WATER BREAKAGE, SYMPTOMS
- The breaking of the waters, or of the
amniotic sac
, is an important signal that triggers labor. But how can we recognize the symptoms of
premature rupture of membranes
, how should we act and when should we go to the hospital?
The questions are many.
Let's be clear
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The moment has come, the breaking of the waters
AMNIOTIC SACK, WHAT IS IT
- The amniotic sac is made up of two
membrane
calls
amnion
e
chorion
which contain the
amniotic fluid.
As the pregnancy draws to a close, these membranes can rupture. A phenomenon that occurs in 6-12% of pregnancies and is called
"premature rupture of membranes
".
PREMATURE BREAKAGE OF THE AMNIOTIC SACK
- The amniotic sac ruptures at the end of pregnancy and this triggers labor, but sometimes it can rupture or completely, leading to the evident release of the
amniotic fluid
, or a crack may open causing the liquid to leak continuously drop by drop.
La
premature rupture of the waters
affects 40% of births that occur before 35 weeks of pregnancy and 60% of births that occur before 30 weeks of pregnancy
I
risk factors
for the premature rupture of the waters are various:
- infection of the cervix or vagina
- a history of preterm labor
- previous placenta
- incompetent cervix
- smoking in pregnancy
But sometimes it just happens, with no obvious cause.
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Childbirth
WATER BREAKAGE, HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT
-
Losses
vaginal discharge, urine leaks, amniotic fluid leaks: how to distinguish them? The small ones
urine leakage
during pregnancy they are completely normal because the baby presses on the bladder and this prompts the escape of urine even with a laugh or a sneeze. The color of the liquid is yellow and its smell is unmistakable.
La
vaginal loss
it is also common in pregnancy, has a whitish color, is sticky and thick.
The amniotic fluid, on the other hand, is liquid, transparent, odorless and colorless, like water.
Also if there is one
loss of amniotic fluid
this is continuous, it does not stop. If in doubt, go to the bathroom to urinate, if afterwards you continue to feel wet panties you could have a leak. If in doubt, however, always call your doctor.
PREMATURE BREAKAGE OF WATER, RISKS
- If the amniotic sac ruptures, the baby is exposed to the risk of infections, so it is very important to go to the hospital. Furthermore, the baby is exposed to the risk of premature birth, respiratory distress, cord prolapse.
For the mother, the risk of caesarean delivery and uterine infections increases.
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Natural childbirth, a risky obsession
PREMATURE BREAKAGE OF WATER, HOW IT IS INTERVENED
- The methods of intervention will be different depending on the gestation period.
-
Before 22 weeks of pregnancy
premature rupture of membranes is rare (about 0,6% of pregnancies), but the prognosis is more severe.
Antibiotic treatment is prescribed to prevent infections. The amount of amniotic fluid lost and the percentage of risk of infection are assessed. In more serious cases (with an outbreak of infection, intrauterine fetal growth retardation or deformation,) it is better to consider a therapeutic termination of pregnancy.
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The stages of labor
-
Between 22 and 35 weeks of pregnancy
: the mother is
hospitalized
in hospital until delivery (with the possibility of getting up) with the aim of reaching 35 weeks of pregnancy, a period within which the baby can be born without problems.
In general, the mother undergoes: regular infectious evaluation, antibiotics, ultrasound scans, fetal heart rate monitoring, corticosteroid treatment before the 32nd week of pregnancy to accelerate the maturation of the baby's lungs, drug therapies to stop the
contractions
.
-
to finish
: the child can be born. After having made an infectious evaluation it is possible
induce childbirth
within 24/48 hours from the breaking of the waters.
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