Does it hurt to pierce the amniotic sac. Why pierce the bladder before childbirth. What is this process

From women who have given birth, you can hear about such a thing as a puncture of the bladder before childbirth without contractions. This procedure is called an amniotomy. Usually about 7-10% of women in labor encounter it. Many pregnant women, having heard about an amniotomy, are frightened. Having no idea about the correctness and necessity of this procedure, women set themselves up negatively.

What happens if the amniotic sac bursts before contractions?

In some cases, childbirth begins with the outpouring of water. Moreover, it can be complete or partial. According to statistics, such a deviation can occur in 12% of all women. Such a process is called

Women immediately notice this phenomenon, especially if it happens with a lot of water.

The amniotic fluid should be clear or pink and odorless. If black, brown or green color, then this means that the feces of a newborn are in the waters. This suggests that the fetus has oxygen starvation, which requires a quick delivery. An admixture of yellow can mean the presence of an Rhesus conflict, which also requires quick action.

When the waters break at home, the woman in labor must urgently go to the hospital. In the hospital, a woman must accurately report the time of their departure.

If the body is completely ready for the birth of a child, contractions begin immediately or some time after the water breaks.

What is an amniotomy?

Amniotomy is an operation in which the amniotic sac is opened. In utero, the fetus is protected by a special shell - the amnion, which is filled with amniotic fluid. It protects the child from bumps and infection from the vagina.

If an autopsy or rupture occurs in a natural way, then the uterus begins the process of fetal expulsion. As a result, contractions develop and a child is born.

The operation to puncture the bladder before childbirth without contractions is carried out with a special device in the form of a hook at the moment of its greatest severity, so as not to affect the soft tissues of the baby's head.

Types of amniotomy

Bladder puncture before childbirth can be divided into several varieties, depending on the time of the operation:

  • Prenatal. It is carried out before the onset of contractions for the purpose of labor induction.
  • Early. It is performed if the opening of the cervix is ​​up to 7 cm.
  • Timely. If the neck is open up to 8-10 cm.
  • belated. Can be carried out at the time of expulsion of the fetus. The procedure is used to prevent hypoxia in the fetus or bleeding in the mother.

The process of childbirth does not change at all and corresponds to the natural one. The condition of the fetus is necessarily fixed using the KGT apparatus.

When is an amniotomy necessary?

Labor is stimulated by piercing the bladder in case of situations when emergency delivery is needed. The procedure can be carried out in the absence of contractions:

  • Postponed pregnancy. An ordinary pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, if it is longer, then the question of the need for obstetric care is raised. The placenta in this situation is aging and cannot perform its functions. As a result, the child suffers, experiencing oxygen starvation.
  • Preeclampsia. This disease is characterized by swelling, high blood pressure, and the presence of protein in the urine. Preeclampsia negatively affects the health of the mother and fetus, so an amniotomy is needed.
  • Rhesus conflict. Such a pregnancy is considered difficult, so this operation contributes to the stimulation labor activity.

If labor activity has begun, then the operation is resorted to in the following cases:

  • If the contractions do not intensify, but weaken, the neck slows down the process of childbirth, and so that they do not stop, the bubble is punctured. The woman in labor is observed for 2 hours, if there is no positive dynamics, then a decision is made to resort to Oxytocin.
  • Polyhydramnios. The presence of a large number amniotic fluid causes the uterus to contract naturally.
  • High blood pressure. Diseases of the kidneys and heart, gestosis contribute to an increase in blood pressure, which negatively affects the process of childbirth and the condition of the fetus.
  • Flat fetal bladder. In this situation, the anterior waters are almost completely absent, which makes labor difficult, and its termination may occur.
  • Low location of the placenta. This position of the placenta can lead to placental abruption and bleeding.

In some cases, there are contraindications for this procedure.

Are there any contraindications?

Puncture of the bladder before childbirth helps to facilitate the process of giving birth, but in some cases there are some limitations of the procedure. Amniotomy is not performed if:

  • a pregnant woman has herpes on the genitals in the acute stage;
  • the placenta has a low location;
  • loops of the umbilical cord interfere with the operation;
  • natural childbirth is not recommended;
  • finding the fetus in oblique, transverse and pelvic presentation.

The procedure is prohibited in case of mother's heart disease, in the presence of scars on the cervix and other pathologies.

How is the bladder punctured?

Why and how is the bladder punctured before childbirth? Amniotomy is equivalent to surgery, but the presence of an anesthesiologist and a surgeon is not necessary. After a vaginal examination, the doctor will open the bladder. The procedure includes several steps:

  • Before the operation, the woman takes "No-Shpu" or another antispasmodic. After exposure to the drug, the woman lies down on the gynecological chair.
  • Then the specialist, wearing gloves, inserts an instrument into the vagina. The amniotic sac is hooked and pulled by the doctor until it ruptures. After that, amniotic fluid begins to pour out.
  • After the end of the manipulation, the woman is in a horizontal position for 30 minutes. The state of the fetus is monitored by the KGT apparatus.

The bubble is necessarily opened in the absence of contractions, which leads to the convenience and safety of the operation.

What does a woman feel during an amniotomy?

Bladder puncture before childbirth - does it hurt or not? Any woman is afraid of such a procedure because of the possible occurrence of pain. However, in this case, no discomfort is observed, because the amniotic sac has no nerve endings.

A woman just needs to relax and take a comfortable position. All that she can feel after a properly performed procedure is only the outflow of amniotic fluid.

Muscle tension can cause discomfort and Negative consequences in the form of a wound in the walls of the vagina.

Mandatory conditions

What are the conditions for a bladder puncture before childbirth? To avoid complications during the procedure, you must follow some rules. These include:

  • correct presentation of the fetus (head);
  • pregnancy, the term of which is at least 38 weeks;
  • natural delivery and lack of restrictions to this;
  • preparedness of the birth canal;
  • pregnancy with one fetus.

The importance lies in the readiness and maturity of the uterus. When performing an operation, it must correspond to 6 points on the Bishop scale.

Complications and consequences of amniotomy

With an error-free puncture of the bladder before childbirth, the whole process occurs safely. But there are a few exceptions when after an amniotomy, childbirth can become more complicated. There are the following consequences:

  • injury to the umbilical cord vessel, if it is attached to the sheath, which can lead to blood loss;
  • the child's condition worsens;
  • loops of the umbilical cord or limbs of the fetus (handles, legs) fall out;
  • violation of the child's heartbeat;
  • violent labor activity;
  • secondary birth weakness.

There is a risk that the puncture of the fetal bladder will not lead to the desired result and labor activity will not become active. Therefore, doctors resort to the use of drugs that cause contractions. In some situations, a caesarean section is performed on a woman, because a long stay of a child without water is fraught with negative consequences.

How long does labor last after a bladder puncture before childbirth? Reviews of women who have gone through this procedure are as follows:

  • in women who gave birth for the first time, childbirth took place within 7-14 hours;
  • in multiparous women, this can take from 5-12 hours.

Any intervention, which can be attributed to the puncture of the bladder, sometimes leads to consequences that are not always positive. Amniotomy should be performed in compliance with all necessary conditions which will reduce the risk of various complications. Therefore, if this procedure is necessary, women should not refuse surgery and other manipulations necessary during childbirth.

Throughout pregnancy, the baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which reliably protect him from external stimuli. With the onset of labor, with each contraction of the uterus, the amniotic sac is compressed, which in turn puts pressure on the internal os of the uterus, contributing to its opening. Normally, with full or almost complete opening of the uterine os, the fetal bladder ruptures, followed by the outflow of amniotic fluid. In some cases, there is a need for an amniotomy - an operative puncture of the fetal bladder.

What is a rupture of the fetal bladder?

Amniotomy is a procedure in which the doctor performs an instrumental opening of the amnion using a special surgical tool that resembles a hook. After a vaginal examination under the control of the hand, the doctor gently inserts the instrument into the cervical canal, makes a small hole in the amnion, and then stretches it with his fingers. The procedure does not require special preparation or anesthesia.

IMPORTANT! Amniotic fluid is conventionally divided into "anterior" and "rear". After the amniotomy, only a part of the “front” waters is poured out, so the stories about difficult “dry” births that are full of forums are nothing more than fiction.

Amniotic sac puncture: main indications

There must be good reasons for opening the amnion, because the procedure is performed in only 10-15% of cases of all births. The need for amniotomy arises in the following situations:

  • If the gestational age has exceeded 41 weeks
  • With a complicated course of pregnancy, for example, late gestosis, when it is necessary to speed up the course of labor to alleviate the condition of the woman in labor
  • In the event of a condition that threatens the fetus (partial placental abruption, low-lying placenta, cord entanglement, prolonged anhydrous period)
  • Weakness of labor activity, as well as factors that can contribute to this (overdistension of the uterus with polyhydramnios, twins, physical fatigue of the woman in labor, cervical dilatation of more than 7 cm, flat fetal bladder)
  • The presence of Rhesus conflict

IMPORTANT! Mandatory conditions for the implementation of the puncture of the fetal bladder is a full-term pregnancy and the weight of the fetus in the head presentation is more than 3000 grams. Despite the simplicity of the procedure at first glance, amniotomy is a kind of surgical intervention, therefore it is carried out only after obtaining the consent of the woman in labor in writing.

Puncture of the amniotic sac without contractions

It happens that an amniotomy is performed long before the onset of labor. As a rule, the main purpose of such manipulation is the excitation of labor activity. Opening the amnion in the absence of contractions is performed in the case of pre-training birth canal with special preparations, as well as in the pathological preliminary period in the mature birth canal.

Puncture of the amniotic sac during childbirth

Amniotomy during active labor is performed more often than others, as it is aimed at accelerating the birth process and increasing the effectiveness of contractions. The opening of the amnion during labor activity is divided into: earlier, timely and late. An early puncture of the amniotic sac is done when the opening of the uterine os is less than 7 cm, in case of weakening of contractions. Timely amniotomy occurs when the amnion does not open spontaneously with almost complete cervical dilatation. A belated puncture of the fetal bladder is carried out when the baby's head is already lowered into the exit cavity from the small pelvis, to facilitate birth.

Amniotic sac puncture: risks and consequences

Almost all women in the position are interested in the safety of the amnion opening procedure. As a rule, with proper manipulation and compliance with all mandatory conditions amniotomy carries no risk. It should be noted that the presence of polyhydramnios and other factors that contribute to the overstretching of the uterus during the opening of the fetal bladder can lead to arbitrary prolapse of the umbilical cord loops, which is an indication for emergency operative delivery. In order to avoid the development of this complication, as well as to prevent bleeding during the manipulation, the main condition must be met - the fetal head is lowered into the small pelvis.

If, after an early amniotomy, labor activity has not begun, with a long anhydrous period (more than 24 hours), there is a risk of developing infectious complications.

Every expectant mother is looking forward to the appearance of her baby, because after many months she wants to quickly look at him and press him to her chest. But, as you know, childbirth is not a source of pleasant sensations, and a woman will have to face a number of various difficulties. It happens that for certain reasons, contractions do not start, and specialists have to provoke them with their own hands. One of the most simple ways Inducing labor is considered to be a puncture of the amniotic sac. It is absolutely not worth being afraid of this, since the procedure is carried out for the good and will not harm the crumbs.

Bladder puncture without contractions

Often the opening of the bladder in the fairer sex causes irresistible excitement due to ignorance. First of all, it is necessary to analyze in what particular situations it is impossible to do without this procedure. In any case, the woman in labor should understand that if the doctor has informed about the need for an amniotomy, then it is strongly not recommended to refuse.

Often you have to pierce the bubble because of the threat to the life of the baby. The most common indications for manipulation are preeclampsia and the threat of Rhesus conflict. Also, the indications include the presence in a woman of serious violations in the functioning of the kidneys, hypertension and diabetes. Quite often, specialists are forced to induce labor in this way with fetal hypoxia and post-term pregnancy, the death of a baby in the womb.

There are also cases when the contractions are so weak and unproductive that the expectant mother simply cannot give birth on her own without an amniotomy. In such a situation, the opening of the cervix is ​​​​slowed down, and the baby cannot be born. And amniotic fluid, in turn, contains prostaglandins, which significantly enhance labor activity. Therefore, the decision is made to puncture the bladder. If the desired result could not be achieved, then the woman is given special drugs that activate contractions.

Most expectant mothers are worried about how this manipulation is carried out. As already mentioned, there is absolutely no need to be afraid of amniotomy. First, the medical staff treats the woman's genitals with antiseptic agents, and also gives her an anesthetic pill. Next, the doctor gently expands the vagina and slowly introduces a special tool, which is a kind of hook. It captures the bladder, after which the obstetrician gently pulls it towards himself until a rupture occurs. Then the woman in labor is observed for half an hour and, with a positive outcome, the contractions begin.

Serious complications from bladder puncture are rare. Such a procedure is carried out only in case of emergency, only with the permission of the expectant mother herself. The specialist is obliged to report possible consequences, such as prolapse of the umbilical cord, weak heartbeat of the baby, bleeding, intrauterine infection (very rare), fetal hypoxia. And most importantly, from the moment the bladder opens to the onset of childbirth, more than twelve hours should not pass. As you know, a child cannot long time is without water, as it threatens his life.

Does it hurt to pierce the bladder before childbirth?

The rupture of the bubble occurs absolutely painlessly, since the nerve endings are completely absent in the fruit membrane. Moreover, manipulation in most cases lasts only a few minutes. But in fact, the woman's fear always turns out to be higher than the obstetricians' explanations, and a spasm of the muscles of the vagina occurs. At this time, the woman in labor should not move so that the specialist does not injure her from the inside.

If, during the manipulation, the expectant mother still manages to relax, then there will not be even the slightest discomfort. The only thing that can be felt is the leakage of fluid from the vaginal cavity. Therefore, it is really important to tune in to the amniotomy in advance and trust highly qualified specialists who definitely do not want to harm.

As already mentioned, the puncture of the bladder is carried out only when necessary, and if a woman was informed about this, then in no case should she refuse manipulation, as this threatens the life of the baby.

In utero, the baby is protected by a special membrane - the amnion, filled with amniotic fluid. They protect it from shock when moving, and the shell prevents the upward penetration of infection from the vagina.

During childbirth, the baby's head is pressed against the cervix and a fetal bladder is formed, which, like a hydraulic wedge, gradually stretches the cervix and forms the birth canal. Only after that it breaks on its own. But there are situations when a bubble puncture is performed before childbirth without contractions.

This procedure is not prescribed at the request of the woman or the whim of the doctor. The success of an amniotomy is possible under certain conditions:

  • presenting the head of the fetus;
  • full-term pregnancy of at least 38 weeks with one fetus;
  • estimated fetal weight over 3000 g;
  • signs of a mature cervix;
  • normal indicators of the size of the pelvis;
  • There are no contraindications for natural childbirth.

Types of amniotomy

The moment of the puncture determines the type of procedure:

  1. Prenatal - is carried out before the start of contractions, its purpose is labor induction.
  2. Early - before opening the neck by 6-7 cm, it is able to speed up this process.
  3. Timely - produced with effective contractions, neck opening 8-10 cm.
  4. Belated - in modern conditions it is rarely carried out, it is performed at the time of expulsion of the fetus. An amniotomy is needed to avoid bleeding in a woman in labor or hypoxia in a child.

How is childbirth going after a bladder puncture? The process of the birth of a child in this case does not differ from the natural one. In any case, the condition of the fetus is monitored using the CTG apparatus.

Indications for bladder puncture during childbirth

Bladder puncture stimulates planned labor or is carried out during them.

Labor induction with amniotomy is indicated in the following cases:

  • preeclampsia, when there are indications for urgent delivery;
  • premature detachment of the placenta;
  • fetal death in utero;
  • prolongation of pregnancy;
  • severe chronic diseases of cardio-vascular system, lungs, kidneys, in which delivery is indicated from 38 weeks;
  • Rhesus conflict between mother and child;
  • pathological preliminary period.

The last condition is the occurrence of small contractions over several days, which do not develop into normal labor activity. This causes intrauterine suffering of the fetus from a lack of oxygen and fatigue of the woman.

How long does it take to go into labor after a bladder puncture? The onset of labor is expected no later than 12 hours later. Although at present, doctors do not take that much time to wait. Prolonged exposure of a child to an anhydrous environment increases the risk of infection. Therefore, 3 hours after opening the amnion, if contractions have not begun, stimulation with medications is used.

With already developed labor activity, a puncture is performed according to the following indications:

  1. The cervix dilated 6-8 cm, but the water did not break. Their further preservation is impractical, the bubble no longer fulfills its function.
  2. Weakness of labor activity. Puncture of the bladder in most cases leads to its activation. After amniotomy, they wait 2 hours, if there is no improvement, then they resort to stimulation with oxytocin.
  3. Polyhydramnios overstretches the uterus and prevents normal contractions from developing
  4. With oligohydramnios, a flat fetal bladder is observed. It covers the baby's head and does not function during childbirth.
  5. A low-attached placenta may begin to slough off after contractions develop. And opening the amnion will allow the fetal head to cling tightly to the lower segment of the uterus and hold back the detachment.
  6. At multiple pregnancy perform a puncture of the bladder of the second child 10-15 minutes after the appearance of the first.
  7. High blood pressure is reduced after the opening of the waters.

Bladder puncture technique for a woman in labor

  • 30 minutes before the stimulation of labor by puncturing the bladder, the woman is injected with the antispasmodic Drotaverine.
  • Later, an examination is performed on the obstetric chair, the doctor evaluates the cervix, the location of the head.
  • With a sliding movement of the fingers, a special branch is inserted into the vagina - a hook.
  • With its help, during the fight, the shell clings, and the gynecologist inserts a finger into the resulting hole. The tool is removed.
  • Holding the head of the fetus through the abdomen with the other hand, the membranes are gently separated and the anterior amniotic fluid is released.

They are collected in a tray, visually assess the condition. Green waters with meconium flakes indicate intrauterine fetal hypoxia. This state of affairs deserves further attention. The pediatric service is warned in advance about the possible condition of the child.

If a large volume of water is drained at once, this can lead to prolapse of umbilical cord loops or small parts of the fetal body.

After the procedure, the woman in labor is connected to the CTG apparatus for 30 minutes to assess the condition of the child.

Is it painful or not to perform a bladder puncture before childbirth? The shells are not penetrated by nerve endings, so the procedure is absolutely painless.

However, complications sometimes develop:

  • traumatization of the umbilical cord vessel, if it was attached to the membrane;
  • prolapse of the loops of the umbilical cord or parts of the body of the fetus (handles, legs);
  • deterioration of the fetus;
  • violent labor activity;
  • secondary generic weakness;
  • child infection.

How long does labor last after a bladder puncture? The duration depends on their parity or number:

  • In primiparas, the normal duration of labor is 7-14 hours.
  • Multiparous people need less time - from 5 to 12.

Contraindications to bladder puncture in a pregnant woman

Despite the ease of implementation and a small number of complications of manipulation, there are serious contraindications for its implementation. Most of them coincide with contraindications for natural childbirth:

  1. Herpetic eruptions on the perineum will lead to infection of the child.
  2. Pelvic, foot, transverse or oblique presentation of the fetus, loops of the umbilical cord in the head area.
  3. Complete placenta previa. Childbirth in this case is impossible - the placenta is attached above the internal pharynx and prevents the lower segment of the uterus from turning around.
  4. Failure of the scar on the body of the uterus after caesarean section or other surgical procedures.
  5. Narrowing of the pelvis of 2-4 degrees, bone deformities, tumor processes in the small pelvis.
  6. Fetal weight over 4500 g.
  7. Rough scars causing deformation of the cervix or vagina.
  8. triplets, conjoined twins, breech presentation first child of twins.
  9. High myopia.
  10. Delayed fetal development of the 3rd degree.
  11. Acute fetal hypoxia.

In the absence of these contraindications, amniotomy is a safe procedure and does not affect the condition of the fetus.

Yulia Shevchenko, obstetrician-gynecologist, specially for the site

Useful video

Many pregnant women are afraid of childbirth because of the upcoming pain. Normal labor activity begins with weak contractions and ends with the outflow of amniotic fluid and attempts, resulting in a baby. There are situations when childbirth takes place according to a non-standard scenario and the fetal bladder must be opened. Most often, pregnant women are afraid of this procedure, as women are worried about the condition and health of the baby. Can a piercing really harm a baby? Why is the procedure needed? What does a woman feel during a puncture?

Pouring of water before contractions

Being in the womb, the child is protected from negative influences and infection by a special water bladder called the amnion. At birth, the baby's head presses on the wall of the uterus, and that on the bladder. The amnion dilates the cervix, preparing it for the passage of the baby.

If childbirth begins with the bursting of the bladder, then first the amniotic fluid leaves the woman (for more details, see the article:). Such a condition cannot go unnoticed due to the fact that a lot of water comes out. In the absence of pathologies, it is colorless or light Pink colour and has no smell. In such a situation, the woman in labor should remember at what time this phenomenon occurred, and urgently contact the maternity hospital.


The brown color of the waters indicates pathology and is the reason for the urgent intervention of doctors for labor induction. In the case of staining in yellow, there is a Rh conflict, in which the birth of the baby should also be accelerated.

Amniotomy: principle and types of operation

Amniotomy is an operation to rupture the fetal bladder. It is carried out only in emergency cases, subject to certain requirements. The only desire of a woman in labor or a doctor to speed up labor is not enough. The essence of the procedure is to pierce the bladder with a special tool that resembles a hook. Due to the release of amniotic fluid, the uterus begins the process of expelling the fetus.

Stages of the operation:

  • The introduction of an antispasmodic - No-Shpy or Drotaverine. This is necessary when the muscles are in good shape, to relax them and reduce spasm.
  • Taking a comfortable position. A woman in labor sits on a gynecological chair with her legs wide apart.
  • Checking by an obstetrician the condition of the cervix, its readiness for the passage of the child. The doctor determines the location of the fetus and the exact location of its head.
  • The introduction of a device resembling a hook into the vagina.
  • Bladder puncture. The procedure is performed at the peak of the contraction so as not to damage the fetus.

All fluid is collected in a condition assessment tray. By the color and smell of the water, the gynecologist draws conclusions about the condition of the fetus, if necessary, a neonatologist and other specialists are connected to the birth process. Immediately after the procedure, the woman is given an electrocardiogram to assess the condition of the child.

Varieties of amniotomy depending on the time of the operation:

  • Prenatal. It is carried out in the complete absence of signs of the onset of labor.
  • Early. It is used when the cervical lumen reaches 5-7 cm, while the preparation is fast.
  • Timely. It is performed when opening by 8-10 cm, with strong contractions.
  • belated. It is carried out with attempts, rarely used.

When and why is the fetal bladder pierced?

Why is it necessary to pierce the amnion? The fetal bladder is pierced by women when the baby is overcarried. If the gestational age exceeds 41 weeks, and natural labor does not begin, it is necessary to speed up the birth process (we recommend reading:). Postmaturity adversely affects the condition of the fetus:

  • there is a lack of oxygen;
  • the placenta cannot do its job, as a result, insufficient nutrients are supplied to the child;
  • the liquid around the fetus becomes cloudy, harmful trace elements get into it;
  • the bones of the skull become very hard and unable to deform when passing through the birth canal.


When the fetal bladder is punctured, contractions are stimulated in about 60% of women. Then childbirth takes place naturally.

A puncture of the bladder before childbirth without contractions is done in the following cases:

  • Preeclampsia. This is a dangerous condition characterized by severe swelling, dizziness and high blood pressure. Preeclampsia provokes the development of complications associated with the health of the child.
  • Formation of anti-rhesus bodies.
  • Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy.
  • Early detachment of the placenta. In this case, the child receives an insufficient amount of nutrients and oxygen.
  • No fetal heartbeat.
  • The density of the shell does not allow it to break on its own.
  • The need to carry out childbirth for a period of 38 weeks for medical reasons.

Indications for bladder puncture during the development of normal labor activity (during contractions):

  • Prolonged childbirth. With the onset of labor, their weakening sometimes occurs, which can lead to a stop in labor. In this case, an autopsy is done, if there are no contractions, stimulation is carried out with special preparations.
  • The performance of the bubble its function. When opened by 6-8 cm, there is no need to save it.
  • Polyhydramnios. If there is a lot of fluid in the uterus, it slows down and weakens the natural contractions.
  • Hypertension. It can cause hemorrhage in the brain or rupture of the retina during attempts.
  • Low water. This condition is characterized by insufficiency of the anterior waters, while the bubble has a flat shape. The fetus suffers from a lack of oxygen.
  • Pathological location of the placenta. If the placenta is below normal, its detachment may occur.


Contraindications for bladder puncture

A rupture of the amniotic sac is an easy procedure with few complications. The operation significantly speeds up childbirth, but there are a number of contraindications for carrying out:

  • exacerbation of genital herpes - in this case, infection of the fetus is possible;
  • the placenta is below the required level;
  • pathological location of the umbilical cord loops, which can be injured during autopsy;
  • there are contraindications to natural childbirth;
  • incorrect location of the child (pelvic, transverse);
  • scars on the uterus after cesarean section;
  • pathology of the cardiovascular system of the woman in labor;
  • narrow pelvis of the expectant mother;
  • the weight of the child is more than 4.5 kg;
  • multiple pregnancy;
  • hypoxia;
  • folds of the vagina.


Is it painful for the woman in labor?

Most women are interested in whether it hurts to pierce the bladder (see also:). There is no pain during an amniotomy (for more details, see the article:). This is due to the absence of nerve endings on the bladder. The woman feels the exit of the waters without discomfort. Pain can appear with strong tension in the muscles of the vagina, so the woman in labor needs to take a comfortable position and relax as much as possible.

After the woman returns to normal, she should walk more to speed up the contractions. As a rule, they are activated after a few hours. If this does not happen, drug stimulation is used, since prolonged exposure of the fetus without water leads to oxygen starvation. How long does it take to give birth after surgery? The first birth (in primiparas) lasts from 8 to 14 hours, the second - 5-10 hours.

Mandatory conditions for an amniotomy

To reduce the risk of complications, the following conditions must be met, which are checked before the procedure:

  • the position of the fetus head down (with a pathological location, it is necessary to carry out a caesarean section);
  • normal pregnancy up to 38 weeks;
  • no prohibitions on natural childbirth;
  • readiness of organs for the passage of the child;
  • single pregnancy.


Complications and consequences of the procedure

Usually, if the rules are followed, complications do not arise. The puncture of the amniotic sac is carried out under strict control of the condition of the woman and the child, so the consequences of the operation are positive. The doctor determines at what opening it is necessary to pierce the bladder. In rare cases, it is possible:

  • cord injury;
  • deterioration of the fetus (monitored by ECG);
  • prolapse of the limbs of the child;
  • rapid labor (will begin immediately after the amniotomy);
  • family weakness.