North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

Rupture of membranes occurring more than 24 hours before delivery is known as?

1. Normal rupture of membranes

2. Prolonged rupture of membranes

3. PROM

4. Preterm labor

The correct answer is: Prolonged rupture of membranes

The phenomenon described as ruptured membranes occurring more than 24 hours before the onset of delivery is recognized as prolonged rupture of membranes. This condition is significant in obstetrics because it can be associated with an increased risk of infection for both the mother and the fetus, specifically intrauterine infection such as chorioamnionitis. The terminology used in obstetrics differentiates between spontaneous rupture of membranes at term and the prolonged nature of rupture if it exceeds 24 hours. Monitoring is crucial in this scenario to manage risk and complications effectively. While other terms are relevant to the context, such as PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes), which refers to the rupture of membranes before labor begins regardless of the duration until delivery, it does not specifically indicate the time frame being over 24 hours. Preterm labor refers to labor that starts before 37 weeks of gestation, and normal rupture of membranes would typically denote an expected timing relative to the onset of labor. Thus, when membranes have been ruptured for more than a day prior to delivery, it is most accurately characterized as prolonged rupture of membranes.