The release of amniotic fluid notifies the woman that the baby is ready to be born. If the waters have broken, then childbirth should take place soon, because without them the child cannot remain in the womb for a long time. Doctors say that if labor does not begin within 24 hours after the water breaks, then you need to go to the hospital without waiting for contractions.
It happens that the amniotic fluid does not drain on its own. This may happen already during childbirth or not happen at all - then the woman’s water bladder is pierced.
Amniotic fluid is certainly assessed, since its condition is of great diagnostic importance. Normally, the amniotic fluid should be clear. If the waters are greenish, green or dark, then we are talking about some kind of violation. However, not always, but the gynecologist will certainly take this fact into account.
Many mothers are trying to find out why there are green waters during childbirth, and how this can be dangerous. But the answers are so confusing that it is not easy to understand the question.
Causes of green waters
A woman can find out about the presence of green waters during an ultrasound scan or at the moment when they recede. It is not always possible to accurately determine the cause of this pathology. However, there are some factors that influence the formation of green water:
- oxygen starvation of the fetus: the baby experiences a reflex contraction of the muscles of the anus, which causes meconium (original feces) to be released. This is how the waters become green;
Green amniotic fluid appears due to the baby's excretion of meconium (original feces) - post-term pregnancy: with it, the aging placenta “refuses” to function fully, and the baby cannot breathe fully, which leads to hypoxia (oxygen starvation);
- infections and diseases during pregnancy (previous or existing): from the common cold to problems of the genitourinary system;
- genetic pathology of the fetus: for this reason, water in rare cases may be greenish;
- stress of the child: during childbirth, the baby may experience it, which is why he simply defecates out of fear. This happens in 30% of pregnant women.
Before giving birth, the baby sometimes experiences natural stress, which is why he defecates out of fear.
There is an opinion that the amniotic fluid may become colored due to the significant consumption of peas or apples by the expectant mother. But doctors do not confirm this.
There is an opinion that green waters are formed due to the significant consumption of peas, but this has not been confirmed by doctors
How to determine the color of amniotic fluid?
In fact, everything is very banal: if the waters recede almost all in one stream, then it will be difficult not to notice their color. After all, normally they should be transparent (or slightly cloudy) and odorless. Therefore, any deviation from the provided norm should be accompanied by an immediate reaction from the expectant mother and those around her. Namely, calling an ambulance or your doctor.
Green waters are a signal of the baby’s suffering (due to oxygen starvation, a reflex contraction of the anal sphincter is triggered and original feces are released into the amniotic fluid), you need to urgently remove it from pathogenic conditions.
But what to do if the water is slowly leaking? First of all, change the sanitary absorbent pad to a white cloth one (mostly homemade). This will help you control the color and consistency of the discharge and, if necessary, show it to the doctor. There is nothing inconvenient or shameful about this, since, in some cases, minutes are counted.
Don't be alarmed if you see streaks of blood on the gasket. Most likely, they appeared due to the opening of the cervix. Just do not confuse them with red water, since the latter signal internal bleeding (placental abruption or placental previa) and require immediate intervention.
Possible complications during childbirth and consequences for the child
It is impossible to judge unequivocally about complications during childbirth caused by green waters. In this case, the chances of avoiding consequences are the same as for women with normal amniotic fluid. But still, with green waters, after the baby swallows them and clogs his respiratory tract, the following problems sometimes arise:
- damage to lung tissue. It appears due to the chemical effects of aggressive meconium substances;
- collapse of the lungs. It occurs due to the destruction of surfactant (a substance in the alveoli that prevents the collapse of the lungs at the exit);
- airway obstruction;
- aspiration pneumonia. Due to the above complications, the baby’s body weakens, which can lead to the invasion of a bacterial or viral pathogen;
- disturbance of microcirculation, changes in gas exchange in the lungs;
- hypoxia, leading to: causeless regurgitation;
- muscle hypertonicity;
- sleep disturbance, anxiety;
- developmental disorders and growth retardation of the child.
There is no need to panic about green waters, as they do not always cause problems with your baby.
A new mother should not panic, because the above problems appear only in the worst case scenario. Most often, children develop well and do not develop disorders.
A friend told me that during the first birth, her boy was born somewhat green due to amniotic fluid. But the doctors promptly took all measures to normalize his condition, and the friend and her son were discharged from the maternity hospital without staying there. 6 years after this, a friend went to pick up her daughter. She was very afraid that the situation would repeat itself, despite the absence of negative consequences the first time. But her daughter was born in clear waters and was completely healthy. Now a friend’s son is 17 years old, and her daughter is 11. Therefore, there is no need to panic and forget about everything in the world when the green water breaks - it is not a fact that a baby born in clear amniotic fluid will be healthier.
How to prevent it?
In order to answer this question, it is necessary to remember why there are green waters and:
- follow all doctor’s recommendations, take scheduled tests, undergo the necessary examinations that will allow you to timely identify the infection and get rid of it;
- monitor nutrition, which directly affects the mother’s immunity, as well as her hemoglobin level;
- If possible, plan your pregnancy. In other words, undergo an examination with your husband before conception and rule out the presence of any diseases.
We figured out what green water looks like during childbirth, why it happens, what it leads to, and how to prevent it. Take note of useful information and share it on social networks. Perhaps right now one of your friends desperately needs it.
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During its existence in the womb, the fetus has several degrees of protection from the aggression of environmental factors. One such protective mechanism is amniotic fluid or amniotic fluid. Normally, it is a transparent, yellowish or pinkish liquid with a thin suspension, which includes the child’s epithelial cells, his hair, skin flakes, and drops of vernix.
Green water diagnostics
The following diagnostic measures will help identify the problem:
- Ultrasound. With it, it is impossible to see the color of the waters, but you can learn about their changes. If the pregnancy is post-term, then the volume of water is reduced, as can be seen in the study. In addition, the ultrasound specialist can examine the homogeneity of the amniotic fluid. When clots appear in them, there is a high probability that it is meconium;
An ultrasound cannot see the color of amniotic fluid, but changes in it can be observed - amnioscopy. An instrument (amnioscope) is inserted into the vagina and cervix. Thanks to it, it is possible to identify the color and amount of amniotic fluid
- amniocentesis. It involves the collection of amniotic fluid, due to which its color and composition are determined. This procedure is performed only when indicated, as it can cause premature birth and other problems.
Amnioscopy allows you to identify the color and amount of amniotic fluid; amniocentesis is a dangerous procedure performed only when indicated
Why does amniotic fluid turn green?
During normal pregnancy, the water around the baby is not green, but transparent. A change in the color of the amniotic fluid indicates a pathological process during pregnancy.
According to statistics, in almost 20% of births the color of the waste water is green.
The most common cause of discoloration is low oxygen saturation in the blood of the developing fetus.
This pathology is called intrauterine hypoxia. If there is not enough oxygen, the baby's sphincter relaxes and the contents of the rectum (meconium) come out - this is one of the reasons why the amniotic fluid is green. 70% of cases of diagnosed fetal hypoxia are caused by this.
Meconium is a substance that accumulates in the intestines of a developing fetus during the third trimester.
- vernix;
- secretions of the stomach, intestines;
- amniotic fluid;
- pancreatic secretions;
- lanugo;
- cheesy substance.
If the baby has had a bowel movement, its contents will be released into the external environment, giving it a green tint.
Meconium ends up in amniotic fluid for rarer reasons.
- If the fetus has congenital developmental anomalies, leading to the fact that the sphincter does not retain feces inside the intestines.
- Infant stress transmitted from mother.
Deterioration of the condition of the vessels of the fetal sac, including blood vessels, leads to insufficient oxygen supply to the baby. Hypoxia develops, which leads to meconium entering the placental fluid.
Other reasons
Another explanation for why the waters are green is post-term pregnancy.
The placenta has its own “lifespan”, after which decomposition processes begin to occur in it.
Pathology of blood circulation in the mother's pelvic organs, as well as systemic cardiovascular diseases, cause the waters to change color already in the first or second trimester of pregnancy.
Therefore, it is so important for a woman expecting the birth of a baby to undergo the prescribed examinations in a timely manner.
If mom gets sick, her condition worsens. It is important to take measures for a speedy cure, because her body will first take care of herself, and only then the health of the child inside her.
This is a law of nature: an adult body will still be able to bear more than one baby, but raising a newborn to adulthood requires a lot of resources.
Diseases such as:
- cystitis;
- vaginitis;
- infectious diseases;
- pneumonia, bronchitis;
- gastritis
can lead to intrauterine hypoxia of the child.
For a mother, taking care of her own health and preventing possible illnesses should be of paramount importance.
Interestingly, even the wrong diet can turn the amniotic fluid green, for example, eating peas or apple juice.
How to reduce the risk of complications
Sometimes it happens that the green waters break, but labor does not begin. In this case, a caesarean section is required, and the sooner it begins, the better, since there is a possibility that the child will not have time to swallow amniotic fluid. During self-delivery, the baby's airways are cleared by doctors before his first breath. To do this, the obstetrician sometimes asks the woman in labor to slow down her efforts. The following manipulations performed by doctors will help prevent meconium from entering the alveoli of the lungs:
- eliminating meconium fluid from the baby’s mouth and nose immediately after the eruption of his head;
- insertion of thin tubes into the bronchi or trachea (intubation);
- bronchial lavage with isotonic sodium chloride solution.
Green waters and caesarean section
In most cases, with such a turn of events, pregnancy requires surgical intervention . Especially if the waters have broken or are leaking, but labor, namely contractions, has not yet occurred.
This is not subject to discussion, since the child can die at any moment and the mother will have to be saved.
But! In this case, you should clearly know when exactly the waters turned green. If before the onset of labor, it is better to have a cesarean section, as the baby is stressed. If during labor and the baby is already on the way, he is no longer in danger. The main thing now is for the expectant mother to calm down and gather her strength for a safe meeting with her baby.
Prevention of green waters
To prevent green amniotic fluid, follow these tips:
- try not to visit public places too often to avoid contracting the virus;
- dress warmly, do not get overcooled in the cold season;
- undergo all procedures recommended by your doctor, including CTG (cardiotocography);
- do not refuse the doctor’s recommendation to go to the hospital if your pregnancy is postterm;
- during childbirth, talk to your baby, do not scream - this can frighten him and cause stress.
There is no need to scream during childbirth - this can cause stress in the baby
Actions of the pregnant woman and medical staff
The expectant mother should know how to behave if her water breaks green. In such a situation, there is no need to panic too much, but you should take the things you collected in advance and go to the maternity hospital (this is necessary in any case, even when the water is normal, because contractions can occur almost immediately). Naturally, before this it is forbidden to take a bath (only a quick shower is acceptable), have sex, or lift weights.
Excessive anxiety of the mother can provoke or aggravate hypoxia in the child.
In the hospital, you need to tell the doctor the approximate amount of fluid that came out, describe its smell (if there was one), the intensity of the color, and tell the approximate time when the water broke.
The doctor should do a CHT to determine the fetal heartbeat. If hypoxia is detected, a decision is made to perform an emergency caesarean section. In the case of normal indicators, natural childbirth is carried out: if contractions do not occur for a long time or they are weak, labor is artificially stimulated.
If hypoxia is detected in the fetus, doctors decide on an emergency caesarean section.
When a baby passes meconium directly during labor, turning the water green, the medical staff takes measures to minimize possible negative consequences. The newly born baby will immediately have fluid suctioned out of his mouth and nose, if necessary, the airways will be intubated (in which a thin tube is inserted into the trachea), and washed with saline solution.
Our doctors are going too far with “green waters”. There are two servings of water. The first is the front, above the head. The second is posterior, behind the fetus. Since the head is adjacent very closely to the walls of the birth canal, the posterior portion rarely comes out before the birth of the head, with the exception of the rupture of water before labor and during premature birth. If the first portion of water is normal, then the likelihood that the child will then swallow water is unlikely, because after inserting the head and its advancement, the back water practically does not enter the mouth. When the body is expelled, meconium is very often released, which in an inexperienced doctor will create panic and a false impression that it is supposedly meconium in the waters. You just need to include logic and analyze the observation. After all, they wipe and suck out the contents of the oral cavity. And if meconium (water with meconium) gets into your mouth, then it’s easy to notice it on white napkins, isn’t it? Plus, they always monitor the fetal heartbeat. Normal means everything is going as expected. Prevention is the correct management of childbirth.
E. Berezovskaya
https://www.komarovskiy.net/faq/chto-delat-chtoby-rebenok-ne-naglotalsya-zelenyx-okoloplodnyx-vod-v-rodax.html
In rare cases, doctors detect green water in an expectant mother long before giving birth - when she undergoes an amniocentesis procedure (sampling a small amount of amniotic fluid for analysis, usually done when genetic abnormalities are suspected in the unborn child). In such a situation, the woman is prescribed an additional examination to clarify the source of the problem:
- blood test (general, for antibodies);
- vaginal smear for microflora;
- smear to detect sexually transmitted infections;
- Fetal CTG;
- Ultrasound, including Doppler.
In some cases, greening of the amniotic fluid is detected during pregnancy - during the amniocentesis procedure
