necessary to adopt a left lateral recumbent position with the buttocks elevated, to reduce the outflow of amniotic fluid. It is also necessary to timely use antibiotics to control infection, assess the current progress of labor and the condition of the fetus, and decide on the specific mode of delivery. Normally, bowel movements can be performed, but try to minimize the number of times getting out of bed to avoid the continuous outflow of amniotic fluid or the occurrence of umbilical cord prolapse.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

1min 3sec

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Can an ultrasound detect premature rupture of membranes?

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) refers to the rupture of amniotic fluid before labor. The most common diagnostic method for PROM is based on the clinical symptoms of the patient, mainly intermittent vaginal discharge. PROM can be confirmed using pH test strips specific for this condition. Ultrasound can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic method for PROM because most pregnant women with PROM will show a decreased amount of amniotic fluid during an ultrasound. However, the specificity of using ultrasound to determine PROM is not strong. Although the membranes may rupture, amniotic fluid can still be continuously produced, so some pregnant women may still have a normal amount of amniotic fluid during an ultrasound. Therefore, in most cases of PROM, a reduction in amniotic fluid can be observed through ultrasound, but there are cases where the amniotic fluid level appears normal. In such instances, it's essential to analyze the patient's clinical symptoms.

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Written by Zhang Lu

Obstetrics

1min 8sec

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Is premature rupture of membranes serious?

Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of the amniotic sac before labor begins. The severity of premature rupture of membranes primarily depends on the gestational week when the rupture occurs, as well as whether there are complications such as intrauterine infection or fetal distress. First, for term premature rupture of membranes, which occurs after 37 weeks, the fetus is relatively mature and larger in size; therefore, this condition is not considered severe, and prompt delivery is usually sufficient. Second, for preterm premature rupture of membranes, since the maturity of the fetus is not high and the size is relatively small, there is a higher risk of preterm birth which makes this situation more risky. Third, premature rupture of membranes can easily lead to fetal intrauterine hypoxia or intrauterine infection. If these two conditions occur, it indicates a more serious situation, and pregnancy should be terminated promptly to prevent further deterioration of the condition.

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Written by Zhao Li Li

Obstetrics

57sec

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Is the risk of infection high with premature rupture of membranes?

In general, after premature rupture of membranes, there is still a significant risk of intrauterine infection. Normally, after premature rupture of membranes, it is necessary to clearly determine whether the development size of the embryo inside the uterine cavity is mature, as well as the specific amount of premature rupture of membranes and vaginal discharge. If the rupture of membranes is severe and there is a large amount of amniotic fluid flowing out of the vagina, it generally may lead to a reduction in amniotic fluid and significantly increase the risk of infection. After confirming premature rupture of membranes, it is necessary to actively use antibiotics for symptomatic treatment to prevent infections, promote fetal lung maturity inside the uterine cavity, and reduce the risk of delayed lung function development in the fetus after childbirth.