Low amniotic fluid, also known as oligohydramnios, can occur due to various reasons other than the rupture of membranes. March of Dimes [Internet]. Arlington (VA): March of Dimes; c2022. Amniotic Fluid; [reviewed 2020 Sept; cited 2022 May 9]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/amniotic-fluid.aspx

Occasionally, a rupture of membranes can happen without contractions (usually just a small leak), which is referred to as preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). In such cases, the amniotic fluid may gradually decrease over time until it reaches a critically low level, and can be an inlet for infection for mom & baby. Possible blood group incompatibility between mother and child (this can only be determined from the 30th week of pregnancy). The AmniSure ROM Test kit is a self-contained system that can serve as part of your overall clinical evaluation of PROM, which is crucial to ensure appropriate obstetric measures are taken in the event of a rupture. Failure to identify patients with ROM can result in the failure to intervene appropriately. Amniotic fluid is mostly baby pee — and as we all know, babies keep peeing. So, amniotic fluid keeps coming out. So, it stops when baby is out. 🙂 Should I call the doctor if I think I’m leaking amniotic fluid? Prompt and accurate diagnosis of PROM preterm and at term is important, although management modalities vary. While conservative approach of management may be employed for preterm, for term PROM (37–42 weeks) stimulation of labor with oxytocin or prostaglandin may be necessary if spontaneous onset of labor fails to occurs, to avoid prolonged PROM, chorioamnionitis and other complications. There may be associated antimicrobial use or misuse.[ 21, 22]If you get up and feel another gush of fluid, it likely means that your water is broken. The gush happens because it collects in your vaginal vault while you’re lying down. When you get up, it comes out.

Amniocentesis is usually done in an outpatient obstetric center or a health care provider's office. During the procedure Risks of PROM at term are related to serious neonatal consequences such as pre-term delivery, fetal distress, prolapsed cord, abruptio placentae and infection (2). pPROM accounts for 20% to 40% of PROM cases, and is associated with 20% to 50% of premature births. Complications of pPROM include infectious morbidity in the mother and fetus, pulmonary hypoplasia of the fetus, prolapse of the umbilical cord, development of fetal deformities, and postnatal endometritis (2). All of these consequences significantly increase risk of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. March of Dimes [Internet]. Arlington (VA): March of Dimes; c2022. Down Syndrome; [reviewed 2020 Feb; cited 2022 May 9]; [about 13 screens]. Available from: https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/down-syndrome.aspx

Within the scope of amniocentesis, it is possible, on the one hand, to detect diseases or hereditary changes. On the other hand, amniocentesis makes it possible to determine the concentrations of two relevant proteins in the amniotic fluid. These are the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE). If one or both of these values are elevated, this usually indicates a malformation of the abdominal wall or spinal column. How Is It Possible To Obtain Meaningful Results? If the amniotic fluid needs to be examined, the gynecologist first conducts a detailed consultation. The examination that follows is usually performed on an outpatient basis. It is important that the procedure is performed in an appropriately specialized practice or clinic. The hollow needle is withdrawn again and the generated fluid and the cells it contains are processed in the laboratory. Good To Know ACOG: Women's Healthcare Physicians [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; c2022. Amniocentesis; [reviewed 2021 Mar; cited 2022 May 9]; [about 17 screens]. Available from: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/amniocentesis

So, that’s the deal on an at home amniotic fluid test. Like I said — I guess it’s not a horrible idea to plan ahead to have at home but please talk with your doctor if that’s your plan. AND if you think you’re ruptured — it’s too late, call your doctor. Note: This is just information on how we test for fluid, I have no medical recommendations in this post, just information. Please talk with your provider about you and your circumstances. Having your water broken but not being seen can have really serious consequences. Can you do an amniotic fluid leak test at home? At the determined cut of value of 12.7 mg/dl, urea was positive in only 12 cases of study group and negative in 52 cases. Among the controls 61 (95.3%) were truly negative for urea. Creatinine was positive in 31 (48.4%) of the 64 study group participants and falsely negative in 33 (51.6%) while of the control group, it was truly negative in 43 (67.2%) and falsely positive in 21 (32.8%). The k value of 0.875 of nitrazine showed that it was the most reliable test for predicting PROM, followed by creatinine 0.156 and finally urea at k of 0.141. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. An amniocentesis is usually performed between the 14th and 19th week of pregnancy. If amniocentesis were performed at an earlier time, the physician would not be able to generate accurate findings. In addition, early amniocentesis could trigger a miscarriage. Here’s How Amniocentesis Proceeds:Dye test: Injecting dye into the amniotic sac through the abdomen. If the membranes have ruptured, the colored fluid will be found in the vagina within 30 minutes. Note: This is just a remembrance of how I used to do it, I am in no way recommending you do it. I have to say that the gold standard Amnisure is your best bet. I’m just sharing a little history here: