PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes)

published Dec 2023

Occasionally, a woman's water will break before labour starts. Usually she will be in labour within a few hours. however sometimes it can take a long time for labour to start, or, the baby is at a premature gestation.

Here are some helpful resources to help you consider what is right for your situation.

I also want to add something to think about- Why do care providers/guidelines keep a premature baby with ruptured waters under monitoring, inside the mother for weeks and weeks and consider it safe, and yet the instant a mother reaches 39w or 40w, you have just 24hrs before they pressure her for induction or caesarean? Why not monitor the 40w gestation mother?

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Some quick tips
- Read up on the stages of labour
- Research amniotic sac physiology (there are two layers!)
- Get some PH strips to test and confirm that it is amniotic fluid
- No Cervical Checks and nothing in the vagina
- Consider whether home induction is right for you

https://wisewomanwayofbirth.com/membrane-release-before-birth-sensations-begin-what-to-do/ 

https://midwifethinking.com/2017/01/11/pre-labour-rupture-of-membranes-impatience-and-risk/ and read the comments

Facebook Support Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/394510669176668/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT 

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If you are in any natural minded pregnancy groups or homebirth groups, do a key word search in the group for PROM/Premature rupture/Waters breaking. there are often threads with experiences or information.

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PROM = Premature Rupture of Membranes
SROM = Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes 
AROM = Artificial Rupture of Membranes (like in a hospital with by a care provider with a hook or finger)