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As your estimated due date approaches, worrying about your water breaking can become a full-time job. As you wait for all the signs of labor to finally arrive, you might wonder also wonder if you'll be able to tell the difference between leaking amniotic fluid and normal pregnancy discharge. And when your water breaks, it's likely not going to look anything like it's portrayed in Hollywood.
So, how do you know if your water broke, and what should you do after your water has broken? We spoke with experts to learn more about this sign of approaching labor.
"Water breaking is usually a lot less dramatic than people think. Some people experience the telltale gush of clear fluid, while others have nothing more than a slow trickle that resembles leaking urine or watery vaginal discharge.
— Joyce Gottesfeld, MDTo better understand water breaking signs, it helps to know why it happens in the first place. "During a pregnancy, the baby grows within a person's uterus and is contained within a sac filled with amniotic fluid," explains Ilana Ressler, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist with Illume Fertility in Norwalk, Connecticut.
This amniotic fluid serves a few purposes:
At some point before delivery, the amniotic sac membranes will rupture and the fluid will come out of the vagina. This "rupture of the membranes," as it's technically called, is commonly referred to as your "water breaking."
Despite common misconceptions, only about 10% of people experience their water breaking before going into labor. The amniotic sac usually ruptures during labor or delivery. In extremely rare cases, however, the amniotic sac might never rupture, and the baby can be born inside of it (which is referred to as being born "en caul").
Many pregnant people aren't sure that they'll know when their water has broken. Here are the biggest signs that what you're experiencing is, in fact, your water breaking, rather than vaginal discharge or urine.
When your water breaks, you may feel a gush of amniotic fluid, or you might only notice a slow trickle. The amount depends on whether you have a tear or gross rupture.
"If the amniotic sac is rupturing below the baby's head, then fluid has built up and will gush out. But if the rupture happens higher in the womb, the fluid will have to trickle down between the sac and uterine lining, so the flow won't be as heavy," says Ashley Brichter, certified cooperative childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula, and founder and CEO of Birth Smarter.
In all cases, though, the flow of liquid can't be controlled, and you can expect a total of about 2 1/2 to 3 cups of fluid to eventually empty from the amniotic sac. You can reduce any mess and wetness by wearing a panty liner or sanitary pad (never a tampon) or sitting on a clean towel.
In general, amniotic fluid is odorless, although some people detect a sweet smell like semen or chlorine. It's also usually clear or lightly tinged pink with streaks of blood.
Some people detect pressure when their water breaks. Others hear a popping noise followed by leakage. Neither situation is painful, says Dr. Ressler. "However, contractions may increase in frequency and intensity after the water breaks."
Keep in mind, you should be at the hospital (if that's where you're delivering) when your contractions feel strong and last about 45 to 60 seconds. Also, in active labor, contractions are about three to five minutes apart.
Water breaking could feel like urinary incontinence, which is common during the third trimester of pregnancy. "People will sometimes say, 'I went to the bathroom in my pants but the water kept coming,'" says Dr. Gottesfeld.
Here's how to tell the difference: Urine has a yellowish color and smells like ammonia, while amniotic fluid is usually odorless, says Brichter.
If you still can't tell whether it's amniotic fluid or urine, try this trick from Brichter: Sit down for several minutes, then stand back up. If there's still fluid trickling out, it probably indicates that your water broke.
It's important to know that if you experience leaking amniotic fluid, or think your water has broken, prior to 37 weeks, it's imperative to call a health care provider right away. This scenario is known as PPROM, or preterm, prelabor rupture of membranes. In the U.S., preterm birth occurs in approximately 10% of all deliveries, and can have serious health consequences for both mom and baby.
Check with your health care provider if you're experiencing signs of your water breaking. At the hospital, a health care provider might use diagnostic tests to determine if your water has broken, such as the following:
While it's hard to predict when exactly your baby will arrive after your water breaks, because there are many factors at play, including If contractions are still infrequent and mild, your doctor or midwife may encourage you to rest at home until they progress, says Brichter.
If your water has not broken, you'll be sent home to await the start of labor. If your water has broken, you may be checked into the hospital or birthing center right away, or you may be told to go home until your contractions begin. Premature rupture of the membranes, known as PROM, which occurs when your water breaks before labor begins, only happens in about 10% of pregnancies. Your health care provider may decide to help speed up the process by inducing labor in this case, which reduces the chances you or your baby will contract an infection.
Pregnant people may also mistake rupturing of the membranes for discharge (which can increase in volume during pregnancy), especially if it's trickling out slowly. Both amniotic fluid and vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) tend to be odorless, but they also have som differing characteristics:
Also, take care not to confuse water breaking with losing your mucus plug, which is another sign of approaching labor. The mucus plug looks like bigger chunks of gelatinous, thick, and yellowish-white liquid with a snotty consistency. It may also be tinged with blood.
You don't always need to rush to the hospital immediately after your water breaks. Typically, you will deliver your baby around 24 to 48 hours after your water breaks. However, there are certain circumstances in which you might need to head to the hospital right away or contact your doctor or midwife.
