Pregnant women with risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or lupus are more likely to have amniotic fluid leakage, but this can happen to any pregnant woman. Immediate medical help is vital, but treatment is usually done with weekly consultations with the obstetrician to assess the amount of fluid throughout pregnancy. When the doctor does the ultrasound and finds that there is low amniotic fluid, it may be necessary to increase the water intake and rest so as to avoid losing more fluid and other complications for the woman.
If there are no signs of infection or bleeding associated with fluid leakage, the woman can be monitored periodically as an outpatient, with the health team checking her body temperature and doing a blood count to check for signs of infection or labor. Tests are also done to see if everything is okay with the baby, such as auscultation of the baby's heartbeat and fetal biometry.
So, it is possible to check if the pregnancy is going well, despite the amniotic fluid loss. Fluid leakage at the end of pregnancy is usually not serious, but if the woman is losing a lot of fluid, the doctor may choose to induce labor. Leaking amniotic fluid might feel like a gush of warm fluid or a slow trickle from the vagina. It will usually be clear and odorless but may sometimes contain traces of blood or mucus.
The uterus sits on the bladder during pregnancy, so it is not uncommon for pregnant women to leak urine. If the discharge smells like urine, it probably is. Women may also experience an increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy.
Normal discharge tends to have a mild smell and look milky. While waiting for medical attention, a woman should not use tampons, have sex, or do anything else that might introduce bacteria into the vagina. A doctor may take a sample of the fluid to determine whether it is amniotic fluid. They may also carry out tests to determine the cause of the leak. These tests could include a vaginal exam to see if the cervix is dilating and the woman is in labor.
An ultrasound can help doctors check how much fluid is surrounding the baby. They may also perform a dye test, which involves introducing blue dye into the amniotic sac and asking the woman to wear a sanitary pad. If the dye shows up on the pad, this can indicate leaking amniotic fluid. The amniotic sac ruptures when a woman goes into labor.
People often refer to this as the water breaking. For most women, it is more likely to feel like a constant trickle. Sometimes, the amniotic sac breaks or leaks before labor starts. If the amniotic sac breaks before the 37th week of pregnancy, doctors refer to it as preterm PROM. Women who got pregnant less than 6 months after their last labor or are carrying more than one baby have a higher risk of PROM.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the leak, as well as the age, health, and development of the fetus. A doctor may recommend bed rest, meaning that the woman should reduce her activities and rest for most of the day. They may also advise abstaining from sex. February 13, Pregnancy Health. Find out what it is, what levels are normal and all about leaking.
Babylist editors love baby gear and independently curate their favorite products to share with you. If you buy something through links on our site, Babylist may earn a commission. Photo by elexisbronson. What is Amniotic Fluid? What does amniotic fluid look like? Amniotic fluid is clear or tinted yellow. What does amniotic fluid smell like? The quick answer here: not much. Amniotic fluid is generally odorless. What are Normal Levels of Amniotic Fluid? Low amniotic fluid Oligohydramnios is the condition defined by having too little amniotic fluid.
Too much amniotic fluid On the other end of the spectrum is polyhydramnios —the condition of having too much amniotic fluid. How to decrease amniotic fluid Treatment for polyhydramnios depends on both its severity and its underlying causes.
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