What to do if the amniotic sac breaks early?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on November 13, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
52sec home-news-image

Premature rupture of membranes requires what examinations?

To diagnose premature rupture of membranes, first, a pH test of the vaginal fluid must be conducted. The normal pH value of vaginal fluid in women ranges from 4.5 to 5.5, whereas the pH of amniotic fluid ranges from 7.0 to 7.5. If the membranes have ruptured prematurely, the pH value would be greater than 6.5. Additionally, a smear test of the vaginal fluid can be done by placing vaginal secretions under a glass slide and examining them under a microscope. If fern-like crystals are observed, this indicates the presence of amniotic fluid. Furthermore, an ultrasound examination can be conducted. If the ultrasound shows a rapid decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid, this can assist in the diagnosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 3sec home-news-image

Can premature rupture of membranes be detected?

Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of membranes before labor, manifested as vaginal discharge and abdominal pain, among other symptoms. The diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes is primarily conducted through the following methods: First, based on the patient's symptoms. The most typical symptom of premature rupture of membranes is the discharge of clear fluid from the vagina. This can generally be identified as amniotic fluid by the naked eye, which helps in diagnosing premature rupture of membranes. Second, if the amount of vaginal discharge is minimal, PH test strips can be used for detection. A change in the PH strip may indicate a diagnosis of premature rupture of membranes. Third, an ultrasound can also generally assess premature rupture of membranes, as the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease when the membranes have ruptured. These methods combined can confirm the presence of premature rupture of membranes.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 13sec home-news-image

Does premature rupture of membranes require a cesarean section?

Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of the membranes before labor begins, causing amniotic fluid to leak periodically from the uterine cavity. Pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes can choose either vaginal delivery or cesarean section. Simply having a premature rupture of membranes is not an indication for cesarean section, but in some special cases of premature rupture of membranes, a cesarean section may be necessary. First, if the mother has previously had a cesarean delivery and experiences premature rupture of membranes in a subsequent pregnancy, a cesarean may be chosen; second, if the fetal position is abnormal, such as breech or transverse lies, after the rupture of membranes, a cesarean may be necessary; third, cesarean can be considered if fetal hypoxia occurs. For typical cases of premature rupture of membranes, a vaginal delivery can be attempted, but during the process, it is important to enhance fetal heart monitoring. If severe complications such as fetal hypoxia or placental abruption occur, it may be necessary to switch from vaginal delivery to cesarean section.

doctor image
home-news-image
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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
46sec home-news-image

What are the risks of premature rupture of membranes?

After premature rupture of membranes, the amniotic cavity is directly connected to the woman's vagina at this time, which primarily poses the risk of infection. If the fetus becomes infected, it is easy to lead to sepsis after birth, resulting in an increased mortality rate for the fetus. Additionally, it can cause bleeding in the fetus. Moreover, for the mother, there is a likely risk of placental abruption, which is due to the reduced abdominal tension after membrane rupture, making placental abruption more likely to occur. Furthermore, the mother is also prone to infections, which can easily lead to chorioamnionitis under these circumstances.