How long will it take for the baby to be born if the amniotic fluid breaks prematurely? Will the stomach hurt if the amniotic fluid breaks prematurely?

If a pregnant woman has premature rupture of membranes before the due date, she must be sent to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment or delivery in time. Will the stomach hurt when the membranes rupture prematurely? How long will it take for the baby to be born? What harm does premature rupture of membranes have on the fetus?

How long will it take to give birth after the water breaks?

Normally, the fetus will be born within 24 hours after the pregnant woman's water breaks, so the pregnant woman must go to the hospital immediately to prepare for delivery after the water breaks.

If the cervix can be opened smoothly within 24 hours, then natural delivery can be achieved. If there are no symptoms of uterine contractions within 24 hours, it will be difficult to open the cervix, so the doctor will use an induction injection. The induction injection can be used for 3 days. If the baby still cannot be delivered after 3 days, then a caesarean section is the only option.

Some pregnant women are in poor health or have turbid amniotic fluid. In this case, they cannot wait more than 3 days. They will have to have a caesarean section or a natural birth with oxygen after 24 hours. Otherwise, the fetus will not be saved and the life of the pregnant woman will be threatened.

Note: Antibiotics must be used to prevent infection 12 hours after the amniotic fluid breaks.

Why does the water break?

What can cause your water to break during pregnancy? Normally, the baby is getting ready to be born. Rupture of membranes is one of the symptoms of labor. In most cases, strong uterine contractions cause the amniotic membranes to press against the amniotic water, causing the membranes to break. This usually happens when the baby is full-term.

5 reasons for premature rupture of membranes

1. The cervix of the pregnant woman relaxes, which stimulates the fetal membrane and causes premature rupture of amniotic fluid.

2. Hypoplasia of the fetal membrane, such as the presence of amnion-chorioamnionitis, causes excessive pressure in the amniotic cavity, leading to premature rupture of membranes.

3. Malposition of the fetus, narrow pelvis, cephalopelvic disproportion, polyhydramnios, multiple pregnancy, etc. can all increase the pressure in the amniotic cavity and cause premature rupture of membranes.

4. Inadvertent sexual intercourse during pregnancy can cause amniotic-chorionic infection, especially the prostaglandins in semen can induce uterine contractions, resulting in uneven pressure in the amniotic cavity and causing premature rupture of membranes.

5. Some other factors can also cause premature rupture of membranes, such as severe coughing during pregnancy, sudden laughter or anger, and doing heavy physical work, which can cause a sharp increase in abdominal pressure, causing the fetal membrane to rupture and the amniotic fluid to flow out of the vagina.

The dangers of premature rupture of membranes

1. Cause premature birth of the fetus

The fetal membrane is the protective membrane of the fetus. If the membrane ruptures prematurely, the amniotic fluid will leak out prematurely and lose its protective effect on the fetus. After the amniotic fluid leaks out, the uterus will become smaller, which will constantly stimulate the uterine contraction. If the fetus is not full-term, premature birth will occur. The organs of premature babies are not fully developed, their weight is low, their ability to survive is very poor, and they are prone to premature death.

2. Cause fetal distress

If the water breaks before labor begins and the fetal presenting part is not determined, the umbilical cord will prolapse along with the amniotic fluid, causing distress to the fetus in the uterus.

3. Cause delayed labor and fetal hypoxia

If too much amniotic fluid flows out, the uterus will stick close to the fetus's body, stimulating the uterus to cause uncoordinated uterine contractions, thereby affecting the progress of labor and placental blood circulation, leading to dystocia and fetal hypoxia.

4. Cause mother-to-child infection

The longer the membranes rupture, the greater the chance of intrauterine infection. If the fetus inhales infected amniotic fluid, it will cause aspiration pneumonia. In addition, the mother is also prone to infection during delivery or puerperal infection.