Rupture of Membranes

Artificial Rupture of Membranes

From The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence. 

What to Know:

• An intact amniotic sac protects your baby’s head and your vagina during labor.
• Artificially rupturing the sac increases your risk of infection and interventions (Pitocin, EFM, IV, restricted movement, and cesarean).
• Research shows that movement and hydration are often all that’s needed to get a slow labor moving and that membranes shouldn’t be ruptured routinely.
• You may benefit from having your water broken if your labor is very difficult or slow to progress.

How to Avoid Unnecessary Use:

• Discuss this intervention with your caregiver.
• Tell your caregiver that a longer labor is okay with you.
• Labor at home as long as possible.

How to Keep Labor as Normal as Possible if Your Membranes are Ruptured Artificially:

• Be prepared for stronger contractions.
• Continue to use all the support and comfort resources you have.
• Avoid having unnecessary vaginal exams after your membranes have been ruptured.
• Keep moving and changing position often.
• Remember that your body knows how to birth your baby.

Read more about medical interventions:

• Induction with pitocin
• IV fluids
• Epidural and anesthesia
• Movement restrictions
• Continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM)
• Directed pushing
• Episiotomy
• Cesarean surgery