When your water breaks you might experience a sensation of wetness in your vagina or on your perineum, an intermittent or constant leaking of small amounts of watery fluid from your vagina, or a more obvious gush of clear or pale yellow fluid.
Is it pee or did my water break? Though many pregnant women leak urine, especially in the third trimester, a sniff will probably clue you in. If the fluid is yellowish and smells of ammonia, it's probably urine. If it doesn't smell or smells sort of sweet, it's probably amniotic fluid.
Lie Down and Rest. The easiest way to determine if it is amniotic fluid, urine, or discharge is to put on clean, dry underwear and a pad or panty liner. Then lie down for about a half hour. If the fluid is amniotic fluid, it will pool or gather in the vagina while you lie down.
You can also put on clean underwear, add a pad or pantyliner, and lie down for a few minutes if you feel a sensation of wetness when you get up or fluid pooling in your vagina, it's water breaking.
Waiting longer than 72 hours
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.
Once it starts flowing, the amniotic fluid will continue leaking until all 600-800 milliliters (or roughly 2 1/2-3 cups) of it empties out.
Symptoms of leaking amniotic fluid
You can tell whether you're leaking amniotic fluid and not urine by taking the sniff test: If it doesn't smell like ammonia, it's more likely to be amniotic fluid. If it has an ammonia scent, it's probably urine. If it has a somewhat sweet smell, it's probably amniotic fluid.
Amniotic fluid is clear, thin and odorless. It can have a hint of color (brown, green or yellow are most common). It's common for pregnant people to leak urine, so some people have difficulty distinguishing amniotic fluid from pee.
Your water can break in a gush, or leak slowly. I think a lot of women expect the giant gush of fluid that happens in the movies, and while that does happen sometimes, a lot of times a woman's water breaks a little more subtly.
If you're unsure, call your doctor or labor and delivery unit. Your medical team may suggest you get your discharge tested (using special papers that show pH levels) to see if it's amniotic fluid or something else. You may also have a physical exam, ultrasound, or other tests to assess the situation.
When the amniotic sac that surrounds your baby ruptures, it's called your water breaking. Because the trickle of fluid can feel like peeing or discharge, it can be confusing – but there are ways to determine whether you're seeing amniotic fluid or something else.
Signs of leaking amniotic fluid
Leaking amniotic fluid might feel like a gush of warm fluid or a slow trickle from the vagina. It will usually be clear and odorless but may sometimes contain traces of blood or mucus. If the liquid is amniotic fluid, it is unlikely to stop leaking.
In the fetus, speed and amplitude of general movements were directly related to the reduction in amniotic fluid. A moderate reduction of amniotic fluid was associated with a decrease in amplitude, while a more severe reduction of amniotic fluid caused a decrease in speed as well.
If your waters have been leaking for longer than 48 hours but you do not want to have your labour induced we will need to monitor you and your baby closely for signs of infection.
When your water breaks, you may feel a gush of amniotic fluid, or you might only notice a slow trickle. The amount depends on whether you have a tear or gross rupture. "If the amniotic sac is rupturing below the baby's head, then fluid has built up and will gush out," says Brichter.
If your water breaks, whether you're experiencing contractions or not, go to the hospital. This will help reduce the risk of infection. Note the color, odor and amount of fluid when your water broke.
The signs of water breaking include feeling a slow leak or a sudden gush of water. Some women feel a slight pop, while others might feel fluid coming out in bursts as they change positions.
Ignored (or missed) leaks can potentially lead to higher water bills, water damage, or mold and mildew. If you discover any of these issues, you'll want to get them fixed right away before they can wreak havoc on your plumbing—and your home.
Even though it occurs rarely, your water or amniotic sac may break, which can cause the amniotic fluid to leak slowly. Leaking amniotic fluid can harm your baby.
Yes, it's possible that during pregnancy your amniotic sac could break and leak amniotic fluid before you're in labor. If that happens, you have one of these conditions: PROM stands for premature rupture of membranes, also called prelabor rupture of membranes.
If you're unsure, call your doctor or labor and delivery unit. Your medical team may suggest you get your discharge tested (using special papers that show pH levels) to see if it's amniotic fluid or something else. You may also have a physical exam, ultrasound, or other tests to assess the situation.
When your water breaks, you may feel a gush of amniotic fluid, or you might only notice a slow trickle. The amount depends on whether you have a tear or gross rupture. "If the amniotic sac is rupturing below the baby's head, then fluid has built up and will gush out," says Brichter.