Leaking of Amniotic Fluid at 4 Months Pregnant

Amniotic fluid is the protective fluid that surrounds the fetus while it is developing in the uterus. It protects the baby from infection and also from temperature changes.

Facts

• There is a higher chance of a leak occurring after 36 weeks in a healthy pregnancy. This can also happen after an amniocentesis or before preterm labor.

  If this were to happen four months into the pregnancy, seek medical help.

Solutions

• It can be difficult to tell whether the fluid is amniotic fluid by sight alone. It is possible to buy a home- testing kit for this. However, most women choose to go to hospital to be examined. Amniotic fluid may have a sweet aroma.

Other Considerations

• Incontinence is a frequent side-effect of pregnancy. Therefore, urine can be mistaken for amniotic fluid. In addition to this, the levels of vaginal discharge increase greatly in pregnancy.

Risks

• The absence of amniotic fluid increases the chance of the unborn baby coming into contact with an infection. The fetus can also become stressed if the amniotic fluid is not present or is leaking.