From: juliet@world.std.com (Juliet Sutherland)
Subject: Re: Pregnancy Worries (WAS: Re: Waking up at night)
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 23:14:10 GMT

In article <1992Jul24.190823.20257@ohrd.uucp> ohrd!crobshaw@cs.toronto.edu (Catherine Robshaw) writes:
>lorenzo@hsi.com (Evelyn Lorenzo) writes:
>: In article <34886@fibercom.COM> rrg@rtp (Rhonda Gaines) writes:
>: 
>: >On a related note, in the past few days (I wear panty liners all the
>: >time whether I'm pregnant or not.  The seem to deter yeast infections)
>: >I've noticed that my pantiliner has been saturated by the end of a
>: >day.  Not wringing wet or anything.  
>:     [text deleted]
>: >I'm thinking that if it were a problem, then I would
>: >have the same thing happen at night but since there's not anything
>: >resembling a puddle in the bed the next morning I'm trying to
>: >reassure myself there's nothing wrong.  My next OB appointment is
>: >7/30 so I'll definitely mention it then but in the meantime, what
>: >is the net.wisdom on this?
>: >
>: > -rhonda
>: >  29 weeks down 11+/- to go!!!
>: >
>: 
>: Rhonda,
>: 
>: Although increased discharge is common during pregnancy, what you're 
>: describing sounds like it's fluid rather than viscous in consistency.  
>: I think you should give your OB a call and explain what you've been seeing
>: for the past few days.  If the OB thinks it's warranted, there's a test 
>: they can do to make sure it's not amniotic fluid and that you haven't 
>: "sprung a leak" - just a peek under the microscope.  I'd at least call now
>: instead of waiting the next week and a half until your appointment.  
>: 
>: There's no harm in being cautious - I wouldn't be hesitant to call, either.
>: That's what OBs are in business for, right???  
>
>Rhonda, I too had this discharge you describe.  I was about 38 weeks.
>It started on a Thursday/Friday.  I did not really think anything of 
>it but I mentioned it to my doctor on the Monday following.  He had
>me go to the hospital on the Tuesday, prepared for anything.  He said
>if it was amniotic fluid, then I would be staying.  So I checked in.
>The test they did was very simple.  They took the minipad I had been
>wearing and using a cotton swab dipped in some fluid they rubbed it
>on the pad.  If it turned a certain colour, then it was amniotic fluid.
>If it is, they are fearful of infection to the baby.  Needless to say
>I stayed in the hospital and was induced on the Wednesday, one week
>early.  There was no water left to break, it had all drained out.
>That Tuesday night was the longest of my life!
>
>So I hope this is not your problem, you might be a mom sooner than
>you think!  Please post and let me know.  Thanks.
>
>Catharine Robshaw
>Mother to 9.5 mo old Bradley
>ohrd!crobshaw@cs.toronto.edu
>

I, too, had an unusual discharge during one of my pregnancies.  Given
the quantities, I should have guessed right away that it was amniotic
fluid, but it took me nearly half a day to catch on.  When I went in
to see the midwives, they did a very careful sterile internal exam and
verified that it was amniotic fluid by both the Ph test (urine is
acidic, amniotic fluid is not) and visual observation (they could see
it flowing down my vagina.  I was hospitalized immediately but this
is where my story differs from that above.  I was at 33 weeks, and at
that point the emphasis is on keeping the baby in as long as possible
while still avoiding infection.  I had heard numerous stories like the
above and was very afraid that they would want the baby born immediately
and was much relieved to discover that the rules change if you aren't
within the usual delivery window.  To finish the story, I spent 3 days
in the hospital, 3 days on bedrest at home, went into labor spontaneously
at 34 weeks and delivered a healthy, breech, 5 lb baby boy (pitocin
but no episiotomy).  He stayed in the hospital for 4 days, 3 days on
preventive antibiotics until they were sure that he didn't have any
infection and 1 day for jaundice.

To summarize, I just want folks to know that an amniotic leak earlier
in the pregnancy does not mean that the baby has to be born.
		Juliet Sutherland
Mom to Belle (7.75), Robert (5.75), William (2.75), Rose (10.5 mths)
Guardian to Samantha (5)

Newsgroups: misc.kids