Every November Prematurity Awareness Month is observed, with World Prematurity Day being recognized globally on the 17th.  One common reason for a preterm delivery is when a patient's water breaks before being full term (or 37+ weeks pregnant).  During pregnancy, the baby resides inside a fluid-filled sac, called an amnion which contains amniotic fluid. When someone says their water has broken, they really mean the membranes of the amniotic sac have ruptured. Rupture of membranes (ROM) after 37 weeks usually happens after the onset of labor (or the start of contractions). However, when this rupture occurs before 37 weeks, this is called preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), and this can cause a world of trouble.  Check out this episode as Dr. Plenty lets you know how term ROM and PPROM are both handled.  Also, learn about how you can reduce your risk of PPROM and preterm delivery with subsequent pregnancies. If you're pregnant or have had a preterm delivery before, make sure to download and listen to this episode. Don't forget to share with friends and family, comment, and rate!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.