Troubled waters

• Perform blood tests on the mother.
• Possibly take a small sample of amniotic fluid, as in an amniocentesis, for cultures to demonstrate the presence of, and to identify, any bacteria.
• Urine sample tests may be helpful.
• A vaginal swab test may also be necessary to identify bacteria/germs.

Complications

• Initiation of premature/pre-term labour with premature rupture of the membranes (and subsequent premature/pre-term birth) with an increased risk of this at the earlier gestational ages.
• Neonatal (within the first weeks of birth) infection in the baby. There is, unfortunately, a mortality rate of some 5 to 25 per cent.
• Maternal infection is very common.
• Post-partum haemorrhage (severe bleeding from the womb after delivery).
• Difficult labour.

• With an early diagnosis antibiotics can certainly improve the developing situation, especially with regard to the baby.
• There would not be an operative approach - in the form of Caesarean section - as possible complications in the presence of infection are likely.
• Premature labour - as a result of infection - would be dealt with as in all other cases of early births.