Question about Bloody Amniotic Fluid?

babyktchr, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2005

We send all of our c/s placentas to pathology. The placenta is a record of the pregnancy. It can give a lot of information, but most basic or routine studies fall short. Any problems found in the placenta could answer questions such as why your water broke at such an early gestation.

As far as bloody fluid. Blood tinged fluid is not unheard of. If it was more than that, then I would have to wonder about an abruption.

kastas, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2005

Do you think your fluid was truely bloody in itself or blood-tinged? As your cervix makes change you have bloody show (your cervix is very vascular) and when your water breaks it could have just been that bloody show mixing with the fluid. This is more what I would lean towards being that you started laboring before your water broke. But, I agree that it could have been an abruption.

LnDNurse2Be · Jun 4, 2005

I went into labor on a saturday but I had lost my plug on wednesday before that.

I had a cerclage as I went in to labor at 20w4d and was found to have true IC.

When I arrived at the hospital closest to me (i lived 120 miles away from my Peri) I had dilated to a 4 with bulging bags.

When my water broke *sunday night at 21:00* it was deep red *almost black* mixed in with bright red.

On my report that I received it said something to the effect of "fluid:bloody"

The cerclage did tear through my cervix, when they removed it , it was still in a perfect circle with knot still tied.

When they got Marc to the NICU and I was able to talk to someone they told me he had an infection so maybe that is why he insisted on coming early!

Thanks for the replies I appreciate it alot!!!

Ang

JaneyW · Jun 5, 2005

I went into labor on a saturday but I had lost my plug on wednesday before that.
I had a cerclage as I went in to labor at 20w4d and was found to have true IC.
When I arrived at the hospital closest to me (i lived 120 miles away from my Peri) I had dilated to a 4 with bulging bags.
When my water broke *sunday night at 21:00* it was deep red *almost black* mixed in with bright red.
On my report that I received it said something to the effect of "fluid:bloody"
The cerclage did tear through my cervix, when they removed it , it was still in a perfect circle with knot still tied.
When they got Marc to the NICU and I was able to talk to someone they told me he had an infection so maybe that is why he insisted on coming early!
Thanks for the replies I appreciate it alot!!!
Ang

We don't send all placentas by c/s, but my guess would be because you were preterm and they were trying to figure out why. Maybe infection--sounds right.

Dayray, RN · Jun 7, 2005

It's hard to tell if you had an abruption or if the blood was just from your cervix. A cerclage ripping threw your cervix could cause allot of blood and the abruption could have caused you to go into labor. They might have been able to tell if you had an abruption by the placenta study. If you really wanted to know you could read that report and ask your doctor about it.

If I had to guess I would say that the blood was from the cerclage ripping out and that you went into labor because of the infection. The studies they are doing now are showing that a large percentage of PTL is caused by acute or subacute bacterial infection. There has even been some suggestion that term labor is partially brought about by bacteria.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 7, 2005

I agree with all the above. There are several possibilities. Partial abruption and infection come to the foremost in my mind. I hope you get the answers you seek. How are you and the baby doing now?

prmenrs, RN · Jun 7, 2005

I'd really recommend contacting your doc, and asking for as complete an explanation as possible, both for your own peace of mind and as history for any future pregnancies. We can offer an "educated guess", but we weren't there, your MD was.

I hope that Marc [and Mom and Dad] are doing great! Congratulations, and best wishes! :flowersfo

wannabeL&D73 · Jun 7, 2005

Well, I can say that I had a cerclage that tore through my cervix and it was very, very bloody. So that would be my uneducated guess. Hope baby is doing well now, and preventative cerclages placed early (12-15 weeks) are very effective, with a much lower risk of infection etc. than rescue cerclages.

Shannon

Serenyd · Jun 8, 2005

There has even been some suggestion that term labor is partially brought about by bacteria.

It is interesting you would say that. I have always felt that my PROM was brought on by wearing maternity jeans that had become too tight (causing bacteria to grow). Do you think I could be right?

Seren

LnDNurse - Hope you and baby are doing well!!