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Reassurance and Time Saving for Expectant Mothers

Announcement posted by AL-SENSE - Amniotic fluid leak self-detector 16 Jul 2015

For less than $15 pregnant women in Australia can now check quickly and easily at home if their waters have broken.
After worldwide use in Europe, the USA and Asia, AL-SENSE™ panty liner, the only non-invasive test to distinguish amniotic fluid leakage from urinary incontinence, is now available in Australia.
 
“What is this wetness I am feeling? Have my waters broken?”
 
With AL-SENSE™ panty liner, these questions  can now be answered at home, saving pregnant women unnecessary, inconvenient visits to their doctor, clinic or local hospital, while providing reassurance.
 
Studies show  that up to 46% of pregnant women will experience urinary incontinence  during their pregnancy,  while approximately 10% will experience amniotic fluid leakage as a result of a premature rupture of membranes.*
 
Understanding  when the leakage is amniotic fluid or simply urine is important for pregnant women and their support teams, as well as the health of the baby.
 
It’s no surprise, then, that pregnant women seek reassurance about whether or not they are leaking amniotic fluid. In fact,
20% of pregnant women report to their hospital because of vaginal wetness – assuming their waters have broken. Of these, 50% are sent home because the wetness was urine.
 
Removing  confusion between amniotic fluid leakage and urinary incontinence during  pregnancy in the comfort of home.
 
Amniotic fluid is a colourless liquid that surrounds the developing baby in the uterus. Often referred to as “water breaking”, most women will have a spontaneous and natural rupture of membranes just before or during labour. When this happens, the amniotic fluid will leak out.
 
AL-SENSE™ panty liner has been designed to detect whether leakage is due to ruptured membranes  or urinary incontinence.
 
Simple and easy to use, AL-SENSE™ panty liner can be worn for up to 12 hours, is safe for the mother and baby, and has an accuracy of 95.8%.
 
AL-SENSE™ panty liner changes colours immediately  upon contact with amniotic  fluid.
 
A test strip embedded  in the panty liner acts as a pH indicator and changes colour on contact with fluid that has a high pH level. Normal vaginal pH is 3.5-4.5 whereas amniotic fluid has a high pH of more than 6.5. If the colour of AL-SENSE™ panty liner remains yellow after fluid leakage, this means the test is negative and is most likely urine and not amniotic fluid. When the AL-SENSE™ panty liner comes in contact with amniotic fluid it changes colour to blue or green indicating a positive result – a clear signal to inform doctor or midwife immediately.
 
Feedback from the use of AL-SENSE™ panty liner in Australia
 
“If a woman comes into the delivery suite with ruptured waters gushing out, it is clear that she has ruptured her membranes and appropriate care is given,” says Narelle Tessier, Nursing Unit Manager, Delivery Suite, at Sydney Adventist Hospital. “If, however, there are just little amounts or the leakage comes and goes, then we may not be so sure if the membranes have ruptured.”

 
 
 
A midwife with over 30 years’ experience, Ms Tessier sees first-hand the value of a reliable, home screen test for amniotic fluid leakage.
 
“In these cases, we can ask the mother-to-be to pop the AL-SENSE™ panty liner on and go for a walk, or we can send them home. It saves them waiting  around the hospital  for hours. If the AL-SENSE™ panty liner turns blue after the leakage, then we are better informed and can manage her pregnancy accordingly.”
 
“Some women get embarrassed by their leakage, and are unsure if they need to contact their midwives.  If they already have the AL-SENSE™ panty liner in their pregnancy kit then they can test at home and save themselves an inconvenient and unnecessary trip to hospital.”
 
Like many mums-to-be,  Lizzy Fowler has been warned by her own midwife to look out for her waters breaking during the final weeks of her pregnancy.
 
“During the birth of my first child, my waters were broken for me by the midwife in order to progress labour,” said Lizzy, at 38 weeks pregnant with her second child. “I’m aware of the importance of detecting when the waters break, to prevent bacteria from entering the amniotic sac, yet I’m anxious as to how - and if - I’ll be able to tell when they do.”
 
For women like Lizzy, and for those diagnosed with higher-risk  pregnancies,  AL-SENSE™ panty liner may provide the answer and peace of mind.
 
FAST FACTS
 
•   Amniotic fluid performs a number of important functions: it helps to protect and cushion the baby inside the amniotic
sac; it maintains a constant temperature around the baby; it protects both the baby and the uterus against infection; it helps the baby’s lungs, kidneys and digestive system develop; it contributes to muscle and bone development by allowing the baby to move around the womb.
 
•  Around 8% of women experience their waters breaking before they start having regular contractions
 
•   80% of those whose waters break, spontaneously go into labour within 12 hours.
 
•   About 10% of pregnant woman will have what is called a premature rupture of membranes. This is when the water
breaks a bit earlier than expected in the pregnancy
 
•  AL-SENSE™ panty liner is the only non-invasive test available in Australia that can help pregnant women at home to know if a fluid leak during pregnancy is more likely amniotic fluid or urine, saving unnecessary, inconvenient visits to their doctor, clinic or local hospital, while providing reassurance.
 
•   AL-SENSE™ panty liner costs $24.50 for a box of 2 panty liners ($12.25 per panty liner); or $49 for a box of 5 panty
liners (less than $10 per panty liner).
 
•   For more information or to order AL-SENSE™ panty liner please contact SciGen Customer Care: 1800 676 833 or go
to www.al-sense.com.au
 
*For AL-SENSE™ Publications and Research, visit http://www.al-sense.com.au/publications/
 
 
Media enquiries:
 
For interviews, product samples for review, or more information about AL-SENSE™ please contact: Blanche  Wilkie, PURE Communications, Tel: 0425 279 091, blanche@purecommunications.com.au