False Alarm

A 26 year old caucasian female G1P0 came to the L&D deck triage area fearing that her "water had broken." The patient was 39wks and 2days with an otherwise normal pregnancy and no noted abnormalities during her regular OB visits. The patient stated that she had soaked two "pads" in the last 6 hours with a thin whitish/watery fluid. The Mother denied any vaginal bleeding, contractions/abdominal/pelvic pain. A fetal fibronectin drawn several days prior at another OB visit was negative. An NST was reactive with moderate variability, and no decelerations. Fetal HR was at 145 bpm. Movement was noted from the fetus during this assessment. The mother stated that her baby was moving every hour and that there was no difference in her unborn son's activity level. Examination of the vaginal canal and cerivx with the aid of a speculum did not reveal any pooling liquid. A copious amount of cervical mucuous was seen in the vaginal canal, cervix, and the external genitalia. The patient was 2cm dilated and 30% effaced. Nitrazine paper was negative and no ferning was seen from fluid collected off the cervix. The patient was instructed to keep her appointment the following week for an additional NST and AFI with her midwife provider and to call/come back to the L&D triage deck if any other concerning signs/symptoms occur.