The harms of premature rupture of membranes infection

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on February 11, 2025
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After premature rupture of membranes, because the amniotic cavity is open, some pathogens can cause intrauterine infections through ascending infections. If an infection occurs after premature rupture of the membranes, the harm caused mainly affects the mother and fetus, divided into the following two aspects: First, the impact on the fetus is that it is easy for the fetus itself to become infected, which can lead to congenital neonatal infections after birth, and in severe cases, it may cause fetal death. Second, it can cause maternal infection. If the infection is only limited to the amniotic cavity, sometimes the impact on the mother is not significant. However, if the infection spreads locally, such as into the pelvic cavity, or spreads through the bloodstream, it can cause a systemic inflammatory response, sometimes causing high fever, and in severe cases, it can lead to septic shock.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 12sec home-news-image

Can premature rupture of membranes heal?

Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of the membranes before labor, causing the leakage of amniotic fluid. In clinical practice, once premature rupture of membranes is confirmed, it is impossible for the membranes to heal again, as currently, there are no methods available to repair or suture the membranes. The treatment for premature rupture of membranes mainly involves preserving the pregnancy, suppressing contractions, and anti-infection therapy, without any expectation of curing the condition by healing the ruptured membranes. Once ruptured, the membranes cannot be healed again. Some patients, after experiencing premature rupture of membranes, may suddenly find that they are no longer leaking amniotic fluid and believe that it has healed. This scenario could be possible for several reasons: the first is that premature rupture of membranes may have not occurred in the first place, and the previous vaginal discharge could have been vaginal secretions; the second is that the amniotic fluid volume might be very low, with little amniotic fluid leaking out, which is a dangerous situation that requires prompt termination of the pregnancy.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Can you have a bowel movement if the membranes rupture early?

Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of the amniotic sac before the onset of labor. After the premature rupture of membranes, amniotic fluid continuously leaks out, and there is a possibility of complications such as umbilical cord prolapse, placental abruption, and fetal intrauterine hypoxia. After the premature rupture of membranes, whether it is immediate delivery or treatment to prolong the pregnancy, the patient generally must not engage in out-of-bed activities. It is necessary for women with premature rupture of membranes to rest in bed, and one of the most important requirements is to manage urination and defecation while in bed. Although using a bedpan is uncomfortable and many women find it hard to adapt, it is unavoidable. This is because standing after the rupture of membranes can lead to excessive loss of amniotic fluid and increase the risk of umbilical cord prolapse and placental abruption; therefore, it is necessary to use a bedpan for bowel movements while remaining in bed.

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Written by Liu Wen Li
Obstetrics
1min 4sec home-news-image

Does premature rupture of membranes require induction of labor?

The management of premature rupture of membranes varies depending on the gestational age. If the rupture occurs very early in pregnancy, the doctor will assess the maturity of the fetus. If it seems that the child still has a long way to mature, or it is difficult to conservatively maintain the pregnancy until maturity, induction of labor may be recommended. If the doctor feels that the fetus is mature enough, then induction of labor may be considered, which involves the administration of drugs to induce labor. If it is between these two scenarios, expectant management may be advised, which involves not inducing labor, along with infection prevention, bed rest, etc. Since infection can occur after a long duration of membrane rupture, it is important to closely monitor infection indicators during this period. If an infection is detected, labor may be induced using drugs to expedite delivery.

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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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How is premature rupture of membranes diagnosed?

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.