Top videos
Amniotomy is the official term for artificially breaking the bag of waters during labor. It is believed that breaking the bag of waters will help to speed up an otherwise slow labor. Amniotomy is part of the Active Management of Labor practiced in some hospitals. Amniotomy is performed by a midwife or doctor. A long, thin instrument with a hook on the end is inserted into the vagina and through the cervix so it can catch and rip the bag of waters. To perform an amniotomy, the cervix must be dilated enough to allow the instrument through the cervix, generally at least a two. Why choose Amniotomy? Unlike other medical methods of starting labor, amniotomy does not add synthetic hormones to your labor. Instead it seems to stimulate your body’s own labor process. Amniotomy allows the use of an internal electronic fetal monitor. How effective is Amniotomy? Amniotomy alone is unpredictable, it may take hours for labor to start with amniotomy. Because amniotomy increases the risk for infection, most caregivers use amniotomy in combination with synthetic oxytocin. Birth does happen faster when amniotomy is combined with synthetic oxytocin than when amniotomy is used alone. Risks of Amniotomy Risks for Mother Increases the risk for infection. This risk is increased with length of time the waters are broken and with vaginal exams. Because of the infection risk, a time limit is given by which the mother must give birth. As the time limit approaches attempts to progress labor will become more aggressive. The fore waters equalize pressure on the cervix so it will open uniformly. When they are broken, the mother increases her chances of having uneven dilation. Risks for Baby Increases the risk of umbilical cord compression. The fore waters equalize pressure on the baby’s head as it presses against the cervix. When they are broken, the pressure on the baby’s head may be uneven causing swelling in some parts.
An excellent video demonstrating how a laparoscopy is performed to evaluate the uterus (note a small fibroid appearing as a bulge in the uterus), fallopian tubes and ovaries. Blue dye is injected into the uterus, entering the fallopian tubes and spilling from the end of the tubes into the abdominal cavity, confirming that both tubes are open
It sounds like you're questioning whether or not your water may have broken, and this can actually be a hard thing for a lot of women to tell. Usually if your water breaks, it's just a trickle of fluid, and you're afraid to admit it to anyone because you think you peed your pants. And it is normal to pee your pants when you're pregnant because the bladder is right below the uterus, and if the baby moves just right, it might kick out a little bit of urine. So if you feel a trickle or a little tiny gush of fluid, what you want to do is put a pad or a pantie-liner on after going to the bathroom and emptying your bladder, and wait an hour and see if fluid continues to come out. And if it does, then you're not having bladder leakage issues - your water is probably broken.
giant systolic pulsations, known as C-V waves, were noticeable during jugular venous examination of a 33-year-old woman who had tricuspid-valve endocarditis. In video 2, transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe tricuspid regurgitation.