Generally, your water breaking signals that you have entered or are about to be inlabor.
Amniotic fluidprotects a developing fetus during pregnancy.
Once it drains from the amniotic sac, the risk of infection increases.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Verywell / Jessica Olah
How Do You Know if Your Water Breaks?
Water Breaking vs.
Discharge
Vaginal dischargecan sometimes be confused with amniotic fluid.
you’re free to tell them apart by how they look, feel, and smell.
Amniotic fluid is clear, thin, and odorless.
If you have any discharge that does not fit this description, tell your healthcare provider.
If you notice you’releaking amniotic fluid, use a pad to absorb some of it.
Look at it and smell it to confirm that its not urine.
Amniotic fluid and urine can be distinguished based on how they smell.
While urine has a strong odor, amniotic fluid does not smell or can be mildly sweet-smelling.
The flow of your water breaking is different than leaking urine.
You should not have any pain with the flow of amniotic fluid.
Will Labor Begin Immediately?
After your first delivery, the labor you have in your next pregnancy will usually take less time.
Do so if you:
Why Does My Provider Want to Break My Water?
Can Your Water Break Early?
Normally, your water will break during labor.
However, your water can also break before you go into labor.
When your water breaks early, it’s called prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM).
Your water usually breaks after you have reached 37 weeks of pregnancy.
If this does not happen naturally, your provider may have to artificially rupture the membrane.
Contractions in your womb can be delayed for a few hours after your amniotic sac breaks.
Depending on your risk factors, your provider may recommend that you are induced immediately.
The uterus keeps making amniotic fluid until the baby is born.
You may still feel some leaking, especially right after a hard contraction.
Pay close attention to the fluid in your pad.
It should be clear and not have a bad smell.
You may notice a faint pink color and mucus, and this is normal.
After using the bathroom, wipe carefully from front to back to avoid dragging bacteria into your vaginal canal.
Summary
Water breaking in pregnancy is necessary for delivery to begin.
It can happen on its own or your provider might need to artificially break the sac.
Your water usually breaks when you have reached week 39 of your pregnancy.
Your water breaking often occurs after labor begins, but it can also happen before.
The amniotic fluid should be clear and odorless.
If your water breaks, you should call your healthcare provider immediately.
If you have any trouble telling if your water has broken, call your healthcare provider.
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Sanford Health.How to know if your water breaks.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the stages of labor?
Smyth RMD, Markham C, Dowswell T.Amniotomy for shortening spontaneous labour.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2013:CD006167.pub3.
2014 May;30(3):626-9. doi:10.12669/pjms.303.4853
Michigan Medicine.Rupture of the membranes.
