Amniotic Fluid FAQs

What is amniotic fluid?

Amniotic fluid is a colourless fluid that surrounds the baby in your uterus. It helps to protect and cushion your baby inside the amniotic sac and protects against infection to the baby and your uterus. Amniotic fluid also plays a vital role in the development of internal organs, such as the lungs and kidneys.

Where does amniotic fluid come from?

During the first trimester of your pregnancy the placenta, amniotic membranes and your own circulation produce fluid to fill the amniotic sac as your baby grows. At this stage, your baby will swallow the amniotic fluid, filter it through his kidneys and pass it out again as urine. Your baby also excretes some fluid from his lungs. Any excess fluid will be absorbed through the amniotic sac or via the umbilical cord, maintaining an ideal balance of fluid for your growing baby.

What is meant by ‘water breaking’?

When the amniotic sac ruptures, this may be referred to as your "water breaking."

How do I know if my waters are breaking ?

When your water breaks, you may be unsure that this is what has happened. It isn't just one gush with no further leakage. While there often is a warm gush, it is usually followed by a slow, steady leak of small amounts of amniotic fluid. Having continuous leakage is a good sign that your water has broken. The fluid is usually clear, though it can be bloody, or yellow- or green-tinged

Often leakage can be due to urine leakage and so can lead to unnecessary hospital admission and anxiety for the mother.

Use Amniosense continuously from 36 weeks to give continuous monitoring of whether you are leaking amniotic fluid..

Can I be sure my waters have broken ?

As you approach your delivery date you know to watch out for waters breaking because it is a sign of labour onset. However, around 20% of women are uncertain if their waters have broken or whether they have just leaked a little urine. You need to be sure otherwise doctors will induce labour within 24-48 hours after suspected leakage of amniotic fluid.

Use Amniosense continuously from 36 weeks to reliably identify whether you are actually leaking amniotic fluid or not..

What are the risks if I don’t know my waters have broken ?

Premature rupture  of the membranes can present serious risks to mother and baby

• To the mother  - the risk of infections and early delivery
• To the baby – the risk of infection, blindness, cerebral  palsy, deafness, cognitive impairment and death

Use Amniosense continuously from 36 weeks to reliably identify whether you are actually leaking amniotic fluid or not.

What if I’ve got an infection ?

Infection during pregnancy is common and puts you and your baby at risk. Self-treatment usually assumes that Thrush is the cause but research shows that this is not correct ! More than 50% of vaginal infections are due to BV and require antibiotics. Proper treatment for vaginal infection is important because it is a cause of low birth weight babies and premature delivery.

Use amniosense at any time from 12 weeks onwards for peace of mind.

Will my midwife / doctor test for my waters breaking ?

It is usual if there is suspected leakage for you to be admitted to hospital overnight or to be monitored at home.

Your healthcare provider may have a test done to be sure, such as the nitrazine test, which is when amniotic fluid is placed on a strip of paper and the paper colour changes to reflect the pH of the fluid, or you may have an internal examination, where a sample of the fluid is taken from the back of the vagina with a swab and examined under a microscope.  This invasive test  can increase the risk of infection.

Can Amniosense be used after an amniocentesis test ?

It can help identify if you are at risk of miscarriage after amniocentesis - routinely offered to most women over age 35 to check for certain genetic abnormalities like Downs Syndrome. Amniocentesis carries a small risk of miscarriage and an early sign of risk is leaking amniotic fluid.

Use Amniosense for one week after amniocentesis to monitor for any leakage.

What is amniocentesis?

Amniocentesis is one of several diagnostic tests that can be carried out during pregnancy. It is used to detect any possible chromosome abnormalities in the unborn child that may cause Down's syndrome or other congenital problems.

In amniocentesis, a sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the foetus is removed and analysed. This test is performed from week 15 of the pregnancy onwards.

When is amniocentesis offered?

Amniocentesis is offered during pregnancy when:

• a woman is considered at high risk because of a blood test, which measures the levels of pregnancy hormones in her blood. By combining these results with the mother's age, it is possible to calculate the risk of the child having Down's syndrome.

• a woman is considered at high risk because she has previously had a pregnancy affected by a chromosomal or genetic disorder.

• an ultrasound examination has detected features or abnormalities indicating an increased risk of a chromosome abnormality.

• a woman requests it because she is concerned that her baby may have a chromosome abnormality.

• amniocentesis is occasionally required in the investigation and management of other conditions in pregnancy such as rhesus diseases. In these circumstances, the amniotic fluid is analysed for substances in the fluid itself and not specifically to look at the baby's chromosomes.

How is amniocentesis carried out?

Using ultrasound to guide the way, a fine needle is inserted through the mother's abdomen and into the fluid surrounding the foetus. About 20ml of the amniotic fluid is removed and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The procedure usually takes 5 to 10 minutes and the mother will feel only slight discomfort. The foetus will be unaware of the procedure.

After the procedure, the mother should rest for the day. She may feel slight cramping. Bleeding and leaking of fluid from the vagina is not normal and she should contact the hospital if this happens.

Use Amniosense for one week after amniocentesis to monitor for any leakage.  

How long will it take to know the result?

A preliminary result may be available within 48 hours and the final result will be known in two to three weeks.

Is amniocentesis safe for the mother and baby?

Amniocentesis is not risk free and carries a slight risk of causing a miscarriage. Between 1 in every 100 and 1 in every 200 amniocentesis procedures will cause a miscarriage, usually within three weeks of the procedure.

Before deciding upon screening and diagnostic tests the mother should discuss any concerns she may have with her obstetrician. Having information about the baby's chromosomes has to be balanced against the small but real risk of losing the pregnancy.

Use Amniosense for one week after amniocentesis to monitor for any leakage.

What happens if the test shows abnormalities?

There is no treatment for chromosome abnormalities. If a diagnosis is made before birth, and depending on the nature of the abnormality that has been detected, the woman will usually be offered a termination of pregnancy. The decision whether or not to continue with the pregnancy always rests with the parents, and some parents may decide to continue. Before an amniocentesis test is carried out, it is important for the expectant parents to consider what difference an abnormal result would make to their wish to continue with the pregnancy.

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