Your amniotic sac breaking and water leaking all over you/your surroundings has a lot of anxiety surrounding it. This is the post that includes EVERYTHING you need to know about your water breaking. It should ease a lot of fears, and share some good information to keep both you and your baby healthy.
Before we get going this is just one VERY tiny part of pregnancy & birth — I recommend this to get prepared from bump to bassinet.
Want To know Something Specific? Click below for that topic:
When Will Your Water Break?
This is the big question. You’d really prefer it to break on the toilet rather than when you’re out with friends, grocery shopping or at work.
The good news, the majority of people’s water breaks once they’re in active labor — which, for most people, is a time that you’re at the hospital. Only 15% of people’s water breaks before the hospital.
Surprisingly a lot of people feel that water break while they are peeing. I’d guess you’re relaxed and that makes your body think – -let’s do it NOW!
What Will My Water Breaking Look Like?
The bad news, it’s different than you think it will be. A lot of people only feel a trickle of fluid come out, vs the “gush” that we always see in the movies. I have a whole post on What Does Water Breaking Look Like?
What Will my Water Breaking Feel Like?
Great question — because I think a LOT of people worry it will be very painful. Honestly, that’s not the case. While water breaking can make labor more intense (more on that coming up) the amniotic sac actually doesn’t have neurons attached to it.
Most people feel a pop and a leaking of some fluid. A lot of people have compared to having a water balloon popping inside of you, which makes sense!
I polled a bunch of people to ask what they felt — check out my post on what water breaking feels like.
Many people say it feels just like peeing, except you can’t make it stop. That can make it hard to tell if you peed or if your water broke.
How much water will come out?
Will it be a trickle, or a gush? Honestly, it’s very hard to know.
You have to think of your baby’s head as a cork on your “bottle” of water — depending on how high or low on your uterus the amniotic sac ruptures depends on how much fluid comes out.
And just because your friend had a giant gush and soaked her mattress doesn’t mean you will!
Of course, all of this makes slow leaks really hard to detect, if you’re only getting a little bit every time you move.
Are There Signs It’s Going to Break?
The biggest sign is your provider asking if they can break it (because the vast majority have it broken in the hospital by a provider). However, the next biggest sign is being in labor, because that’s most often what breaks it. I share a few more signs << in that post.
Can I Test Myself for an Amniotic Fluid Leak?
There IS a test we use in the hospital called amnisure. It’s a pretty clear cut (although, not entirely) way to tell if your water is broken. But there are a few ways you can test at home.
I have a whole post about an at-home amniotic fluid leak test that talks about ways you can check at home.
The extra confusing news is that discharge often changes as you get closer to labor — which means it can be hard to tell if it’s discharge or your water breaking.
I also have a whole post with a quiz in it if you’re really wondering if your water broke.
What makes it break?
Ugh, it sure can feel like that when you have a little karate artist in your womb! While we don’t actually know what makes your water break all the time — we do know a few things can make your water break.
The good news for worried moms — studies don’t really prove that baby’s movements makes it break.
While we’re here, let’s answer a few important questions about breaking water:
Should You Let Your Provider Break Your Water?
It’s a great question — and it varies quite a lot, and has a lot of aspects to think about. I would encourage you to read my whole post on if you should let your provider break your water.
Will Labor Get Harder When It’s Broken?
Most people do describe it that way. It’s one of the reasons I say to wait if you’re hoping to have a “natural” labor.
However, sometimes it does need to be broken to speed things along — which is why I answer the question should you get an epidural before it is broken.
In Summary…
Here’s 3 things to know:
1️⃣ It is really important that if you think your water broke, to call your provider. If it were to broken for too long there is an increased of an infection in your womb which can be bad for both you and baby.
2️⃣ If you think it’s broken note the time — also take a peek to see if it’s clear, yellow (more likely urine) or green. Your providers will want to know this when you contact them.
3️⃣ While it can be normal to sort of obsess over this, this is just one very tiny part of pregnancy & birth so I strongly recommend you get prepared for ALL of it in here.
In fact, in The Online Prenatal Class for Couples we talk through tricky subjects like this, and how to know if you’re going into labor. You may think it’s too late to take a birth class, but the great news is that it only takes about 3 hours to get it done. Using an expert to get the information you NEED for something is one of the smartest things you can do.
Not sure we’re a good fit check out my free class — It’s your first step towards being your own birth boss.
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