Water Breaking: Labor Sign, What It Feels Like & What’s Next

When do I call my doctor if my water broke?

If you think your water has broken, especially if it is accompanied by a fever, unpleasant odors, blood, or a change in the fetus’s movements, you should call your doctor right away. They can assist you if you’re unsure whether your water is broken.

Once you contact your provider, they may ask questions like:

How much fluid came out?

What color was it?

Did it have a smell?

Did it have a texture?

How long has it been since it happened?

Are you having contractions?

Did you test positive for group B strep (group B streptococcus)?

How many weeks are you?

Remain calm and try not to panic. Although the timing can vary depending on your medical history and how many weeks you are pregnant, your doctor will typically want you to deliver your baby within 48 hours of your water breaking.

How do you know if your water breaks?

Your water may have broken if you experience:

A popping feeling followed by a gush or trickle of fluid from your vagina.

Fluid in your underwear or down your leg in either small or large amounts.

Wetness that’s odorless and clear or pale yellow.

Uncontrollable leaking from the vagina that you can’t “hold in.”

Leaking fluid that’s thin and watery instead of thick and sticky.

Leaking fluid followed by contractions that are stronger than before.

It’s helpful to put on a clean pair of underwear or a sanitary pad if you’re unsure whether your water broke. Don’t put a tampon inside your vagina. Try to relax for 15 to 30 minutes while lying down. When you stand up, see if fluid comes out. If your water is breaking, the fluid should leak when you stand. Note the color, the amount and the smell. You can use this to determine whether the discharge is vaginal, urine, or amniotic fluid.

With a vaginal exam, nitrazine paper, or litmus paper, only your healthcare provider can determine whether your water has broken. When in contact with amniotic fluid, litmus and nitrazine paper turn colored.

Nobody knows for certain what takes place in a person’s body to cause the amniotic sac to rupture. According to some experts, the hormones that weaken the amniotic sac or signals from the fetus’s brain are to blame.

How do I know if my waters have broken?

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 happens if water breaks too early?| Risk of Premature Rupture Of Membranes-Dr. Brunda Channappa