Vaginal fluid is usually white or yellow in color. Another way you can try to determine if the fluid is amniotic fluid is to first empty your bladder. Place a sanitary pad or panty liner in your underwear and examine the fluid that is on the pad after 30 minutes to an hour.
Another option is to put on a pad or panty liner and concentrate on holding your pelvic floor muscles tight, as if you are trying to stop your urine stream. Leaking amniotic fluid can be dangerous for you and your baby at any point during your pregnancy. While you may naturally leak a small amount of fluid, losing too much can be harmful.
There are several treatments for low levels of amniotic fluid if yours has leaked too much. Your doctor can advise the best treatment option. Call your doctor immediately if your fluid appears green-tinged or brownish yellow. This can indicate your baby has had a bowel movement in the womb, which can cause breathing complications when they are born. An estimated one-third of amniotic fluid is replaced every hour.
In pregnant women, premature rupture of membranes PROM occurs when the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby the membrane breaks before the start…. An increase in vaginal discharge is normal during pregnancy. Amniotic fluid embolism AFE is a pregnancy complication that causes life-threatening conditions, such as heart failure. Learn more here. Your discharge can say a lot about your health. Here's our swatch-guide to vaginal…. Here's why it happens and how to find relief. During the second trimester, pain, bleeding, and vaginal discharge are normal symptoms.
March of Dimes. Amniotic fluid. Mayo Clinic. Water breaking: Understand this sign of labor. Moldenhauer JS. Prelabor rupture of membranes PROM. Merck Manual. Stanford Children's Health. Join now to personalize. Photo credit: iStock. Could I be leaking amniotic fluid?
Are there other reasons why my amniotic fluid might be low? What does amniotic fluid smell like and look like? How can I tell if I'm leaking amniotic fluid? Should I call the doctor if I think I'm leaking amniotic fluid?
What will happen if I'm leaking amniotic fluid? If that happens, you have one of these conditions: PROM stands for premature rupture of membranes, also called prelabor rupture of membranes.
PROM or PPROM can usually be managed without causing serious problems for you or your baby, but possible complications include: Compression of the umbilical cord, if it's not surrounded by enough amniotic fluid. These include those who: Had PPROM in a previous pregnancy Smoke cigarettes during pregnancy Have vaginal bleeding during the second and third trimesters Have infections of the uterus, cervix, or vagina, or amniotic fluid Are underweight have a low BMI with poor nutrition Have a short cervical length Use illicit drugs Are there other reasons why my amniotic fluid might be low?
Here's an amniotic fluid leak test you can do at home: Empty your bladder and put on a panty liner or sanitary pad. Wear the pad for half an hour or so, then examine any fluid that has leaked onto it.
If it looks yellow, it's probably urine; if it looks clear, it's probably amniotic fluid. But this can be tricky, so if your pad is soaked, call your caregiver. She can determine whether you're leaking amniotic fluid.
There are several methods for testing amniotic fluid; they all involve a sterile speculum exam: Pooling. Your provider will insert the speculum and look at the cervix. Fluid will come out of your cervix and pool inside the speculum. This tests the acid level of the fluid. Amniotic fluid has a higher pH than normal vaginal fluids. The amniotic fluid, once dry, will have a fern-leaf pattern under the microscope.
Dye test. If your caregiver thinks you're leaking amniotic fluid but all the other tests are inconclusive, she may inject blue dye into the amniotic sac and have you wear a sanitary pad.
If the dye shows up on the pad, it will mean that you're leaking amniotic fluid. This test only rarely needs to be done. You may be given: Antibiotics to prolong latency time from rupture of membranes until delivery Steroids to help your baby's lungs mature in case he arrives early Magnesium sulfate prior to 32 weeks to reduce the risk of neurological impairment in the baby Your caregiver will monitor you and your baby in the hospital.
Learn more: Pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore Vaginal odors and discharge during pregnancy How will I know I'm in labor? When should I call my doctor with a pregnancy concern? The ultimate pregnancy to-do list: Third trimester. Sources BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. Featured video. Breast pads are available in some pharmacies and mother and baby shops. After your baby is born and if you're breastfeeding, your breasts will probably leak milk.
You can learn more about breastfeeding, including how to deal with common breastfeeding problems and expressing and storing breast milk. Learn more about your body after the birth. Page last reviewed: 26 January Next review due: 26 January
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