How is premature rupture of membranes diagnosed?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on November 02, 2024
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Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of the membranes before the onset of labor, followed by the leakage of amniotic fluid. It is necessary to distinguish premature rupture of membranes from increased vaginal discharge and urinary incontinence. The methods to diagnose premature rupture of membranes include the following aspects: First, symptomatically, after the rupture of membranes, a clear liquid intermittently leaks from the vagina, accompanied by mild abdominal pain or bloody show. Second, after the rupture of membranes, the liquid leaking from the vagina can be tested with pH paper, which in most cases will change color, confirming the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes. Third, an ultrasound can be used to observe a reduction in the amount of amniotic fluid within the amniotic cavity. Fourth, the leaking fluid can be examined under a microscope to observe "fern-like" crystallization, which can also confirm the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Can you walk with premature rupture of membranes?

In general, if premature rupture of membranes has already occurred, it is normally necessary to rest, avoiding standing and walking. Premature rupture of membranes mainly refers to the situation where the water breaks before the onset of labor pains. This means that the membranes have ruptured and amniotic fluid may leak out at any time. Standing or walking can easily lead to continuous leakage of amniotic fluid, resulting in a reduction of the fluid or prolapse of the umbilical cord due to the leakage. If the prolapsed umbilical cord causes compressive symptoms, the fetus can quickly die within the uterine cavity. Therefore, after confirming premature rupture of membranes, it is necessary to rest in bed with the buttocks elevated and closely monitor specific fetal heart changes.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Premature rupture of membranes symptoms

Under normal circumstances, if there is no regular contraction and the amniotic fluid breaks after full-term, it is known as premature rupture of membranes. Regardless of the period, if premature rupture of membranes occurs, active symptomatic treatment is necessary. Normally, premature rupture of membranes may involve sudden vaginal discharge caused by various reasons. The amount of discharge can vary, usually being continuous, with the duration also varying. It starts with a large amount, then gradually decreases, with a few cases being intermittent. The vaginal discharge is usually related to changes in the pregnant woman's posture or activity. It can be seen that fluid leaks from the vaginal opening, or flows out from inside the vagina during upper fetal head push, pressing on the fundus, or when the posture of the pregnant woman changes. This condition can then be confirmed as premature rupture of membranes.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Premature rupture of membranes causes

Premature rupture of membranes is a common complication during pregnancy, which can easily lead to intrauterine infection of the fetus and preterm delivery. The main causes of premature rupture of membranes include the following aspects: First, the most common cause is an infection in the vagina, which then leads to an ascending infection, triggering chorioamnionitis. When chorioamnionitis occurs, the fragility of the membranes increases, making them prone to rupture, leading to the leakage of amniotic fluid. Second, the membranes can rupture due to a blunt impact on the abdomen, such as an accidental strong hit, which can cause the membranes to suddenly break, leading to premature rupture of membranes. Third, an excessive amount of amniotic fluid, due to various reasons, can increase the pressure inside the amniotic cavity, potentially leading to spontaneous rupture of the membranes. These are the various reasons for premature rupture of membranes.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Will premature rupture of membranes continuously cause leaking of fluid?

Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of the membranes before labor, characterized by intermittent discharge of amniotic fluid from the vagina. To diagnose premature rupture of membranes, it is necessary to combine the patient's clinical symptoms with objective examinations. However, this does not mean that amniotic fluid will continuously leak after the membranes rupture. The leakage of amniotic fluid in cases of premature rupture of membranes is intermittent, primarily because many patients choose to rest in bed after the rupture. When lying flat, the amniotic fluid will not continuously leak out and may come out in spurts at times. Therefore, the belief that amniotic fluid will continuously leak following premature rupture of membranes is incorrect; intermittent leakage can also indicate a rupture. If premature rupture of membranes cannot be diagnosed based on the vaginal discharge alone, pH test strips may be used to test the fluid. If the pH test strip changes color, it can confirm the diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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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.