After your water breaks at term (37+ weeks), healthcare providers usually recommend delivering within 24 hours to minimize infection risk, though many women go into labor naturally within that time, with most delivering within 48 hours. Waiting longer increases infection risks for mother and baby, so if labor doesn't start, induction (starting labor artificially) is often suggested for safety, especially after 24 hours.
How long after your water breaks do you have to deliver? The exact timing will vary depending on how far you are in pregnancy and if you have any health conditions. In most cases, your pregnancy care provider will want to deliver your baby within 24 to 48 hours.
Your Water Breaks
If you feel water leaking or gushing from the vagina, you should go immediately to the hospital as the water breaking can be one of the last things that happens before your baby is born.
Or go to your hospital or birthing center right away. A member of your healthcare team can check to see if you're leaking amniotic fluid. Your healthcare team might do an ultrasound to check the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby.
Therefore, your healthcare provider may recommend amniotomy to intentionally break your water. Rupturing or breaking your amniotic sac can cause your uterus to contract and help dilate your cervix.
Water breaks when the amniotic sac weakens and stretches due to natural changes in the body and the baby's growth, which eventually causes the sac to rupture.
If you think your water broke but aren't having contractions, you should contact your healthcare provider right away for an evaluation.
Around 7 in every 10 people give birth within 24 hours of their waters breaking, and almost all (9 in 10 people) within 48 hours. If your waters break after 37 weeks pregnant and labour doesn't start within 24 hours, your health team may discuss inducing labour due to the risk of infection.
This may concern you, but there are many things that you can try to help get labor going once your water has broken, including:
When people give birth on TV or in films, they tend to spend their labour lying on their backs on a bed. But this is not always the best position. In fact, it may slow labour down. Trying different positions and moving during labour can make things easier.
6 out of 10 women will go into labour naturally in the next 24 hours after their waters have broken, and most will go into labour within 48 hours. This means that you avoid the risks of being induced.
With a Lifesaver Mat in place, you can sleep peacefully. You know that any unexpected fluid leakage will be taken care of. It also has a waterproof PUL layer so even if saturated by a sudden rush of fluids - your mattress is protected.
— As delivery approaches, the cervix softens, and you may lose your mucus plug. Sometimes, what appears to be water breaking is mucus. If the fluid is thicker, whiter, and odorless, it's likely mucus. No urine smell — Unlike urine, amniotic fluid doesn't smell like pee.
In some cases, the rupture of the amniotic sac may be a slow leak, where the fluid leaks out gradually over a period of hours or days. This is known as a "high leak," and it may not be as obvious as a sudden gush of fluid. In this case, the leaking may continue until the baby is delivered.
Remember that PROM is common and, in most cases, is NOT an emergency. To help lower the small chance of infection: » Do not put anything into your vagina (no fingers or tampons, no sex). » Do not take baths until active labour (showers are okay). Put on a pad. If your water is broken, it will keep leaking.
The "5-5-5 rule" in a labor/postpartum context is a guideline for new mothers to prioritize rest and recovery in the first 15 days after childbirth, suggesting 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed (minimal movement), and then 5 days near the bed (gentle movement around the home). This promotes healing, bonding, and reduces stress, though it's a flexible guide, not a strict mandate, with some experts suggesting early movement can help prevent blood clots, making a modified approach ideal.
Our general rule is to sleep as long as possible if you're starting to feel contractions at night. Most of the time you can lay down and rest during early labor. If you wake up in the middle of the night and notice contractions, get up and use the bathroom, drink some water, and GO BACK TO BED.
It can be difficult to know whether your water has broken, especially if you only experience a feeling of wetness in your underwear or a small trickle of fluid. It shouldn't hurt when your water breaks, so aside from fluid, there aren't any obvious signs to look out for. With this in mind, trust your instincts.
In that case, you might experience some dampness in your underwear, like you weren't quite able to hold it. If you don't love that idea, you can wear incontinence pads (like TENA), which absorb water well. A regular panty liner is better for discharge with a significant proportion of mucus.
It's likely your waters will break during labour, but it can also happen before labour starts. Your baby develops and grows inside a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac. When it's time for your baby to be born, the sac usually breaks and the amniotic fluid drains out through your vagina.
Staying in bed isn't likely to delay early labor and delivery, and it could lead to health concerns. When you're pregnant, being told to stay in bed for a few days or a few weeks might seem like just the welcome break you need.
One of the first signs of labor you may experience is mild cramps that feel similar to period cramps. These cramps happen because your cervix is beginning to soften and thin out to prepare for childbirth.
Keep your knee parallel to your hip, during these movement, no higher!