Planned early birth versus expectant management (waiting) for prelabour rupture of membranes at term (37 weeks or more)
RHL practical aspects by Suwannachat B
FIRST CONTACT (PRIMARY CARE) LEVEL
During antenatal care visits, all pregnant women should be advised to contact a health facility immediately if they have the following signs and symptoms: regular abdominal cramps or contractions, drainage of clear liquid or bleeding from vagina, fever, severe headache, upper abdominal pain and blurred vision.
Women with prelabour rupture of membranes (PROM) should be referred to secondary care for planned management.
REFERRAL HOSPITAL (SECONDARY CARE) LEVEL
Planned management of labour should be implemented in women with PROM after counseling them about the benefit and risks of the approach. Women showing signs and symptoms of infection should be treated with an antibiotic (1) and sign of chorioamnionitis should be investigated.
AT HOME OR IN THE COMMUNITY
Not applicable.
Acknowledgements: Sonja Henderson and Prof. Pisake Lumbiganon for their kind suggestion in writing the commentary.
References
- Hopkins L, Smaill F. Antibiotic regimens for management of intraamniotic infection (Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2006. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)
This document should be cited as: Suwannachat B. Planned early birth versus expectant management (waiting) for prelabour rupture of membranes at term (37 weeks or more) : RHL practical aspects (last revised: 24 August 2007). The WHO Reproductive Health Library; Geneva: World Health Organization.