Can ultrasound detect amniotic fluid?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Obstetrician - Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

1. Amniotic fluid overview

Amniotic fluid is a liquid solution that creates a protective environment for the developing fetus. The entire amniotic fluid is located in the amniotic sac with ingredients such as hormones, nutrients, immune system cells, baby's urine. At the most, the amount of amniotic fluid in the womb will be about 1 liter. From the 36th week onwards, the amount of amniotic fluid will gradually decrease to prepare for the baby's birth. However, there are some cases where the water breaks or leaks early in pregnancy.

2. What is amniotic fluid? Causes of leaking amniotic fluid

Amniotic fluid leak is a condition in which amniotic fluid comes out of the vagina slowly in very little lines, so many pregnant women do not notice or think that they are leaking urine. Leaking amniotic fluid is also a sign that the amniotic membrane is thinning and is at risk of rupture at any time. Amniotic fluid leakage will cause the fetal living environment to gradually be affected, the role of oxygen and nutrient supply is affected, and over time, it can lead to fetal malformations, fetal distress, even premature birth, fetal death. This premature leakage of amniotic fluid can be caused by many reasons, but it can be caused by excessive stretching of the amniotic sac in cases of multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, diabetes mellitus, amnionitis, and other products. Women with cleft uterus, narrow pelvis.
If too much amniotic fluid leaks out, it will lead to lack or depletion of amniotic fluid. Or amniotic fluid may also flow out massively due to the rupture of membranes, also known as amniotic fluid rupture, is a sign of women's labor.

3. How to know if a pregnant woman is leaking amniotic fluid?

Amniotic fluid leakage is often recognized by pregnant women as soon as they see abnormal water. If the pregnancy is from 37 weeks onwards and the pregnant mother finds that the bladder seems to be full faster, it is easy to leak a little urine when sneezing, laughing or even when doing nothing, sometimes see wet discharge. The bottom of your panties should be prepared gradually because you will probably feel contractions in the next 24 hours.
Distinguishing amniotic fluid from urine and vaginal discharge requires a certain amount of experience. Usually, amniotic fluid will have some of the following characteristics:
Evaluation of flow rate: In the last months of pregnancy, many pregnant women experience urinary incontinence because the bladder is compressed by the uterus, causing urine to leak out. Because the bladder and uterus are located inside the abdomen, many mothers confuse amniotic fluid with leakage. However, if you pay close attention, you will see that when amniotic fluid leaks, the flow rate of the fluid is slower than that of urine.
Observe and smell: It is a fairly easy sign to know if amniotic fluid is leaking or not. When you see a wet vaginal area, check and observe the color of the fluid that comes out. If it is wet and odorless, colorless or may have a light beige-pink color, like rice water, but as thin as water, not as thick as vaginal discharge, it means that the pregnant woman has leaked amniotic fluid. Urine usually has a pungent odor, light yellow or dark yellow.
This observation also helps pregnant women recognize abnormal cases of amniotic fluid such as:
Blue amniotic fluid may be a sign of mixed amniotic fluid, warning of the risk of choking in the fetus. Amniotic fluid that is pink, red and bloody may be a condition of pregnant women with placenta previa, which should be examined immediately. Yellow amniotic fluid with a foul odor may be an infection of the amniotic fluid, which also requires early intervention. Test with purple litmus paper to change color: When amniotic fluid leaks, use purple litmus paper to check the pH level. If the litmus paper does not change color, it is urine, if it turns dark (blue-black), it means that the amniotic membrane is leaking.
In general, amniotic fluid leaks or rupture of membranes are not painful for pregnant women, but these are warning signs and need to go to the hospital for examination immediately.

4. Can ultrasound detect amniotic fluid leak?

During prenatal ultrasounds, your doctor will usually estimate the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding your baby. There are two indicators used to assess the amount of amniotic fluid: the AFI (longitudinal measure of the amniotic sac) or the MPV. The amount of amniotic fluid is considered low if the AFI is <5cm or MPV<2cm.
Amniotic fluid at just enough level is the ideal environment for the fetus to develop. Amniotic fluid that is too much (polyhydramnios) or too little (oligohydramnios) also affects the baby's development as well as later delivery.

5. What level of amniotic fluid is normal?

Normally the amount of amniotic fluid will increase gradually with gestational age and peak at 36 weeks. During pregnancy the amount of amniotic fluid will be around:
12th week: 60ml 16th week: 175ml 34th-38th week: 400- 1000ml In fact, ultrasound will not help pregnant women detect amniotic fluid leakage, only pregnant women will notice and recognize amniotic fluid leakage earliest. Ultrasound only helps to assess how much amniotic fluid is, from which the doctor concludes that the amniotic fluid is lacking or sufficient to take measures to avoid endangering the fetus.

6. Notes when detecting amniotic fluid leak

If you are not yet 37 weeks pregnant and your underwear is wet, you should quickly go to the nearest hospital for a checkup and a specific diagnosis. At that time, if the amniotic fluid leaks little or there is a mild infection, the doctor can still intervene to help protect the fetus. If you are 37 weeks pregnant or more and experience these symptoms, you should prepare all the necessary tools for labor because labor contractions may appear within 24 hours.
If the pregnant woman is sure that she is leaking amniotic fluid, avoid using tampons, having sex or taking a bath. During pregnancy and during pregnancy, it is very important to maintain hygiene and to have regular gynecological examinations. Because if there is an infection, it will also be treated promptly, reducing the risk of amniotic membrane rupture during pregnancy and adversely affecting the development of the fetus.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a package maternity service as a solution to help pregnant women feel secure because of the companionship of the medical team throughout the pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of qualified doctors Regular check-up, early detection of abnormalities Maternity package helps to facilitate the process. Birth process Newborns receive comprehensive care Dr. Pham Thi Yen has 11 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Doctor with strengths and deep understanding in:
Examination and consultation of normal pregnancies, pathological pregnancies, high-risk pregnancies Examination and treatment of gynecological diseases: cervicitis, cervical ectropion Surgery Laparoscopic surgery for gynecological diseases: ectopic pregnancy, uterine tumor, ovarian tumor Surgery for breast, vulvar, vaginal, cervical tumors Obstetric surgery: cesarean section, examination and treatment of women's endocrine disorders at all ages: puberty, reproductive age; perimenopausal age. To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide, or register online HERE
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