Only at home test for mothers-to-be

Community Midwife, Emma Herbert
Mums-to-be have a lot to think about. Their body is changing, they are experiencing aches and pains and new health challenges they have never even thought about before. It is obviously a very happy yet nervous time for expectant Mums, and the more they can be in control of their health and aware
of potential issues, the more confident and at ease they will feel.
Urine leaks are common as mums-to-be approach their due date, tiny leaks of amniotic fluid are rarer, but can be difficult to identify as they are easily mistaken by women as being just urine. When in fact it could be something much more serious, putting both mother and baby at risk.
Now, an at home diagnostic test can take some of that worry away and will alert mums-to be when there is a more serious issue. AmnioSense™ is the only home test available in the UK that can help expectant mums to understand if a fluid leak during pregnancy is more likely to be amniotic fluid or
urine.

More than 20 per cent of pregnant women attend hospital reporting they feel wetness, and around half are sent home after undergoing an internal examination to rule out a leak of amniotic fluid [1] . Now this ingenious new medical device, which looks like an everyday panty-liner, can be used to eliminate unnecessary trips to hospital and intrusive medical investigations.
The AmnioSense liners have a central test strip which changes colour when it comes into contact with amniotic fluid, and will stay that way for at least two hours. If the liner comes into contact with urine, the colour will not create at all, or will disappear after 10 minutes.
Another big advantage is that the panty-liner can be worn for up to 12 hours, making it very efficient at detecting small, slow leaks of amniotic fluid. And as the results are stable for at least two hours there is often time for the woman to get to her midwife or doctor and show them the results.

Reference

1. Reported in a published summary of a congress of the obstetricians and gynecologists

Staff Writer