When the bag of amniotic fluid burst, what you should do is not panic, clean yourself, put on a night cap, call the doctor and go to the maternity ward, because everything indicates that the baby will be born.
The absorbent will help doctors see the color and amount of amniotic fluid lost, assessing if there is any risk to the woman or the baby. See: What to take to motherhood.
It is recommended to go to the hospital whenever there is suspicion of rupture of the pouch, because any laceration, however small, may facilitate the entry of microorganisms, affecting the baby.
Urgent medical help should be sought when the pouch ruptures before 37 weeks of gestation. However, if a woman wants a normal delivery and is past 38 weeks, one can wait for some time to go to the maternity ward, especially when a normal delivery is desired.
Bag Breaking Signs
The signs of rupture of the amniotic fluid pocket are:
- A transparent or light yellow liquid, without odor, which can not be controlled, in large or small quantities.
Usually, a few days before the woman breaks her pouch, she notices the mucus plug, which is a thick, yellowish, phlegm-like discharge that closes the cervix, protecting the baby. In some women this cap may be mixed with blood and streaked with blood or brown, as if it were the end of menstruation.
The bag has broken but I have no contractions
When the pouch ruptures it is expected that the uterine contractions that mark the beginning of labor will emerge in a short time. However, contractions may take up to 48 hours to appear, however, it is advised to go to the maternity ward after 6 hours of the rupture of the pouch because this rupture allows the entry of microorganisms in the uterus increasing the risk of infections.
At the hospital, the doctor may wait a few hours to check whether contractions start spontaneously, provide antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection, or induce normal labor with the use of synthetic hormones, or initiate caesarean section, depending on each case.
Warning Signs
If the pouch has burst and the woman has not yet been to the maternity ward, it is important to be aware of the following warning signs: decreased baby's movement, change in the color of the amniotic fluid and fever, even if low. These situations may indicate complications that require medical evaluation.
When to go to the maternity ward
You should go to the maternity ward:
- Immediately, if the pouch ruptures before 37 weeks of gestation;
- Up to 6 hours after the rupture of the pouch (when normal delivery is desired);
- Immediately if the bag ruptures before the date of the cesarean section marked by the doctor.
Useful links:
- Signs of labor
- How to speed up labor
