repeat preterm premature rupture of membranes (pprom)

avakani

A little background: I had an uncomplicated first pregnancy in 2009. My second pregnancy in 2010, I discovered pretty late that I was pregnant and by week 18 I was considered high risk due to low fluid levels. The cause was undetermined. Around week 20/21 I had a rupture and was put on hospital bedrest with antibiotics and steroid shots. After no infection, no signs of labor and an increasing fluid level I was discharged around week 26 and put on modified bedrest at home. I was induced at 39 weeks.

I am now 21 weeks pregnant and since the beginning of the pregnancy I have been taking it easy as per my OB's instructions to prevent another pprom. Yesterday early morning I felt the need to pee pretty bad thrice within and hour and (tmi) when I was in the toilet I am pretty sure I saw clear fluid gush out of my vagina. Because of last time's experience I was pretty sure it was amniotic fluid and not urine. We rushed to the hospital and they monitored baby, everything was fine. They did a nitrazine and ferning test and both came out negative. They had me rest for a while and see if I felt more leaking and when I was pretty sure I did they tested again and it was negative again. I had no signs of infection and baby was not in any distress. They did an ultrasound and said while there wasn't "oodles and oodles" of fluid it was "adequate". So I was discharged. I've been home for more than 24 hours now and have felt like I leaked a couple of times. I'm just confused as to why the tests are coming out negative. I'm planning on going to my OB tomorrow morning and have her check me and get another ultrasound done and compare fluid levels from my previous ultrasound.

They were pretty nice to me in the hospital but I just have this gut feeling that this is amniotic fluid leaking. I don't know what else to do. I'm trying to rest as much as I can and drink lots of water.

Has anyone had nitrazine or ferning tests give false negatives? Am I being paranoid? Any other explanations for a stream of fluid from the vagina?

bumpuser331626

My nitrazine and fern tests were immediate positives both times I pprom'd. There is a new test for PPROM called AmniSure. You might see if your doc has access to that test. It's extremely accurate.

I can only imagine your nerves and concern. We are TTC #3 after PPROM'ing with #1 and #2. Our team of specialists feel very positive about our chances for a full-term healthy pregnancy, but I'm still quite nervous.

((hugs)) Hang in there!

LolaX2

When I had PPROM with my first I knew it was water breaking as I felt three little pops then lots of fluid leaking. I cleaned myself up before we headed to the hospital as I was soaked and I soaked another pad that I put on for the hour ride to the hospital. I did not know that they had to test the fluid to see if it was really my waters, so once we got there I cleaned myself up again, They got me in a bed and did the test, ad it came back negative, did an ultrasound and fluid levels were adequate but not great. I knew they were wrong, I was not just wetting myself, it was just falling out of me, but kind of stopped when I laid in the bed, so they had me stay for a bit to be monitored. Then they had me stand up for something and it just started leaking all over my legs and the floor...they tested that fluid and it immediately came up posative.

JDO

Hi, a little late to the discussion but I had ferning and nitrazing tests come back negative multiple times. I was positive I was leaking - I could pinpoint the exact moment my water broke and had been leaking constantly since that time. I had no measurable fluid on the ultrasound. I finally had a positive test on the Atim test that looks for a protein only found in amniotic fluid. I hope by now they've been able to determine if there's any problems or not, and that you're doing well. Best of luck to you!