One of each 4 works starts with spontaneous rupture of the fetal surfaces. When this occurs in a pregnant woman, there could be a unexpected gush of amniotic liquid from the vagina. The lady might be scared by this sensation as it feels as if she has lost bladder control. She might be embarrassed before she realizes the warm liquid on her perineum and legs isn’t pee but a unexpected announcement that work starts. In other girls, rupture of membranes is more delicate, happening as a slow loss of liquid. There could be a question whether the surfaces have ruptured when this happens.
A sterile vaginal exam employing a sterile speculum typically uncovers if amniotic liquid is present in the vagina. After vaginal secretions are got ( customarily by a sterile, cotton-tipped applicator ), test them with a strip of Nitrazine paper. Vaginal secretions are acid ; amniotic liquid is alkaline. If amniotic liquid has passed thru the vagina latterly, the pH of vaginal liquid will generally be alkaline ( with a pH bigger than 6.5 ) when evaluated by Nitrazine paper ( appears blue-green or gray to deep blue ). A false reading may happen in girls with untouched surfaces who’ve a heavy bloody show, because blood is also alkaline. An further test is fern test ( investigation into vaginal secretions under a microscope ).
Due to its high estrogen content, amniotic liquid will show a fern pattern when dried and examined this way ; pee will not. For the lady whose surfaces ruptured at home, ask her to described the color of the amniotic liquid. It should be as clear as water. Yellow-stained liquid might suggest a blood incompatibility between mummy and fetus ( the amniotic liquid is biliburin-stained from the break-down of red blood cells ). Green liquid indicates meconium staining. Though standard in breech deliveries due to bum understanding, hotel a zenith display meconium marking can point to fetal anoxia. A fetus with meconium marking wishes fast assessment to protect contentment. The child will need continuing close assessment after birth due to possible meconium aspiration.
