WHAT IS IT?

What is it?

PROM stands for prelabor rupture of membranes, which means that the amniotic sac breaks before the labor contractions have started. Often, spontaneous labor will occur within 24 hours, especially if the water broke at 37 weeks or later. However, if it happens before 37 weeks, it is called preterm PROM (PPROM). PPROM especially requires immediate medical attention, to manage risks, infections, and a potential preterm labor.

What Are the Risks?

If the membranes rupture happens too early, the child is at risk of premature birth, and both mother and child run the risk of infection.

What Are the Causes?

With PROM, the cause could be imperceptible contractions that your uterus undergoes in preparation for birth, while your cervix may be thinning and dilating. Though you might not feel it, your uterus and cervix might be undergoing muscular movements to prepare for labor without you even feeling it. This can weaken the amniotic sac, causing it to rupture before more intense contractions begin.

PPROM is typically a result of a complication or medical condition, but there are other unknown causes. Some more common causes include:

Vaginally bleeding

Congenital disorders that affect the uterus

Cervical insufficiency

How is it Treated?

This is where things get a bit more complicated. This is one of the late term complications that many abortion advocates argue necessitate abortion, but that is simply untrue.

Treatment will depend on how far along your pregnancy is, how your preborn baby is doing, and how your own physical health is.

If possible, your Healthcare providers will try to delay labour: This is called expectant management. This gives your body more time to prepare, and gives your baby a bit more time to develop. Doctors will implement precautions like bed rest and medication to try to delay labour. They will also monitor you and your baby for any signs of infection or distress. If needed, they will facilitate your delivery.

If the membranes rupture at 37 weeks or later, labor will probably begin in the next 24 hours. Depending on your health and the health of your baby, doctors may simply allow labour to proceed on its own, or induced labor using medications. It is safest for the mom to deliver within 24 hours.

If PROM occurs between 34 to 37 weeks, doctors will evaluate the risks of premature birth with the risks of allowing the pregnancy to continue. Depending on your health, and your child's health, the best option may be to stabilize the pregnancy for as long as possible before allowing labor to continue. However, if that is not possible, or if the risks of complications are too high to safely continue the pregnancy, then your healthcare providers will oversee and facilitate the safest labor possible. They will also arrange for NICU care (or an equivalent) for your baby when they're born.

When PROM occurs before 34 weeks, the risks of complications for your baby are higher. Practitioners will try to prolong the pregnancy, and may administer medications to delay delivery as follows:

Corticosteroids: Help develop your child's lungs.

Antibiotics: These prevent infection and prolong the pregnancy.

Tocolytics: Stop labor.

Magnesium sulfate: Help the baby's brain.

The goal is to allow your pregnancy to progress to at least 34 weeks. Your provider will also monitor you and your baby, and initiate delivery if necessary.

Learn more here: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24561-premature-rupture-of-membranes#overview

PROM and PPROM are conditions that can become serious threats, both for a mom and her baby, but they are survivable! And abortion is not the real treatment: Instead, Healthcare practitioners will do everything they can to save both the mom and her baby.

Using PROM and PPROM as justifications for abortion is a common error made by many, however, we do not treat either condition with abortion.