What does it feel like when you leak amniotic fluid? When do you experience leakage? How much does it happen and how long after delivery? Are there any other symptoms associated with leaking amniotic fluid during pregnancy? Is it painful or uncomfortable to have watery discharge during pregnancy? Do you need medical attention if your baby leaks amniotic fluid while in the womb or birth canal (birth)?
Leaking Amniotic Fluid During Pregnancy: What Does It Feel Like?
The following are some of the questions that you may ask yourself when you have leaking amniotic fluid during pregnancy.
1)
Why do I have watery discharge during pregnancy?
A woman’s body releases hormones called prostaglandins into her blood stream. These chemicals cause the uterus to contract. Watery discharge occurs due to the contraction of uterine muscles. Some women may experience leakage even before they give birth, but most often occur later in pregnancy.
2)
What causes my body to release these chemicals?
Prostaglandin production is controlled by several factors including age, diet, stress levels and many others. There are various theories about what might trigger the production of prostaglandins in the body. Some believe that the stretching of the uterine muscles due to increased size and weight of the uterus might cause the production of these chemicals. Others think that hormonal changes in the body are responsible for this process.
3)
Is leaking amniotic fluid dangerous?
There are some obvious dangers in allowing your water to break early, as this can lead to infection. However, having a small amount of watery discharge is not usually a cause for concern in itself. It is definitely not as dangerous as having your waters break, but you should still follow up with your physician to be on the safe side.
4) What are some of the causes of watery discharge during pregnancy?
Sources & references used in this article:
Neonatal pulmonary hypoplasia after prolonged leakage of amniotic fluid. by M Perlman, J Williams, M Hirsch – Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1976 – adc.bmj.com
Complement C3a expression and tryptase degranulation as promising histopathological tests for diagnosing fatal amniotic fluid embolism by V Fineschi, I Riezzo, S Cantatore, C Pomara… – Virchows Archiv, 2009 – Springer
Nonfatal amniotic fluid embolism: three possible cases and a new clinical definition by MD Benson – Archives of family medicine, 1993 – triggered.edina.clockss.org
