Remember the first signs of pregnancy? Lateness! Frequent urination! A different feeling about the body!
Off to the chemist for a pregnancy test kit and if this is positive off to the doctor for nine months of monitoring to ensure everything is progressing well.
Pregnancy may be a joyful time for expectant mothers, but worrying questions can pop up.
First-time mothers in their third trimester, in particular, may wonder about unexpected changes and symptoms. 30-40 per cent experience some urinary leakage and about one in five pregnant women get so alarmed that they go to hospital to find out if they are about to go into labour.
The obstetrician or midwife will need to investigate – “is this amniotic fluid or just urine from the bladder that has less room to expand than before”?
To answer that question, an invasive test may be carried out involving a smear and either a tube or pH paper.
Normal vaginal fluid has 3.5- 4.5 (parts) of pH and amniotic fluid has ≥6.5.
The results from these tests will determine if the expectant mother is leaking amniotic fluid in that moment only.
50% of women who present at hospital unsure about their wetness are sent home when the results show that the pH levels were low and not indicative of amniotic fluid leakage.
This provides assurance at that moment only. However, once the woman is back at home, she may continue to leak and ask herself the same question, “what is this wetness I am feeling?”.
Trips to hospital to answer this basic question are both costly and time consuming for all.
Now a simple AL-SENSE panty liner can be used at home to measure the pH in this worrying wetness. Just as easy to use as a pregnancy test kit the AL-SENSE panty liner worn for up to 12 hours will detect the presence of amniotic fluid in the emission.
If the AL-SENSE panty liner turns blue it indicates possible amniotic fluid leakage that needs further evaluation. A yellow colour signifies urine and requires no further investigation.
When can you use AL-SENSE?
- When you experience wetness in pregnancy and you’re unsure if your waters have broken. This would help determine if it was an amniotic fluid leak.
- There is a risk of leaking within the first 48 hours after an amniocentesis – you can wear AL-SENSE to help monitor this.
- In high-risk pregnancies, first pregnancies, pregnancies by IVF, or pregnancies where there’s a history of miscarriages.
- Keep it in a standby kit at home – in case your waters break there.
The AL-SENSE strip is the only non-invasive self-monitoring amniotic fluid leakage test. It is cost effective and easy to use. Expectant mothers can be reassured about episodes of wetness and save themselves unnecessary anxiety.
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This blog post is sponsored by AL-SENSE
AL-SENSE is the only non-invasive monitoring test for amniotic fluid leaks in Australia. To buy AL-SENSE and to read customer testimonials visit www.al-sense.com.au