blend images
Usually, the common scenario goes that most women with prelabor rupture of membranes (their water breaking) go into labor naturally within 24 hours of the break. But twice in one week, I have heard several stories of women who have experienced a leak of a clear liquid substance but not having subsequent contractions. The obvious and valid concern tends to be that labor has begun but the absence of contractions accompanied by rupture membranes propose several risks such as possible bacterial infection. In both of these cases though, both women were told that their membranes weren’t ruptured (their water did not break)
Now, the end results for these women were different. In one case, the one mother was induced for her doctor was concerned that labor was not progressing and that the baby could be at risk for a bacterial infection. Though the medical staff did not believe it was her membranes leaking they wanted to take precaution. In the second scenario, the mother was told that her membranes were in tact, thus her baby was safe and that everything was fine. She could go home and let the labor begin on its own accord.
I had to investigate what could possibly be the clear liquid substance I had been hearing about. I came across an article posted by Circle of Life Midwifery in Salem, OR . I found it fascinating and thought it provided a possible explanation. Pamela Hines-Powell, CPM, LM, explains that there are two layers of the membranes, the amnion (the inner) and the chorion (outer) layers. According to her article:
Some membranes rupture high up in the uterus. This is called a “hind leak”. Typically, water will come out slowly, perhaps gush once and trickle here and there. Hind leaks may be caused from baby’s foot breaking the bag, or a positional change. As there are two layers of the membranes (the amnion and the chorion), sometimes leaking may be caused from the outer layer of the bag (the chorion) breaking. In both cases with a hind leak and a leak from the chorion breaking, there is a good chance of the bag “resealing” itself with cessation of any sort of leak.
ONLY YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER can determine if this is the case. Not myself, nor any doula, nor your partner or a hand mirror. There is no other way to know. There are definitely several precautions to take till you are able be checked out by your doctor or midwife. Here are a few recommendations from Pamela Hines-Powell, CPM, LM:
• Absolutely, positively, NOTHING in the vagina. No fingers, tampons, penis, oral-genital contact, etc.
• Drink plenty of water to help replenish amniotic fluid – at least 64oz of water a day
• Wear something loose-fitting with no panties when you can
• If you are leaking and need something for sitting, use clean towels fresh out of a hot dryer
• Take your temperature every 4 hours while you are awake (record on a sheet of paper).
• Take 250mg Vitamin C every 3-4 hours while you are awake
• Eat foods that are non-constipating and easy to digest
Check out more suggestions or read more of the article here or visit her website.
Tags: aminon, chorion, labor, ruptured membranes, waterbreaking
