Maybe you expect it to be just like in the movies, where you suddenly get unexpectedly soaked in the supermarket, or maybe you haven’t ever imagined that moment your waters break.
Many families are surprised when I say your waters may break as a gush, they may break slowly or you may never notice them break at all. So here are the basics of what you need to know, and when to call for help!
What are the waters?
Your baby develops inside a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac. When your baby is ready to be born, the sac breaks and the fluid comes out through your vagina. This is your waters breaking.
This may occur:
- Before your contractions begin
- During established labour at any point prior to birth
- Sometimes, your midwife or doctor may break your waters for you to induce or speed up your labour. This is known as artificial rupture of membranes (ARM).
This in itself is not painful, but it may occur at the same time as a contraction. You may also experience an increase in discomfort as your contractions may build quickly after the waters have broken.
What’s it like when they break?
Your waters breaking can feel like a mild popping sensation, followed by a trickle or gush of fluid that you can’t stop, unlike when you wee.
You may not have any sensation of the actual ‘breaking’, and then the only sign that your waters have broken is the trickle of fluid.
If you experience the following, your waters may have broken:
- a popping sensation followed by a gush or trickle of fluid
- an unusual amount of dampness in your underwear that doesn’t smell like urine
- uncontrollable leaking of small or large amounts of fluid from the vagina that doesn’t smell like urine.
What should I look out for?
If you have any of the following you should attend hospital straight away:
- Under 37 weeks pregnant
- You develop a high temperature (37.5 or over)
- The waters are not clear (if they are bloody, green, brown or have an unusual smell)
- You are concerned about a change in your baby’s movements. You should continue to feel your baby move right up to the time you go into labour and during labour.
- You know you have Group B Strep.
When should I go to hospital?
Sometimes your waters may break before you go into labour. Most women go into labour on their own within 24 hours.
If your waters have broken but there are no concerning features, you can contact your maternity unit to determine if you should go in straight away or wait at home for labour to begin.
If you are at home after your waters have broken:
- If your contractions are less than every 5 minutes, you should stay mobile to encourage your contractions to build
- Having a shower or bath won’t increase the risk of infection, but sex might, so avoid this after your waters break.
Return to your chosen place of birth if:
- Your contractions are every 3-5 minutes
- You are in need of pain relief
- You feel a pressure sensation
- You have new concerns eg a change in the colour of the waters, feeling feverish, reduced movements etc
If your labour does not begin spontaneously within 24 hours of your waters breaking, you will be offered induction of labour. This is because your waters breaking before labour exposes your baby to an increased risk of infection.