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Women’s expectations and experiences of rupture of membranes and views of the potential use of reagent pads for detecting amniotic fluid

Spiby, Helen; Borrelli, Sara E.; Hughes, Anita J.

Authors

Anita J. Hughes



Abstract

AIMS: To explore first time mothers’ expectations and experiences regarding rupture of membranes (RoM) at term, and their views on the potential use of reagent pads that detect amniotic fluid.
BACKGROUND: There is little information available on women’s experiences of spontaneous rupture of membranes, or interest in utilising methods to confirm rupture of membranes (e.g. reagent pads).
DESIGN: Descriptive qualitative study, utilising focus groups and telephone interviews with women during pregnancy and after the birth of their first baby. Thematic analysis was undertaken to analyse women’s responses.
METHODS: Ethics committee approval was obtained. Twenty-five women participated in the study of whom 13 contributed both during pregnancy and postpartum between October 2015 and March 2016.
FINDINGS: Three overarching themes emerged from the data from women’s expectations and experiences: uncertainty in how, when and where membranes may rupture; information which was felt to be limited and confirmation of rupture of membranes. The potential use of reagent pads met with varied responses.
CONCLUSION: Women were interested in having facts and figures regarding RoM, such as characteristics of liquor; volume and probability of membranes rupturing spontaneously at term. Use of a pad as a means of confirmation was viewed as helpful, although the potential for increasing anxiety was raised.

Citation

Spiby, H., Borrelli, S. E., & Hughes, A. J. (2017). Women’s expectations and experiences of rupture of membranes and views of the potential use of reagent pads for detecting amniotic fluid. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73(12), 3041-3049. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13365

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 31, 2017
Online Publication Date Jul 16, 2017
Publication Date Dec 1, 2017
Deposit Date Jul 20, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Advanced Nursing
Print ISSN 0309-2402
Electronic ISSN 1365-2648
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 73
Issue 12
Pages 3041-3049
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13365
Keywords Rupture of membranes; Expectations; Experiences; Midwifery; Mothers Nurse-Midwifery; Uncertainty; Reagent pad; Amniotic fluid; Early labour.
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/964995
Publisher URL http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.13365/abstract
Additional Information This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Spiby H, Borrelli S, Hughes AJ. Women's expectations and experiences of rupture of membranes and views of the potential use of reagent pads for detecting amniotic fluid. J Adv Nurs. 2017;00:1–9, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jan.13365. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.