The less studied effects of Amniotomy.

Amniotomy has become a routine part of obstetrical care. It was added along with other procedures adopted 50+ years ago without strong evidence. The scientific data supporting this procedure is poor while there is data suggesting it may increase the frequency of cord prolapse, neonatal GBS infection, pain and fetal blood loss if placental blood vessels are punctured. The incidence of cord prolapse overall reported in the literature ranges from 0% to 0.7%. The rate at which cord prolapse immediately follows amniotomy has not been directly studied but is reported in 4 case controlled studies.