We are talking about your bag of waters breaking, how to know it is amniotic fluid not pee, and what to do if this happens to you before labor or during labor.
Now is the time to get ready for your birth journey. Take your next step by downloading the FREE workbook below to get Annabelle’s 4 Step Process to a birth you will love to remember.
Mom’s water bag is like a big water balloon inside of her uterus (the uterus is the muscle that causes contractions).
The water bag has layers/membranes and the bag allows your baby to move around during pregnancy.
“Water breaking” means that the amniotic sac surrounding your baby has either ruptured or has a leak. The water bag can break in two ways: a big gush from a rupture at the bottom of the bag (now baby’s head can sit on cervix and speed up labor) or it can leak at the top (a high leak) which causes more of a trickle.
If you gush (really only about ¼ cup of fluid), know that there is still plenty of fluid inside for your baby.
This can diminish over time, but he or she has a lot to spare.
This usually happens once moms are around term (37 weeks or more) because the sac surrounding the baby begins to weaken.
How do you know that it is the amniotic fluid?
You might feel like you peed your pants. This is what you need to do… Go sit on the toilet and empty your bladder. Note 4 things about the fluid
1. Time
2. Amount
3. Color
4. Odor
Change your underwear and walk around (amniotic fluid will continue to leak)
What should you do?
If you are not in labor and your water breaks then call your HCP.
If you are in labor and water breaks then…go to the hospital! *Extra pressure on the cervix will cause contractions to increase in intensity telling you that dilation is happening very quickly.
What will your healthcare provider do?
Not term (37 weeks or more)?
Your healthcare provider will feel for intact bag of waters with vaginal exam, ultrasound baby to check the fluid level, or swab to check the pH of the fluid.
Term (37 weeks or more) with no contractions?
Your healthcare provider will tell you to wait at home for contractions to start for at most 12 hours, or tell you to go to the hospital and induce you with Pitocin.
Term (37 weeks or more) with contractions?
You can probably labor at home for 12 hours or go to the hospital.
What are Mom’s options?
Some moms experience their water break before labor starts (less than 10% of moms).
In the majority of moms, their water usually breaks in the active or transition phase of labor.
If mom & baby are healthy, the fluid is clear with no smell, but contractions have not started…you don’t have to be induced. About 45% of women will go into spontaneous labor within 12 hours. 75 – 95% of women will go into labor within 24 hours.
BUT it is important to understand that as the length of time increases, the risk of infection also increases.
If you are 37 weeks or more, your HCP might want to induce you. Mom needs to monitor for infection (she might need to stay at the hospital to be monitored if she does not want to be induced) –
Some signs of infection include fever, chills, foul smelling, and greenish amniotic fluid
*ACOG says infection includes fever AND one other factor. *There is no definitive answer for if you will develop an infection.
Check out this article
Evidence on: Premature Rupture of Membranes https://evidencebasedbirth.com/eviden…
Whatever the scenario, you get to make a choice. Make sure you are informed and know the risks and benefits.
Now is the time to get ready for your birth journey. Take your next step by downloading the FREE workbook below to get Annabelle’s 4 Step Process to a birth you will love to remember.
Disclaimer: This is for educational purposes only. This should not be taken as medical advice or take the place of what your healthcare provider recommends. This is educational information not medical advice.