Amniotic Band Release

What to expect

Preparing for the procedure

• Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you take including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and pain medicines.
• Don't put anything in your vagina for 24 hours before the procedure. Don't have sex.
• If instructed, don't eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours before the procedure including water. If you have diabetes, ask your provider for additional instructions.

The day of the procedure

• An IV (intravenous) line is placed in your hand or arm. It sends fluids and medicine into your body.
• You will be given numbing medicine to keep you free of pain. Depending on what type of anesthesia you get, you may be relaxed, drowsy, or fully asleep during the procedure.
• You may also be given medication to prevent contractions or labor.
• The healthcare provider starts with an ultrasound examination to find the best insertion site for the fetoscope.
• A small skin incision will be made to insert the fetoscope into the uterus under continuous ultrasound guidance.
• Once inside the uterus, the surgeon can directly visualize the amniotic band and where it is wrapped around your baby.
• The surgeon can remove the amniotic band.
• The fetoscope is removed and an adhesive bandage or skin glue is applied to your skin.

After the procedure

• You will be taken to a room to recover from the anesthesia. Nurses will check on you as you rest.
• You will be watched for signs of preterm labor. You may be given medicine that helps prevent preterm labor.
• You may stay overnight in a hospital room. This is to make sure you don't go into preterm labor. Your doctor will discuss this with you ahead of time.
• When you leave the hospital, have an adult friend or family member drive you home.

Recovering at home

• You might experience some mild cramping. Notify your healthcare provider if you are having intense or regularly timed cramping.
• Limit your activity. Avoid exercise, lifting, and any activity that causes more uterine cramping. Ask your healthcare provider when you can increase your activity or exercise.
• Avoid sex or inserting anything in the vagina until you discuss with your healthcare provider.
• Keep adequate fluid intake throughout the day (8 glasses of water per day).
• Incision care: The steri strips and glue will fall off on their own after a few days. Keep the incision site dry and clean. Do not pick the steri strips off or scrub the incision site.
• Return to work: Ask your healthcare provider when you can go back to work.

Risks and complications

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

• A fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, or as advised by your healthcare provider
• Contractions or intense stomach cramping
• Cramping that is regularly timed or spaced about the same distance apart
• Fluid leaking from the vagina
• Bleeding or spotting of blood from the vagina
• Back or stomach pain
• Signs of infection at the skin incision site, such as redness or swelling, warmth, worsening pain, or bad-smelling drainage

Risks and possible complications of amniotic band release

The procedure is considered safe, but like all procedures, it has some risks. These include: bleeding and infections, preterm contractions, labor or delivery, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), pregnancy loss, injury to your bladder or other nearby organs and risks of anesthesia. In addition, fetal amniotic band release surgery should not impact your future pregnancies.