💧 Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM): When “the Water” Breaks Too Soon
👩🍼 For Mothers – Awareness
PROM means the water around the baby breaks before labor starts.
If it happens before 37 weeks → PPROM (Preterm PROM).
Warning signs: sudden gush or continuous trickle of fluid, wet underwear, sometimes mixed with blood.
🔔 What to do immediately:
➡️ Don’t wait at home — go to the hospital at once.
➡️ Don’t insert anything vaginally.
➡️ Count your baby’s movements.
➡️ Be alert to fever, abdominal pain, or foul discharge (infection warning).
🧪 How Doctors Confirm PROM
Sometimes it’s not easy to know if the leaking fluid is really amniotic fluid or not.
Doctors may use a quick swab test (like Actim PROM):
Just a simple test done in a few minutes.
Confirms if the fluid is from around the baby.
Helps doctors take the right decision quickly and safely.
🔹 High Leak – Trickle of Fluid
Small tear in the sac → fluid leaks slowly.
Mother may only feel slight wetness.
Still carries risk of infection and preterm labor.
🔹 Low Break – Gush of Fluid
Large tear near the cervix → sudden gush.
More obvious to mother.
After drainage, the risk of accidental hemorrhage increases (placental separation, cord prolapse, maternal bleeding).
⚠️ Why It Matters
PROM isn’t just “waters breaking.”
It can lead to serious complications:
Maternal infection (chorioamnionitis).
Preterm birth.
Hemorrhage if placenta separates.
Umbilical cord accidents.
🧪 Real-Life Example
A mother at 28 weeks came with fluid leakage.
We did the Actim PROM test ➝ it turned positive ✅.
This confirmed that her water had broken, even though the leakage looked small.
👉 With this clear result, we could act fast: give her steroids, antibiotics, and close monitoring to protect both her and her baby.
🩺 Management Depends on Timing
At term (≥37 weeks): Usually labor is started to reduce infection risk.
Preterm (<37 weeks):
Steroids to help the baby’s lungs.
Antibiotics to prevent infection.
Careful monitoring for mother and baby.
If infection develops → delivery is necessary.
🌸 Take-Home Message
PROM isn’t just “waters breaking” — it’s a critical moment.
👉 Early recognition + hospital care + quick tests = safer outcomes for mother and baby.
📌
#DrRababCares
#WomenHealthMatters #PROM #PregnancyAwareness #ForestParkHospital #LusakaGynae
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