Does anyone know the answer (x-post)

[MommaAvoidinDrama]

Hey ladies, I know it has been a while. I am sorry that so much has happened and I haven't been around. Congrats to all the new Mommy's and I hope all the babies are doing really good! Anyways, I came in here to ask you ladies a question. I was in L&D on Thursday because I had a gush of fluid (thought it was my water breaking), and the Dr that tested me used lubrication before he ran the test so I am not 100% convinced that I am not still leaking fluid. Anyhow, when/if you were tested with the paper that the Dr uses to test for amniotic fluid, what color did or is it supposed to turn to indicate that your water did in fact break? I have since tested myself using a ph/alkalinty paper and when I use it, each time it shows change in color, it turns a dark green. If anyone has an idea, I would really like to know, the Dr was very informal and very rude to me (not my normal Dr), and seemed like he wouldn't have cared either way if the test did come back positive. He also had me lay flat on my back while having back labor for 3 full hours before finally allowing the nurse to stop my contractions and I left the hospital feeling pretty hopeless about the care I may receive when Evyn does come. Anyhow, any input would be great! Thank you all! Oh and for anyone who is curious I am 36 weeks on Monday.

[Just Emily]

no idea but hope its all ok in there!

[MommaAvoidinDrama]

Thank you! I really hope it is all ok as well. I can't stand not knowing, but don't want to go back to the hospital if I am going to be treated like I was.

[tammygreen]

I am not sure what color the paper you are using is supposed to change. I do know when my water broke with DS, whatever test they used to check for fluid turned green. If you are concerned I would call your doctor, maybe he/she would be able to tell ya. My theory is when in doubt go to L&D... much better to be safe...

GL Momma

[MommaAvoidinDrama]

Thank you Tammy! I have been using litmus paper and it has a range of color changes from light green up to dark blue. So I am sure that if it isn't blue like I have just read then I am hoping that I may be lucky and not have to worry about it.

[alhardin]

When they checked me they used nitrate paper (pretty sure that's what it was called) and it turned dark blue/purple for positive. I'm sure there may be different kinds of paper that turns different colors though, so IDK.

[MommaAvoidinDrama]

Annette, I know that there are different papers with different colors/results. The most common used is Nitrazine paper, but litmus paper is much cheaper and tests alkalinity/ph and some Dr's use it. I just figured that I would get some because I was so unsure and the Dr made me feel so uneasy. I am pretty sure after finding more info about it, (takes a lot of digging online), that if I had in fact had my water break the color would be blue because the alkalinity/ph levels would be elevated to only about a 6.0 for the green and so if blue is the last color then that would show a problem.

[MommaAvoidinDrama]

This is what I found:
If there is a question about the amniotic sac being intact or ruptured, Nitrazine Testing may be done by the care providers. Nitrazine Testing tests the pH (acidity or alkalinity ) of the vaginal fluid. The amniotic fluid is generally 7 to 7.5 whereas vaginal secretions are in the range of 4.5 to 5.5. Urine's pH is 5.5 to 6.5. The nitrazine tests use test paper similar to litmus paper, which changes color in an acid or base environment. This paper contains a dye that reacts with vaginal material and can be compared with a standard color chart (see below). Bloody show can produce a false reading of ruptured membranes when the membranes are intact because maternal blood (pH 7.35-7.45) is basic like amniotic fluid.Nitrazine Test Color Interpretation Membranes Probably Intact Yellow pH 5.0 Olive Yellow pH 5.5 Olive Green pH 6.0 Ruptured Membranes Blue Green pH 6.5 Blue Gray pH 7.0 Deep Blue pH 7.5

[CeCe1975]

Hope everything turns out ok with you. Not sure about the paper (they did a ferning test with me when I thought I was leaking) but the doc definitely shouldn't have used any lubricant. Just wanted to offer some hugs.

[alhardin]

Originally Posted by MommaAvoidinDrama

Annette, I know that there are different papers with different colors/results. The most common used is Nitrazine paper, but litmus paper is much cheaper and tests alkalinity/ph and some Dr's use it. I just figured that I would get some because I was so unsure and the Dr made me feel so uneasy. I am pretty sure after finding more info about it, (takes a lot of digging online), that if I had in fact had my water break the color would be blue because the alkalinity/ph levels would be elevated to only about a 6.0 for the green and so if blue is the last color then that would show a problem.

I think the litmus paper is what my mom got me (she's an ob nurse at the hospital), the name sounds really familiar. The color didn't really change for me when I used it at home, but after my water did break and they checked me at the hospital it turned dark so I'd say you are good if it's not blue yet

[Lsutigerbabe]

If you are so uncomfortable with how your doctor handled that you are using your own litmus paper- you've got to get another doctor! Is there no other clinic you can go to, or another doctor at that clinic?

[Jen0828]

I can't really help as far as what color the test strips should be but my water broke at 22 weeks and it was always negative for amniotic fluid whenever they tested it. It took a total of 3 weeks for my doctor to finally do an u/s which showed very low fluid. They even tested that same day in l&d and was still negative for amniotic fluid. I always felt like my doctors never took me seriously and put way too much faith in the tests. On a side note I was transferred to a different hospital that had a better NICU for the duration of that pregnancy. When the doctor at the new hospital examined me upon arrival he could tell immediately that I was leaking fluid. (He did an internal exam and saw the fluid flowing from my cervix.)
I don't want to scare you, I just want you to know that those tests might not always be accurate. Good luck!