Draining of amniotic fluid is considered one of the symptoms of labor. However, if fetal water oozes earlier, it can lead to thrombocephaly or even amenorrhea, with serious consequences for the baby. Find out how to identify oozing fetal waters.
Amniotic fluid is necessary for the proper development of the baby throughout the pregnancy. Its absence or too little can lead to complications such as deformities, but also directly threaten the life of the child. Therefore, whenever a mother-to-be suspects fetal water oozing, she should be examined by a gynecologist.Oozing fetal waters- how to recognize?
Oozing fetal waters- how to recognize?
Many women worry whether the discharge they notice on their underwear is fetal water or physiological vaginal discharge or urinated urine. It is worth knowing that the oozing amniotic fluid is usually clear and practically transparent. It should also not have the characteristic odor that urine, for example, has. Drainage of fetal waters can be diagnosed with a special test available, among others. in pharmacies or during an ultrasound, in which the amount of amniotic fluid if it drains will be reduced. The gynecologist may also find that the fetal waters are oozing when the speculum is inserted.
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Oozing fetal waters- causes
A pending intrauterine infection is most likely responsible for the oozing of fetal waters, especially before the onset of contraction activity (known as PROM). For this reason, in a pregnant woman whose fetal waters are oozing, a culture is taken from the cervical canal. It is also more common for fetal waters to ooze, especially before the due date, in cases of multifetal pregnancies and previously identified multifetuses
Oozing fetal waters- complications
One of the complications of long oozing fetal waters can be an intrauterine infection, which is caused by infection of the amniotic fluid with bacteria from the woman’s reproductive tract. A complication of oozing amniotic fluid is also a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid, which can result in amenorrhea. In turn, this is a condition that threatens the health and life of the child and requires an immediate response from medical personnel. So if a pregnant woman suspects she has oozing fetal waters, she should immediately go to the emergency room.
Drainage of fetal waters-undelivered pregnancy
The management of oozing fetal waters before the due date differs from that in a term pregnancy. If the amniotic fluid drains before 34 weeks, steroid therapy is necessary. In addition, antibiotic therapy is also used to reduce the risk of complications in the child. If the woman does not present symptoms of infection, and the KTG and ultrasound records are normal, conservative management is usually implemented. However, if the fetal well-being is at risk, premature termination of the pregnancy is necessary.
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Departure of fetal waters
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