Is it safe to make your waters break? Women can get their water to break with the help of a doctor, but it is not safe for them to attempt to break their water at home. However, there are many natural methods that women can use to encourage labor to begin once the pregnancy has reached full term.
For exercises to encourage your water to break, your cervix needs to be soft and ready to be dilated on its own. In other words, your body has to already be preparing for labor for these methods to work. If your cervix and body are ready, low-impact exercises can encourage your water to break and start up contractions.
To break your water, your healthcare provider inserts the amnihook through your vagina. Once they find the bag of water or amniotic sac, they scratch or tear a hole in it to allow the fluid to escape.
If your waters break before you go into labour
Most women go into labour on their own within 24 hours. If this doesn't happen your midwife will offer to induce labour and you'll be advised to give birth in hospital, if you're not there already.
There are no signs that your water is going to break; however, most people will be in labor and have contractions before their water breaks. So, if you're in labor and experiencing contractions, your water can break at any moment.
Amniotomy (also known as artificial rupture of the membranes, or AROM) is a procedure in which your practitioner helps give your labor a boost and speed up contractions by manually breaking your water by puncturing the amniotic sac with a hook.
We love Ina May Gaskin's quote, “Squat 300 times a day, you're going to give birth quickly.” However, if you have not been squatting at all, start with our minimum of 25 squats a day.
A large review of studies suggests that a common procedure in labor, intentionally breaking the water, has no effect in reducing the labor time or assuring the baby's health. The procedure, sometimes called amniotomy, involves rupturing the amniotic membranes to speed contractions.
If your cervix has opened up to at least 2-3 centimetres dilated and the baby's head is well engaged (low down in your pelvis), your waters will be broken (see below under Artifical Rupture of Membranes). If it is not possible to break your waters a second Propess pessary may be inserted if appropriate.
What if your water doesn't break on its own? During active labor, if your cervix is dilated and thinned and the baby's head is deep in your pelvis, your health care provider might use a technique known as an amniotomy to start labor contractions or make them stronger if they have already begun.
Squatting in the third trimester, especially in the last couple of months, is not recommended. During this phase, the baby descends into the upper pelvis, and strenuous squats may increase the risk of breaking the water (3).
Squats, asymmetrical movements and low impact cardio can all help induce labor naturally. You'll find all three in today's workout below. Bouncing and performing pelvic tilts on a birthing ball or exercise ball was helpful for me too.
Usually the bag of waters breaks just before you go into labor or during the early part of labor. It happens often when you are in bed sleeping. You may wake up and think you have wet the bed. Sometimes women feel or even hear a small “pop” when the bag breaks.
95 women in every 100 will give birth within 4-5 days of their waters breaking however the risk of infection in your womb increases significantly after 24 hours. This is the reason we recommend planning an induction after 36 hours.
(Some OBs will go ahead and break your water at 3 or 4 centimeters.) The reasoning behind this: “Artificial rupture of membranes” (popping a hole in the amniotic sac) will usually jumpstart labor by getting serious contractions underway.
Most times, it happens randomly. Other times, your doctor or midwife might artificially break the sac. Some pregnant people may experience a sudden gush, while others will feel dampness or trickles down their thighs. If you have any difficulties determining if your water has broken, contact your healthcare provider.
Getting up and moving around may help speed dilation by increasing blood flow. Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation. This is because the weight of the baby applies pressure to the cervix.