Amniotic fluid leaking early pregnancy means your amniotic sac has ruptured or has a crack. If it happens before your pregnancy is a full term (PPROM), the risk of preterm birth is great.
If your water breaks when your pregnancy is full-term, but you don’t go into labor, it’s called preterm rupture of membranes (PROM).
Can you leak amniotic fluid if your cervix is closed? This is also a problem that most mothers worry about during pregnancy.
The following article will help you clarify the causes and dangers of leaking fluid as well as offer satisfactory solutions to help you avoid leaking amniotic fluid first trimester.Let’s dive in!
Can You Leak Amniotic Fluid if Your Cervix Is Closed?
Yes, even if a woman’s cervix is closed, the membranes can still rupture.
Although it is difficult to determine the main cause of this, in most cases, it is attributed to the weakest point of the injured membrane, rupture due to infection or internal pressure.
Amniotic fluid is an important part that helps protect and cushion the baby in the womb. It will increase until the pregnancy is 36 weeks and decrease slightly.
Usually, when the amniotic fluid membrane breaks, it is a sign of labor in pregnant women.
However, if labor does not begin within 6 to 12 hours after your water breaks, your risk of infection increases.
During pregnancy, you may experience a ruptured amniotic sac or a small leak of amniotic fluid before entering labor.
The cause is believed to be due to one of the following conditions:
PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes)
PROM stands for premature rupture of membranes, which is leaking amniotic fluid 37 weeks after pregnancy (at this point, you are considered full-term).
PROM is very rare; it only occurs in 8 to 15% of pregnant women.
PPROM (Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes)
PPROM is the premature rupture of membranes before labor, usually occurring before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
PPROM is considered more serious because it is one of the main causes of labor and premature birth. However, this is rare and only occurs in about 3% of pregnancies.
Symptoms and Causes of Leaking Amniotic Fluid
Amniotic fluid can leak from a small hole in the amniotic sac and slowly drain into the vagina, so it can be difficult for a pregnant woman to distinguish between amniotic fluid, vaginal secretions, and urine.
Here are some signs to help you know if you are leaking amniotic fluid.
Symptoms of Leaking Amniotic Fluid
How do you know if your leaking amniotic fluid?
Usually, real amniotic fluid leak color will be red or clear and wet your panties; it has no fragrance or has a slightly sweet smell.
Meanwhile, urine will smell of ammonia, and urine leakage during pregnancy is widespread.
In addition, vaginal discharge is usually white or yellow.
If you’re concerned about fluid gush during pregnancy and can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, your best bet is to contact your healthcare provider.
They will help you check and correctly diagnose your condition.
Causes of Leaking Amniotic Fluid
Labor isn’t the only cause of ruptured membranes. Weakened membranes or uterine contractions can cause premature leakage of amniotic fluid.
Some possible causes of PROM include:
- Smoking or inhaling a lot of secondhand smoke during pregnancy
- Use of recreational drugs
- Excessive alcohol abuse
- Injury due to external impact
- The uterus of the pregnant woman is infected
- Vaginal bleeding occurring during the second and third trimesters
- Polyhydramnios or sacs containing too much amniotic fluid
- Twin or multiple pregnancies
- Lack of amniotic fluid in the sac
- The amniotic sac and uterus are stretched beyond normal
- Prenatal care in the wrong way
- Amniocentesis
- Pregnant women who have given birth prematurely before
- The cervix has been subjected to surgery or has been shortened
- Connective tissue disorders
- Having a sexually transmitted infection
- Pregnant women are undernourished and underweight
What Happens When Amniotic Fluid Leaks?
Leaking fluid while pregnant can lead to low amniotic fluid.
It can affect the development of the fetus, causing growth retardation, causing the ability to tolerate labor to weaken, and, even more seriously, the fetus will have congenital disabilities, etc.
A leaky placenta is uncommon; it occurs in only about 4% of pregnancies. In most cases, amniotic fluid leaking early pregnancy is not a cause for concern.
However, you should still seek medical help if you suspect you are leaking fluid to avoid unnecessary risks.
How to Treat Leaking Amniotic Fluid or Prom?
It is necessary to rely on gestational age to cure amniotic fluid leakage in pregnant women most effectively and accurately.
In Case of Fluid Leaks Before Term
For cases of amniotic fluid leakage or preterm PROM causing low amniotic fluid levels, the following can be treated:
- Administers corticosteroids so that fetal lungs can develop rapidly from 24 to 34 weeks of gestation;
- Use antibiotics prescribed by your doctor to prevent the risk of infection;
- Use Tocolytics to avoid premature birth;
- Delivery to manage PROM;
- Magnesium sulfate supplementation to protect the fetus from dangerous complications such as cerebral palsy if delivery is expected within 24 hours before 32 weeks of gestation;
- Need regular monitoring of healthcare provider or other professionals in case of premature birth;
In Case of the Prom Causes Low Amniotic Fluid Levels
In cases where PROM causes low amniotic fluid levels, amnio-fusion and rehydration are necessary.
- Amniotic fluid fusion: This is usually done using an intrauterine catheter during labor. At the same time, pregnant women must be supplemented with extra fluid to compensate for the losing amniotic fluid to support the umbilical cord and reduce the possibility of a cesarean section.
- Rehydration: You can increase the amniotic fluid level by giving fluids by mouth or injecting them directly into a vein.
FAQs
Can Premature Membrane Rupture Be Prevented?
Unfortunately, NO, you can’t prevent PROM, but you can do a few things to avoid this risk, like don’t smoke, drink alcohol, and have unprotected sex.
In addition, giving extra vitamin C to pregnant women after the 14th week of pregnancy can also help reduce the risk of premature rupture of membranes.
However, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider about its safety and effectiveness.
Can Amniotic Fluid Replenish Itself?
Yes, it can. Amniotic fluid can circulate continuously as the fetus swallows and excretes.
A pregnant woman’s amniotic fluid constantly renews itself, so staying hydrated and lying down for more time is essential.
You can also add fruits that contain a lot of water, such as watermelon, cucumber, lemon, or lime juice, to improve electrolytes.
In addition, insignificant cracks of the amniotic membrane can heal on their own without needing external intervention.
Conclusion
By now, you probably already know the answer to “Can you leak amniotic fluid if your cervix is closed” and learn how to prevent this from happening.
Pregnant women often produce more vaginal discharge and urine leakage than usual. These signs are often confused with amniotic fluid leakage.
Therefore, you need to rely on the information I provided above to identify.
However, I still recommend that you consult your doctor when you have any symptoms that make you suspect that you are leaking amniotic fluid to ensure absolute safety for the fetus in the abdomen.
