When your water breaks, you may experience a sensation of wetness, an intermittent or constant leaking of small amounts of watery fluid from the vagina, or a more obvious gush of clear or pale-yellow fluid.
During pregnancy, your baby grows in your uterus and in a sac filled with amniotic fluid. This amniotic fluid acts as a cushion for the baby, regulates the temperature of the womb, and helps with fetal development. Water breaking refers to the breaking or opening of the amniotic sac, which occurs before delivery and signals the onset of the active stage of labor.
Your water may break either before or during labor, or a medical professional may break it during induction or delivery.
What causes early water breaking?
If your water breaks before week 37 of pregnancy, it is called preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (preterm PROM). Risk factors for water breaking too early include:
- History of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes in a prior pregnancy
- Inflammation of the fetal membranes (intra-amniotic infection)
- Urinary tract infection in the mother
- Vaginal bleeding during the second and third trimesters
- Smoking or using illicit drugs during pregnancy
- Being underweight with poor nutrition
- Short cervical length
What are the signs of water breaking?
Your water usually breaks when you have reached week 39 of her pregnancy, when your body is ready to deliver the baby. You start to feel contractions, and your cervix thins and widens for the baby to pass through.
Signs your water has broken include:
- Uncontrollable leakage of fluid: Depending on whether it is a gross rupture or small tear, you may feel a gush of amniotic fluid or it may only be a slow trickle. The flow of liquid cannot be controlled and about 2.5-3 cups of fluid empties out of the amniotic sac. If the amniotic sac ruptures below the baby’s head, then fluid has built up and will gush out. However, if the rupture happens higher in the uterus, the fluid will trickle down between the sac and uterine lining.
- Clear and odorless: In general, amniotic fluid is odorless although some women detect a peculiar smell similar to semen or chlorine. It is usually clear or tinged pink with streaks of blood.
- Painless pressure or popping: Some women detect pressure when their water breaks. Others hear a popping noise followed by leakage. Labor contractions usually increase in frequency and intensity when your water breaks.
Water breaking may feel like urinary incontinence, which is common during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Pregnant women may mistake the rupture of the membranes for discharge, especially if it trickles out slowly. While both amniotic fluid and vaginal discharge tend to be odorless, the latter is sticky, thick and looks like clear or milky white mucus.
SLIDESHOW
Conception: The Amazing Journey from Egg to Embryo See SlideshowUniversity of Michigan Health System. Rupture of the Membranes. https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw195832
Tommy’s. Waters Breaking Early (PPROM). https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/pregnancy-complications/waters-breaking-early-pprom
Top How Do You Know if Your Water Breaks Related Articles
Childbirth Delivery Methods and Types
Learn about the pros and cons of various childbirth methods, such as the Bradley method, C-section, natural childbirth, water birth, Lamaze, and vaginal delivery. Read about birthing centers, hospital and home births, midwives, and doulas.
Labor Symptoms (Early Signs)
Every woman's experience with labor and delivery is unique for each woman, and thus "Normal" labor varies from woman to woman. Some of the common signs and symptoms of normal labor include the "baby dropping," increase urination, back pain, contractions, and diarrhea.
Labor and Delivery
Early and later symptoms and signs of labor and delivery are unique to each woman. Early signs of labor are "lightning" and passing the mucus plug. Later symptoms and signs that labor that labor is are the woman's water breaking, and when contractions begin. There are three stages of labor, stage 1 is the longest and occurs when the cervix begins to thin and dilate. During stage 2 of labor the baby passes through the birth canal and remains there until delivery, and stage 3, is when the baby is delivered.
How Long Does It Take to Go Into Labor After Being Induced?
The time it takes to go into labor after being induced can take anywhere from a few hours to 2-3 days. Learn what to expect when inducing labor. Check out the center below for more medical references on labor and childbirth, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related diseases, treatment, diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.
Pregnancy Myths and Facts Quiz
Being pregnant is a delicate time for both mother and baby. Take this pregnancy myths and facts quiz to separate the myths and facts about being pregnant, and learn the truth behind healthy pregnancies!
Stages of Pregnancy: Week by Week
See pictures on the various stages of pregnancy. See and learn what changes a woman's body goes through and view fetal images of how her baby grows during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters.What Are the 4 Stages of Labor?
The 4 stages of labor are: dilation of the cervix, delivery of the baby, afterbirth, and recovery. Learn more about what to expect during each stage.
What Are the Warning Signs of Premature Labor?
Labor that starts before 37 weeks of pregnancy could put your premature baby at risk. Know the signs of preterm labor and what to do if you notice them.