Amniotomy

Amniotomy is a medical procedure or intervention that involves breaking the bag of waters or amniotic fluid sac surrounding the fetus in utero. Also known as artificial rupture of membranes, or AROM.

If amniotomy is not performed, the bag of waters will typically result in spontaneous rupture of membranes, or SROM, but there is the chance that the fetus will be born "in the caul" or without breakage, requiring the care provider to tear the membranes away from the infant's face after birth.

Amniotomy is commonly used as a form of induction of labor or augmentation of labor, however the Cochrane review on amniotomy states that there is an increase of cesarean with no shortening of the first stage of labor when used for prolonged labor augmentation.1

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1http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab006167.html