How to prevent premature rupture of membranes

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on June 17, 2025
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Premature rupture of membranes is a common condition during pregnancy, which can easily lead to premature birth and intrauterine infection of the fetus. Prevention should be the primary focus for premature rupture of membranes. Firstly, the most common cause of premature rupture of membranes is infection. For instance, conditions like vaginitis or cervicitis can lead to chorioamnionitis, which in turn can cause the membranes to rupture spontaneously, resulting in the leakage of amniotic fluid. Secondly, excessive pressure within the amniotic cavity can also cause membrane rupture, such as in the case of excessive amniotic fluid. Therefore, during pregnancy, it is important to manage inflammation and control the amount of amniotic fluid. This can help lower the risk of premature rupture of membranes and prevent premature birth and intrauterine infection.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 5sec home-news-image

Can premature rupture of membranes be detected?

Premature rupture of membranes, also known as water breaking or membrane rupture, refers to the rupture of the membranes before the onset of labor, causing amniotic fluid to intermittently flow out from the uterine cavity. This can pose certain risks, including umbilical cord prolapse, placental abruption, intrauterine infection, and fetal hypoxia. The diagnostic methods for premature rupture of membranes include the following: First, through clinical symptoms, if a large amount of fluid is found flowing out from the vagina, it can generally be determined as premature rupture of membranes. Second, if the amount of vaginal discharge is relatively small, in this case, pH test strips can be used for detection. When the pH test strips change color, it can be determined as water breaking. Third, ultrasound can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic method, as a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid due to premature rupture of membranes can be detected through ultrasound.

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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 Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Premature rupture of membranes' impact on the fetus

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) refers to the rupture of the amniotic sac before the onset of labor, primarily affecting the fetus in the following ways. First, PROM can easily lead to premature birth, which may cause immature development of the fetus, often requiring treatment in neonatology. Second, PROM can lead to infections within the uterine cavity, subsequently causing newborn infections that can lead to neonatal death. Third, during the treatment of PROM, complications such as placental abruption or umbilical cord prolapse may occur, which can easily cause intrauterine hypoxia or death of the fetus. For PROM, it is essential to undergo proper treatment and monitoring. If any abnormalities arise, it is crucial to terminate the pregnancy promptly.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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What to do if the amniotic sac breaks early?

Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of the membranes before labor begins. The management of premature rupture of membranes depends on the timing of the rupture and the condition of the fetus in the uterine cavity. First, for premature rupture of membranes after 34 weeks of pregnancy, since the gestational age is relatively advanced, the fetus is larger and more mature. In this case, the risks associated with continuing the pregnancy are higher. For premature rupture of membranes after 34 weeks, it is generally advised to allow natural progression or to deliver as soon as possible, and it is not recommended to attempt to prolong the pregnancy. Second, for premature rupture of membranes before 28 weeks of pregnancy, since the fetus is very small and the success rate of prolonging the pregnancy is relatively low under these circumstances, it is generally advised to terminate the pregnancy. Third, for premature rupture of membranes between 28 and 34 weeks, an attempt can be made to prolong the pregnancy as much as possible. However, if fetal hypoxia or infection occurs, the pregnancy should be terminated promptly.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
56sec home-news-image

How to prevent premature rupture of membranes

Premature rupture of membranes is a common condition during pregnancy, which can easily lead to premature birth and intrauterine infection of the fetus. Prevention should be the primary focus for premature rupture of membranes. Firstly, the most common cause of premature rupture of membranes is infection. For instance, conditions like vaginitis or cervicitis can lead to chorioamnionitis, which in turn can cause the membranes to rupture spontaneously, resulting in the leakage of amniotic fluid. Secondly, excessive pressure within the amniotic cavity can also cause membrane rupture, such as in the case of excessive amniotic fluid. Therefore, during pregnancy, it is important to manage inflammation and control the amount of amniotic fluid. This can help lower the risk of premature rupture of membranes and prevent premature birth and intrauterine infection.