What is premature rupture of membranes
Release time : 05/08/2025 09:30:02
Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of membranes and the sudden outflow of amniotic fluid from the vagina in the middle and late pregnancy or before labor.
After understanding what premature rupture of membranes is, pregnant mothers must also know that premature rupture of membranes is very dangerous to both the mother and the fetus, and may seriously cause death of the newborn.
Therefore, once premature rupture of membranes is discovered, treatment should be given immediately.
What is premature rupture of membranes? Premature rupture of membranes is the most common complication during the perinatal period. For pregnant women, pregnant women, fetuses and newborns, premature rupture of membranes is extremely likely to cause serious adverse consequences.
Premature rupture of membranes refers to the rupture of membranes in the middle and late pregnancy or before labor, and amniotic fluid suddenly flows out of the vagina.
If the number of weeks of pregnancy is less than 37 weeks, then premature rupture of membranes in this case is also called premature delivery, which is what we often call preterm.
Increased pressure in the amniotic cavity, mycoplasma infection, poor connection between the fetal presentation and the pelvic entrance, and lack of copper and zinc trace elements in pregnant women may all be the causes of premature rupture of membranes.
Premature rupture of membranes is dangerous for both the pregnant woman and the fetus.
Premature rupture of membranes can lead to an increased rate of preterm labor, an increased perinatal mortality rate, and an increased rate of intrauterine and puerperal infections.
Symptoms of Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM): Premature rupture of the membranes refers to the spontaneous rupture of the amniotic sac before labor. Generally, expectant mothers can identify signs of PROM by examining themselves in the following areas:
1. Pregnant women can determine whether or not they have the following situation: yes or no, various reasons suddenly vaginal discharge, and the amount of discharge may be more or less.
The discharge of fluids usually occurs continuously but with varying durations. Initially, there is a high volume of discharge, which subsequently decreases.
Intermittent discharge of fluids is observed in a minority.
Vaginal drainage is usually related to changes in the posture and activity of the pregnant woman.
2. Doctor's diagnosis and treatment judgment method: When a pregnant woman is in a supine position, fluid may be seen flowing out of the vaginal opening, or there may be no fluid flowing out.
If no fluid flows out, fluid may flow out from the vaginal opening during anal examination by lifting the posterior vaginal fornix, pushing the fetal head up, pressing the fundus of the uterus, or changing the pregnant woman's position. Note that no fluid may flow out after these auxiliary operations.
The fluid that flows out is usually thin and may be mixed with meconium or fetal fat.
The above "symptoms of premature rupture of membranes" are the answers given by pregnant women themselves and doctors.
Causes of premature rupture of membranes (PROM): The premature rupture of the membranes, also known as PROM, refers to the natural rupture of the amniotic sac membranes before labor begins.
In order to better avoid tragedy, we must first understand the causes of premature rupture of membranes and prescribe the right medicine.
Causes of premature rupture of membranes: 1. Infection: The relationship between premature rupture of membranes and infection is a traditional causal connection in obstetrics. It has been widely acknowledged that infection and the onset of premature rupture of membranes are intertwined, and infection is the most significant cause of premature rupture of membranes.
2. Fetal Membrane Dysmorphy: Beyond the factors inherent to the fetal membranes, conditions such as vitamin C deficiency in early pregnancy, copper deficiency, and smoking by the pregnant woman also are associated with fetal membrane dysmorphy.
3. Cervical Incompetence: In the absence of pregnancy, if the internal os of the cervix can dilate freely to a size of 8.0, it can be diagnosed that the cervix is incompetent. The main manifestations of cervical incompetence are relaxation of the external os and deficiency in the isthmus.
4. Abnormal intrauterine pressure: An uneven intrauterine pressure is common in cases of cephalopexicondyly, as well as in abnormal fetal positioning.
An increased intrauterine pressure is commonly observed in twin pregnancies, polyhydramnios, severe coughing and difficult defecation.
5. Trauma and mechanical stimulation: This type of stimulation is divided into two main categories: medical and non-medical.
Medical interventions include multiple amniocenteses, multiple vaginal examinations, and cervical dilatation and curettage procedures.
Rather than iatrogenic, it is common for sexual intercourse in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Harms of premature rupture of membranes Premature rupture of membranes has a serious impact on both the mother and the fetus. Specifically, it can include the following aspects: 1. Most premature births are related to premature rupture of membranes.
Premature infants are prone to complications such as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, fetal and neonatal intracranial hemorrhage, and necrotizing enteritis, and increased perinatal mortality.
2. May lead to intrauterine infection.
This condition can cause a fast fetal heart rate and tenderness in the uterus. If the amniotic fluid smells bad, it indicates that the infection is serious.
Intrauterine infection poses a high risk to perinatal infants, especially premature infants. The incidence of sepsis, pneumonia, etc. is high and is an important cause of perinatal death.
3. Premature rupture of membranes is a sign of dystocia.
Abnormal fetal position can lead to premature rupture of membranes. Therefore, expectant mothers who develop premature rupture of membranes should pay attention to checking for pelvic stenosis, cephalopelvic disproportion, and abnormal head position.
If dystocia occurs, the labor process will inevitably be prolonged, which can easily lead to intrauterine infection.
4. Postpartum hemorrhage.
Intrauterine infections can involve decidua and myometrium, affect uterine contraction and increase bleeding. In severe cases, uterine resection is required.
5. Embolism of amniotic fluid.
When oxytocin is administered intravenously after premature rupture of membranes, if oxytocin is used improperly, it can force amniotic fluid, especially amniotic fluid containing meconium, to enter the maternal circulation from the cervical vein.
Amniotic fluid embolism seriously threatens the life of pregnant women.
6. Umbilical cord prolapse or compression.
If the fetal presentation is not connected, the risk of umbilical cord prolapse after rupture of the membrane is increased.
Hypohydramnios secondary to rupture of the membrane compresses the umbilical cord and can also cause fetal distress.
If the amniotic fluid runs out, it can lead to "dry labor".
In short, the impact of premature rupture of membranes cannot be underestimated, and mothers should pay more attention! Nursing measures for premature rupture of membranes When membranes rupture naturally before labor, they are called premature rupture of membranes.
Dysplasia or infection of membranes, sharp increase in abdominal pressure, and sexual intercourse in the third trimester can all be the causes of premature rupture of membranes. The impact of premature rupture of membranes is considerable. Therefore, once discovered, early care is needed.
Nursing measures that can be taken for premature rupture of membranes are as follows: 1. Reduce anxiety and cooperate with treatment. Doctors should explain their current situation to pregnant women and their families, explain the purpose and significance of the treatment measures taken by medical staff, guide and cooperate with treatment and supervision, assist pregnant women in providing various life care, and reduce pregnant women's anxiety.
2. Prevent umbilical cord prolapse and promote perinatal health. If the membranes have been ruptured, the umbilical cord protrudes from the gap between the presentation of the fetus and the entrance of the pelvis with the amniotic fluid to the external opening of the cervix, and drops to the vagina or even vulva, it is said to be prolapse of the umbilical cord.
After premature rupture of membranes, anal or vaginal examination should be performed immediately to understand the height of presentation, uterine orifice condition, and whether there is umbilical cord prolapse.
If the uterus is not fully opened and the uterus is exposed before entering the pelvis, you should immediately stay in bed and raise your hips in a lateral position. Enema should be prohibited, and the fetal heart sounds should be listened to in time for close monitoring.
If the umbilical cord is found to have prolapsed and the uterine orifice is not fully opened, oxygen should be inhaled immediately, the umbilical cord should be returned to the uterine cavity in the chest and knee recumbent position, and preparations should be made for immediate cesarean section.
If the uterus is open, assistance should be given to immediate midwifery.
3. Prevention of infection: ① Keep the vulva clean, scrub the vulva twice a day, and replace the disinfection sanitary pad frequently.
② Observe the amniotic fluid volume, nature, color, and odor, paying attention to whether it is mixed with meconium, especially in cases of breech presentation.
③ Observe the change of body temperature, measure it 4 times a day. If the body temperature rises, leukocyte count increases, and serum C-reactive protein level increases, all of which indicate intrauterine infection, and should be handled in time.
4. Absolute bed rest, as much as possible avoidance of rectal examination or vaginal examination, if necessary under aseptic conditions.
If membrane rupture occurs more than 12 hours, antibiotics may be considered for infection prophylaxis. If labor does not commence within 24 hours of rupture, induced labor should be administered according to medical advice.
4. Premature Birth Prevention: If the membranes rupture before 37 weeks of gestation, under the care to prevent infection and to prevent cord prolapse, it is recommended for conservative treatment.
In conservative treatment, interference should be avoided to the extent possible and rectum and vagina examinations should be minimized.
Monitoring the fetus regularly to understand its condition in utero, and if any abnormality is detected, promptly report it to the doctor and terminate the pregnancy.
The above are the nursing measures that can be adopted for premature rupture of membranes.
The medical portions mentioned in this text are for reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the medical diagnosis and treatment will be subject to offline diagnosis.