Water Breaking During Pregnancy: What Does It Feel And Look Like?
Water breaking during pregnancy is one of the things that can happen to all pregnant women. The breaking of the water membranes is a sign of labor. Pretty often this is a bit traumatic, but not always and it does not ever happen before labor starts.
If you think the wet spot in front of you is from water breaking during pregnancy, sniff it, and if it smells like something sweet, not like ammonia, it’s most likely that your water just broke.
Among the most common questions about water breaking are;
If the waters broke with a gush, how much was there and at what time did they break? If the water is trickling out, when did you first notice any wetness, or feel that you had lost some fluid other than urine into the toilet? What color is the fluid you are losing?
What color are your waters when they break?
The color of the amniotic fluid should be clear with a yellow tinge or sometimes a pink tinge, although in some cases if you’re close to or past your due date, it might be green or brown. In that case, it means your water contains some of your baby’s first poo (meconium), which may be a sign that your baby is distressed. Don’t worry, meconium-tinged waters may be less of a concern in most of the cases. But always phone your doctor for advice after your waters have broken, and phone immediately if you are worried about the color of your waters.
How soon after water breaks should you go to the hospital?
Water breaking during pregnancy is not always the reason for you to make assumptions. Sometimes a woman loses a small amount of the water in the womb and then the leak in the bag of waters appears to seal itself and nothing further happens. Often, however, losing water from around the baby means that labor is likely to start soon and your baby is going to be born. If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant, you need to contact the hospital straight away, and you will be asked to go in. If you are more than 37 weeks pregnant, you should still contact your midwife or the hospital, take advice and prepare yourself to go to the hospital in the next 24 hours.
What does it look like if you breakwater?
Do you remember all the film scenes in which the water of women sank in a stream of liquids? Yes, it does not happen that way. So what do you feel when you breakwater? The answer depends on your delivery, the epidural and the amount of liquid released. According to Groenhout, you can experiment with different ways to break your water and what everyone can feel.
- Spontaneous spurt. You will feel a sudden release of hot fluid similar to what you feel when emptying a full bladder. Some women report a brief moment of pressure increase in the abdomen, one of the signs that your water will break quickly. Hearing or feeling a fast, painless but clear sound is another sign of breaking your water.
- During active/temporary work. “Water often breaks during active or transient work, because the intensity of the contractions has increased,” says Groenhout. “The work often gets worse after your water breaks, because there is no tampon between your uterus and the baby unless the water reaches your back), but expect these contractions to increase almost immediately.
- Spontaneous trickle. Other times you can slowly break down water in a stream of amniotic fluid. Often confused with an uncomplicated urinary tract (entirely understandable in late pregnancy!), Is released a little bit by little. In case you are not sure if your water breaks or you urinate, do not hesitate to call your doctor. A simple test at the office can confirm that you are dealing with a slow leak.
- Artificial breakage of the membranes. If your work is real, but things slow down a bit, your doctor may place a long plastic rod with a small hook at the end and manually break your water. It sounds terrible, but it is not painful at all (as if you notice it, even at this point!). Be prepared, however, because after this procedure you can experience a dramatic increase in contractions.
What Happens When Your Water Breaks?
Your baby is surrounded during pregnancy by the amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac, which protects and protects your baby. The amniotic fluid also helps the lungs and the digestive system of your baby to grow, while the room temperature remains stable. Your baby’s urine forms the bulk of the liquid in the second half of the pregnancy, but nutrients, antibodies, and hormones (which help fight infection) are also present. At the beginning of the work, later during the delivery or, in some cases, before the work starts, the membranes tear off the bag. This is called the “water break”.
After your water breaks, the likelihood is that your contractions will start within 24 hours to 48 hours of your waters breaking. In case your contractions haven’t started yet, you will have two choices: either to have your labor be induced or waiting to see if you go into labor without induction while checking the condition of the baby. Anyway, you should know that if your waters have been broken for more than 48 hours, and your labor hasn’t started yet, you will need to get a medical induction in order to avoid infections.
In short, no matter how your water breaks, it is an essential signal that your baby is getting ready to meet you. Breathe deeply and focus on the task that is available. You are very close now!