Question

A woman, 40+ weeks' gestation is attending a clinic visit where the provider suggests they "strip the membranes" to hasten the start of labor. the clinic nurse should inform the woman to watch for and report which potential complication following this procedure?

Answer 1

Amniotomy known as the artificial rupture of membranes is a procedure where amniotic sac is ruptured causing release of amniotic fluid to induce labor. This is usually done at bedside. There are complications such as cord prolapse, infection or amnionitis and chorioamniotis and if the mother is attach to the monitor she can inform the nurse if the heartbeat of the baby is already below normal as one complication would be low fetal heartbeat.