So, you’re toward the end of your third term of pregnancy, and all you are waiting for is for that water bag to burst, as many Hollywood movies indicated as the ultimate sign that you’re in labour.
Fortunately, those movies are only movies. As dramatic as that scene may be, the real deal is that there would already be plenty of signs that you are already in labour before your water bag breaks. Your water breaking then just becomes one of the many signs you’re ready to deliver.
That’s not to say, of course, that you should take this sign lightly. When your water bag bursts, how it looks like, and how long it takes before your contractions happen are all factors that you ought to be concerned about to make sure you go through a safe delivery.
So, if you want the all-you-need-to-know-information about water bag breaking – water breaking signs, the meaning of water breaking, the risks, and the must-dos, read on.
Table of Contents
Water Breaking in Pregnancy – What to Expect
Image Source: iStock
#1 – Your Water Bag Normally Ruptures at 37 weeks
The first thing you ought to know is when to expect water bag breakage. Usually, it’s when you reach 37 weeks. If it happens after your 37th, it’s totally fine as well. You can go ahead and proceed to your desired hospital for labour and delivery.
What if it ruptures before your 37th week? That is called a preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and a sign that you should call your doctor. You are at risk of infection if you let your water bag break without telling your OB-GYN. And infection can lead to stillbirth. So, when your water bag breaks before it’s supposed to, phone the doctor without delay.
If it breaks at 34 weeks and it is found that you have no signs of infection, your doctor may allow you to proceed with your pregnancy, but you will be closely monitored because the rupturing of your amniotic sac makes it much easier for you to catch an infection. So, to avoid any of that risk, some doctors proceed with delivery even if you are only 34 weeks.
If it breaks between your 24th and 34th week, your doctor will most likely do all measures to delay your delivery because your baby isn’t fully developed yet. They will ask you to take antibiotics to prevent infection until you are ready to deliver.
The usual causes of water breaking early in pregnancy are:
- You’ve had a history of PPROM in past pregnancies
- You have an intra-amniotic infection
- You experienced vaginal bleeding during the latter part of your pregnancy
- You smoked or used illicit drugs during your pregnancy
- You are underweight and have poor nutrition
- You have a short cervix
#2 – Your Amniotic Fluid May Feel Like an Uncontrollable Gush or Trickle of Liquid Down your Legs
One of the biggest questions many pregnant women ask about labour is how to know if the liquid running down their legs is their water breaking, discharge, or pee. And it can be confusing, honestly, given that many pregnant women have constant discharge throughout their pregnancy or experience out-of-nowhere urine trickling down their legs during this journey.
With all these similarities, it’s so hard to distinguish water-breaking signs. So, it’s an absolute must to know the difference.
First, let’s differentiate pee from amniotic fluid. You can control your pee from coming out of you; your amniotic fluid, however, you can’t. One tell-tale sign is once you feel that liquid trickling down your leg, sit down, and then stand up. If you continue to feel that trickle, you’re one step into labour.
Now, what’s the difference between amniotic fluid and discharge? As you may have noticed already if you’ve been having them throughout this pregnancy journey, discharge is a lot thicker. So, it won’t trickle down your leg like pee or amniotic fluid would. So, if you see fluid that’s more runny in consistency, you have yourself another water-breaking sign.
Image Source: iStock
#3 – Your Amniotic Fluid is Odourless and Clear or Pale Yellow in Colour
Another way of differentiating pee and discharge from the amniotic fluid is their smell and their colour.
Pee looks a lot like amniotic fluid, often they present clear or pale yellow. But, the key is in the smell. Does it smell like ammonia? If it does, that’s pee. Is it odourless? That’s amniotic fluid. That’s a water breaking sign. Sometimes, it smells sort of sweet like semen or chlorine. But never does it smell like ammonia.
Another difference between your water breaking and regular discharge is the colour. While the amniotic fluid is often clear or pale yellow, the discharge will most likely have a milk-like colour. And, as mentioned earlier, it’s thicker in consistency.
Now, if you notice that the fluid is reddish or brownish in colour, you need to call your OB, because that could mean your baby had a bowel movement in utero.
Tip: When consulting your OB about the fluids that come out of you, best if you take pictures 0r videos. It’ll be quicker to judge what they are.
#4 – Your Water Often Breaks Mid-Labour Already
Yes, that’s not what movies told you about labour. But, in reality, only about 15 to 20 per cent of pregnant women experience their water breaking before labour. So, if you’re part of the 80 to 85 per cent, you might already be experiencing contractions before your water bag ruptures.
That then shows your water breaking is not a sign your baby is ready to be delivered; it’s just become one of the many discomforts that you will experience during the rest of your pregnancy journey. The only other thing that your water bag bursting tells you during labour is that the more painful contractions are coming.
What happens if you’re in active labour already, your cervix is already thinned out and dilated, and your baby’s head is already waiting to be pulled out in your opening but your water bag hasn’t busted, your doctor will perform an amniotomy. All it is is a small plastic hook used to puncture a small hole in your amniotic sac to let the fluid that is inside flow out.
ALSO READ:
Too Much Amniotic Fluid: 10 Symptoms of Polyhydramnios In Pregnancy
10 Tips to Be the Best Birth Partner: Every Dad’s Labor Survival Kit
What to Watch Out For When Your Water Breaks
#1 – Your Water Breaks But You Feel No Contractions
#2 – Your Water Breaking is a One-Time Gush of Fluid
Image Source: iStock
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