To ask for medical treatment dr think is unecessary?

[RightBuggerforit]

I'm over 39 weeks pregnant, waters started leaking 4 days ago. Hospital policy locally is to induce 24-48 hours after a leak due to infection risk. Doctor has said there's no evidence of a leak, as it would show on a speculum and I'd be soaking pads every few hours - apparently there's no such thing as a small leak, it's either a massive one or a figment of your imagination.

The same thing happened last pregnancy, waters were gushing out every time I sat down, but nothing showed when they did the speculum. They induced after 48 hours when I produced a whole cupfull of amniotic fluid I'd caught myself in a pot.

This time, the leak is less gushy, but I still managed to catch some waters in a pot and present them. Dr agrees it appears to be amniotic fluid, and that it is a 'mystery' because there is too much of it for any explanation other than a hind water leak, but still won't accept that there is one, because of the speculum.

AIBU to ask for either induction or preventative antibiotics, to protect the baby from infection, given the length of time waters have been unsealed for?

Can you ask for a second opinion? Another doc might be more amenable?

I agree you should ask for a second opinion.

I would phone the midwife tell her your coming in and don't take no for an answer. Hospitals are so shit just now and you have to stand your ground and make them take notice. Don't take no for an answer, they are not infallible they make mistakes. Ask for a second or even third opinion. Your first priority is your baby, use your voice take no shit. Good luck

Thanks - tried to keep it short, but the long version is the first dr (a consultant) said, despite knowing the history, that it's not a leak, is probably caused by thrush (but they did a swab, I haven't got it!) and that even if I turned up having caught waters in a pot, he wouldn't look at them or believe waters had gone because of the speculum. So, when I caught the waters in a pot I went to a different hospital (turns out the consultant works there too!) but saw a different dr, he's the one that confirmed that the amount of fluid couldn't be caused by thrush, and couldn't say what could cause it, but agreed with original dr that if nothing shows on a speculum test then it can't be leaking waters, therefore no treatment or precautionary measures available.

That's ridiculous. You've given them a pot of amniotic fluid but they are saying you aren't leaking amniotic fluid? I'd be staging a sit in at the hospital until they induced me (not a fan o induction, having had prom and induction but would want the risk of infection managed).

When I had a small leak the midwife did a swab, the stick thing when black and that confirmed if was amniotic fluid. Can't they dip your sample?

Oddboots, that's a bit odd because all the drs and midwives have said to me that there is no test for amniotic fluid (the reason why the first dr said he wouldn't be influenced in his opinion by having a pot of waters in front of him). Are you in England? Maybe they have a test somewhere else?

That's odd, my waters broke early with 3 of my dcs, before 37 weeks and each time labour started on it's own within a week.

Did they give you a reason why they won't prescribe ab?

Oh and yes I was swabbed to test for amniotic fluid so it can be done

I'm in Nottingham

My waters went with first preg, splat on floor cleared up a large puddle. Contractions began very slowly that afternoon. Went to hospital in evening to be checked and the midwife said she didn't think my waters had gone. Doh - so what was the massive puddle of slimey feeling clear liquid??? Clearly not urine. Luckily went into labour and delivered. Sometimes they have NO idea....

Phone your delivery unit - I was in a similar situation - they had a look and could see that that's what it was (still didn't induce me for another couple of days though ).

Yup, I'm in England and this was with my now 9yo daughter. I've just looked them up, the swab is called 'AmnioTest'

link

My mums waters broke a month before my brother was born. Basically there was a small whole in the sack and my brothers head kept sealing it then unsealing it.

She was monitored daily by her (independent) midwife and her Doctor for signs of infection or distress. She was asked to smell her regularly to check for signs of infection. She went into labor naturally.

Thanks oddboots - I'm gobsmacked about that. What a load of horse shit I've been fed then, ffs!!

I thought NICE guidelines were no need to induce until almost 96 hours after waters breaking, maybe that's changed. Friend went a week & baby was born healthily (she was with a private MW & it was what friend wanted).

Very weird story bcause usually HPs are very over-keen to say it's amniotic fluids or too risky to wait.

Is this doctor at your hosptial? Present yourself at the delivery unit saying you are leaking and have been for leaking for X amount of time and are worried about the baby.

When my waters went they gave me a scan to check fluid levels, maybe worth asking and then if they're getting low you'd have more of a case for induction.

And yes what Gracie says, a scan to check fluid levels

I had a small leak with pfb.

So small I thought I had some discharge.

Gave birth the next day-at 29wks.

Ask them if they have active prom tests and if so could they do one. its like a pregnancy test but for amniotic fluid. not all hospitals use it though.

Gracie - I had a scan, they showed a reduction in fluid levels from a scan 2 weeks before (which they'd done for suspected polyhydramnios - came back ok though). But they said afterwards that the reduction wasn't loads and that the scan is not very accurate anyway, so they said that's not indicative either. They went from quite a lot of waters 2 weeks before, well above the 50th centile line, to under the 50th centile but still within normal range.

Viva - If they haven't even heard of an amniotest, and say there is no test, then I doubt they'll have that one either, but thank you.

DontmindifIdo - that's exactly what I did!

Adventures with wolves - I also googled that one, it will be 96 hours today anyway though.

Dh thinks the risk is very small, since it's 'only hind waters', so we should just do nothing, because like the drs say, the risk of intervention outweighs the risk of infection. 2 problems with that, dh has no medical qualifications, so imo he's not qualified to say what the risk is!! Also, the drs don't think the risk is worth it because they don't actually think there is/has been a leak, but I know there has, so imo that massively changes how the risks should be weighed up. Anyway, surely there's very little risk in giving me antibiotics as a precaution, even if they wouldn't induce?

"I thought NICE guidelines were no need to induce until almost 96 hours after waters breaking"

Really? I so wish I'd known that!!

I thought nice guidelunes said baby should be delivered by 96 hours. as iol process can take a few days thats why they start it after 24 hours.

Ah! Yes, it took afew days with me.