Is premature rupture of membranes serious?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on May 22, 2025
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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 Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 6sec home-news-image

Premature rupture of membranes how is it shown on ultrasound?

Ultrasound is a commonly used auxiliary method for diagnosing premature rupture of membranes. After the membranes rupture prematurely, amniotic fluid intermittently leaks out from the uterine cavity, but the production of amniotic fluid often cannot keep up with the leakage. Therefore, the majority of pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes will experience a reduction in amniotic fluid volume. Ultrasound will reveal that there is still a small amount of amniotic fluid in the amniotic cavity, but the volume is much lower than the normal range; the maximum depth of the amniotic fluid should be less than three centimeters, and the amniotic fluid index should be less than eight centimeters, which is a common occurrence. However, sometimes, if not much amniotic fluid leaks out after premature rupture of membranes, the ultrasound may sometimes show that the amniotic fluid volume is normal. In such cases, it is necessary to combine this finding with the patient's clinical symptoms to jointly determine the presence of premature rupture of membranes.

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Written by Su Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Premature rupture of membranes complications

The complications of premature rupture of membranes mainly include two aspects. The first is the impact on adults, that is, on the mother. It can lead to chorioamnionitis, causing severe infection, sepsis, and an increased chance of cesarean delivery. The second is the impact on the fetus. If premature rupture of membranes occurs, it may lead to fetal distress in utero, fetal death in utero, and neonatal infection. For instance, pneumonia caused by inhalation, neonatal asphyxia, and severe cases leading to death, etc. Once the symptoms of premature rupture of membranes are detected, it is necessary to be hospitalized as soon as possible to take the necessary treatment measures.

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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
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How to prevent premature rupture of membranes

Premature rupture of membranes is a common complication during pregnancy. Although it is not very severe, it can easily lead to premature delivery and intrauterine infection. If the premature rupture of membranes is not treated promptly, it can also lead to fetal death in utero or cause severe infection in the mother. Prevention is generally emphasized for premature rupture of membranes. First, it is important to prevent vaginal inflammation, as if vaginal inflammation occurs and is not treated promptly, these inflammations can cause infection of the membranes, which then leads to membrane rupture. Second, it is necessary to control uterine contractions. If the intensity of the contractions is very strong, medication should be used early to suppress the contractions, to minimize the exogenous pressure on the membranes. Third, attention should be paid to controlling the amount of amniotic fluid. If there is an excessive amount of amniotic fluid, it is important to carefully look for the causes and intervene. Excessive amniotic fluid can produce high endogenous pressure on the membranes, which also makes them more likely to rupture prematurely. (Please consult a professional physician for medication guidance and do not medicate blindly.)

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Premature rupture of membranes symptoms

Premature rupture of membranes, as the name implies, refers to the clinical symptoms caused by the rupture of the amniotic sac before labor. These symptoms include the following aspects. First, there will be a leakage of amniotic fluid from the vagina, manifesting as wet pants or a wet bedsheet, which is a primary indication of premature rupture of membranes. Second, when the membranes rupture prematurely, there is often a small amount of bloody show. This is mainly because there are small capillaries on the membranes that also bleed when the membranes rupture, causing blood to mix with the amniotic fluid. Third, premature rupture of membranes often is accompanied by significant contractions, as the increase in pressure within the amniotic cavity during contractions can cause the membranes to rupture. When these situations occur, it is important to promptly go to the hospital to undergo an ultrasound and gynecological examination to confirm whether there is a premature rupture of membranes.