leaking amniotic fluid vs discharge during pregnancy

Leaking amniotic fluid vs discharge during pregnancy how to#

If labour doesn’t begin, your medical team may opt for induction. Generally, contractions should start within hours of your membranes rupturing. If it is, you’ll need to remain at your birth location, even if you aren’t experiencing contractions. A health care professional will administer a test to help you determine whether your water is breaking. If you suspect that you’re losing amniotic fluid, call the hospital’s birthing unit or visit your birth location. The flow will increase when your baby moves or if you change position. If you’re losing amniotic fluid, your discharge will be continuous, clear, and odourless, like water. Try to determine how heavy and frequent the flow is. To identify your discharge, pay attention to its appearance. In this case, it may be more difficult to determine whether your water has broken. It’s also possible that your amniotic fluid is trickling out slowly because the sac is only partially ruptured. If not, the discharge may be vaginal secretions or urine leakage. If you’re losing amniotic fluid, the pad will be fully soaked. To find out if your water is breaking, put on a sanitary pad and continue your activities for 30 minutes. Among other things, it can signal that you’re in labour. Nevertheless, it’s important to pay close attention, as a loss of amniotic fluid (water breaking) before 37 weeks of pregnancy can pose a risk to the baby.

It’s not always easy to tell the difference between amniotic fluid and vaginal secretions or urine leaks.

Leaking amniotic fluid vs discharge during pregnancy how to#

Here’s how to tell the difference between amniotic fluid and other types of vaginal discharge.Īmniotic fluid plays several roles during pregnancy: it keeps the baby at a stable temperature, cushions it from outside blows, and allows it to move and develop its muscles in the womb. Water breaking before 37 weeks of pregnancy can pose a risk to your baby.