Leak of amniotic fluid or discharge: how to understand? Symptoms of leakage of amniotic fluid

During pregnancy in the mother's womb, the fetus is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which is usually called amniotic fluid. They are important in the development of the fetus, so their outflow in the normal course of pregnancy occurs only in a certain period of labor.

If the waters begin to retire early, it threatens premature resolution and becomes a serious risk factor. It is necessary to understand, than such situations for the woman and the kid are dangerous. The question of how to understand that the waters have departed must be studied by every future mother.

Symptoms of amniotic fluid loss

Many women are still at the beginning of the term are interested in how to understand that the waters have moved away. The physiology of a woman is arranged in such a way that during the third trimester of pregnancy the allocation is more abundant, and this is the absolute norm. It is necessary to reveal the nature of such manifestations, what the gynecologist, the leading pregnancy should be engaged in. But the future mother, for the sake of her own safety and the health of the baby, should be able to determine for herself that premature fluid leakage has begun. It is important to know and understand what is happening in the body: leakage of amniotic fluid or discharge.

The main symptoms that can make you wary are the following:

• Fluid outflow increases with changing position and movement.
• If there is a significant rupture of the bladder, the fluid begins to flow down the legs. A woman can not stop the flow even with the effort of the genital muscles.
• If the damage to the bladder is microscopic, leakage is determined solely by a smear in a female consultation or by special tests.

External differences

Distinguish two conditions - the leakage of amniotic fluid or excreta - can be by the appearance of formations on underwear or hygienic means. The waters have a transparent color (sometimes with a pinkish, greenish, brownish tinge), they are slightly unclear. The discharge can have a thicker consistency and a white, yellowish-white, brownish hue. Amblerous waters, the color of which is far from transparent, should also alert the future mother.

Special tests for home checking

To understand what is really happening (leakage of amniotic fluid or secretion), tests that are specifically designed to test women at home will help. The most effective are two methods of research, the essence of which is as follows:

• Before checking it is necessary to go to the toilet, wash the intimate area, get dry with a towel. After this, it is recommended to lie down on a clean, dry sheet or diaper. If there are spots on the surface of the tissue after twenty minutes, the probability of premature discharge is high. The reliability of this technique is about 80%.
• The possibility of loss allows you to identify special accessories. Gaskets for the discharge of amniotic fluid can be purchased at a pharmacy on average for 300 rubles.

Special Testing Tools

Some pharmaceutical companies produce special pads for leakage of amniotic fluid. By external characteristics, this is a completely standard hygiene package. The main difference is that each product contains special reagents. They help to reliably determine even the minimum fraction of the outflow.

The test is simple enough: the product is attached to the underwear and is left for 12 hours. Reagents react solely to amniotic fluid and color the gasket in the color of the sea wave. The study makes it possible to distinguish between urinary incontinence, the presence of excreta from the underlying problem. The hygiene package simply does not change its color.

At the first signs of pouring it is necessary to immediately turn to the gynecologist, because such a condition can threaten the health of the fetus and the mother. It is also better to consult a doctor if any suspicion is worried about a woman. Only an expert will help to remove unnecessary fears and reliably establish whether a woman has leakage of amniotic fluid or discharge, which is a sign of healthy functioning of the body. In any case, you must carefully listen to your condition.

How to recognize the leakage of amniotic fluid with a high level of confidence?

High efficiency is provided by professional survey methods. At medical examination more detailed diagnostics are carried out. Manipulating a special tool - a gynecological mirror - the obstetrician examines the cervix. It is likely that the woman will have to deliberately strain. If, at this point, a profuse release of fluid begins, the fetal bladder can be damaged, and the doctor determines how the amniotic fluid flows. Depending on the results of the research, further tactics of actions are built.

Additional manipulations

A medical test for leakage of amniotic fluid is to determine the pH level of the vagina. If the medium is normal, high acidity will be detected. With the loss of the amniotic fluid, it becomes weakly alkaline or neutral. This method also allows to determine the presence of various infectious diseases.

Often an obstetrician conducts a cytological examination - this is a special test for amniotic fluid. The substance to be separated is applied to the glass. After drying, it is determined that it is: water or physiological discharge. At the 40 week deadline, the technique is not used

If the physicians have justified their suspicions, ultrasound is ultimately performed to determine the exact amount of amniotic fluid. If their volume is less than normal, anhydrimony is diagnosed.

Risk factors

• Infectious lesions of the genital tract, which originated even before the onset of pregnancy or in the early stages.
• Malformations of the uterus (mostly congenital).
• Cervical insufficiency. The cervix is poorly closed and can not cope with the pressure from the growing fetus.
• Polyhydramnios. The diagnosis is made after ultrasound.
• Chorion biopsy, cordocentesis, amniocentesis. Genetic disorders.
• Mechanical injury, received while waiting for the baby.
• Inadequate pressing of the presenting part of the fetus. Most often observed in women with a narrow pelvis and in the presence of anomalies of its development.
• Multiple pregnancy.

What is the norm?

A healthy pregnancy and childbirth implies the following sequence of events: when the 38, 39, 40 week of pregnancy comes, at any moment the labor can begin. When one of the fights proceeds, the bubble, in which amniotic fluid is enclosed, breaks, and they flow out in a single flow. If this does not happen, the obstetrician conducts a forced puncture, which is called amniotomy.

Classification

Depending on the time when the outflow occurs, and how the amniotic fluid flows, the following classification has been developed:

• Timely. Begins at the end of the first birth period with full or almost complete opening of the cervix.
• Premature. When there is 39, 40 weeks of pregnancy, before the beginning of stable labor.
• Early. Leak in the process of labor, but before the disclosure of the cervix.
• Belated. It occurs due to the high density of membranes. The outbreak begins in the second generic period.
• High rupture of shells. Occurs at the level of the throat of the uterine neck.

Ideally, the outflow should be timely. But under the conditions of a full-term pregnancy, the term of which exceeds 37 weeks, any option may be favorable if, as a result, normal labor activity develops. A similar condition is considered dangerous if the period is less than 37 weeks.

What is dangerous leakage?

In order to understand all the consequences that a premature outflow threatens, it is necessary to understand the functions that the amniotic fluid carries:

• Barrier for infectious infection. Infection through the mother's sexual organs can reach the child in a vertical way.
• Preventing the squeezing of the umbilical cord. Water helps to create a free flow of blood to the baby.
• Mechanical function. The fruit is protected from negative external influences, for example, shocks or falls. Conditions are created for the free movement of the baby.
• Biologically active environment. Between mother and baby there is a constant exchange and secretion of chemicals.

In the case of the development of disorders, all functions suffer, but the most dangerous complication is intrauterine infection, because leakage occurs due to loss of integrity of the membranes. As a result, the integrity of the medium is lost, protection against external influences goes away, sterility is impaired. To the fetus can penetrate viruses, bacteria, fungi.

If an outflow is detected ...

If the outflow occurs in the second trimester, it can cause infection of the fetus with various infections that can overcome all protection without barriers. Once the obstetrician has ascertained that the leak is coming, the woman is sent for ultrasound diagnosis. This study helps determine the degree of maturity of the baby in the womb. If the kidneys and the fetal respiratory system are ready for full-fledged functioning outside the uterus, stimulation of the labor activity is carried out . This prevents the infection of the child with an infection.

If the fetus is not ready for independent activity, activities aimed at prolonging pregnancy are being implemented - physicians will expect the fetus to be ready for delivery. Therapy is as follows:

• Purpose of antibacterial drugs. This will help prevent intrauterine infection.
• Strict bed rest. Peace and stable position facilitate the ongoing therapy.
• Permanent control over the health, condition of the child, since it is considered important every day. The kid has all chances to grow to a viable state in the mother's womb. An evaluation of his blood flow and movement is carried out.
• The mother undergoes laboratory tests, the body temperature is measured.
• In the absence of signs of infection, wait-and-see tactics continue. The preparation of the child's airways for independent functioning can be carried out, for which hormonal preparations can be prescribed. This is not dangerous, all activities are aimed at preserving the health of the mother and child.

Instead of concluding

Premature leakage of water can be prevented if the woman, in the presence of risk factors, conducts appropriate prevention. For example, timely treatment of cervical insufficiency is realized, when a cervical seam can be applied to the cervix, a special obstetric pessary is introduced. In some cases, preserving therapy, sanitation of the genital tract and other potential infectious foci (pyelonephritis, caries, tonsillitis) are carried out. The most favorable prognosis is formed with a discharge under conditions of full term pregnancy. However, the future mother can not panic, it is desirable to remain calm and follow all the instructions of the doctor.