Can premature rupture of membranes be detected?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on April 21, 2025
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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 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.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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Premature rupture of membranes causes

The causes of premature rupture of membranes, or premature rupture of membranes, occur before labor when the membranes break. Normally, the membranes should rupture during labor when the cervix is fully dilated. Any rupture before this is called premature rupture of membranes. The main causes of premature rupture of membranes are maternal infections or cephalopelvic disproportion. Infections can cause the membranes to become fragile and thin, and movements afterwards may lead to premature rupture. Another scenario is cephalopelvic disproportion, where the fetus is relatively large and the pelvis is small, leading to changes in amniotic fluid pressure, which can also result in premature rupture of membranes.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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Will the fetus still move if the membranes rupture prematurely?

Firstly, it is necessary to identify what the issue of premature rupture of membranes is. Premature rupture of membranes can occur during early pregnancy or the mid-to-late pregnancy stage and involves uncontrollable leakage of fluid from the vagina. If there is no umbilical cord prolapse after the rupture of membranes, the baby will definitely move. The most common issues following premature rupture of membranes are umbilical cord prolapse and infection, as well as a reduction in amniotic fluid. What should be done after premature rupture of membranes occurs? It is essential to remain in bed, raise the buttocks, and avoid getting out of bed. Getting out of bed increases the risk of umbilical cord prolapse, and following umbilical cord prolapse, fetal death in utero can occur, after which fetal movement will no longer be observed.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Will there still be fetal movement if the membranes rupture early?

When premature rupture of membranes occurs, amniotic fluid will leak intermittently, which can cause some pregnant women to worry about fetal hypoxia or even lack of fetal movement inside the womb. However, this concern is misguided. Although the amniotic fluid may leak intermittently when membranes rupture prematurely, new amniotic fluid is continuously produced to replenish it. Thus, the fetus will still be active within the uterus and fetal movements can still be felt. However, after premature rupture of membranes, it is crucial to monitor whether the frequency of fetal movements is normal. This is because the chances of fetal hypoxia or intrauterine infection can increase after membrane rupture, and monitoring fetal movements is one of the simplest and most effective ways to assess the fetal condition in the uterus. If a decrease in fetal movements is observed, it is imperative to promptly carry out fetal heart monitoring or assess the overall condition of the pregnant woman. If fetal hypoxia is confirmed, it may be necessary to terminate the pregnancy swiftly.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Symptoms of premature rupture of membranes infection

Premature rupture of membranes refers to the breaking of the fetal membrane before the onset of labor, followed by the leakage of amniotic fluid. The greatest risk of premature rupture of membranes is the potential to cause an infection in the amniotic cavity. The symptoms of infection due to premature rupture of membranes include the following aspects: First, the smell and color of the amniotic fluid will change. The amniotic fluid may become purulent and have a foul smell, which suggests an infection within the amniotic cavity. Second, blood tests can reveal elevated infection markers, primarily an increase in white blood cells and C-reactive protein well above the normal range. Third, the patient may experience contractions or lower abdominal tenderness and rebound pain. When there is an infection in the amniotic cavity, symptoms of peritonitis may occur, along with manifestations of contractions, presenting as episodic pain in the lower abdomen. These are the symptoms of infection from premature rupture of membranes.