You must be knowing a few things about what active labour is through books or movies. It usually shows that a gush of water comes out of the vagina, and boom you’re in the labour room. But this is not how it usually works. For some women, it is just a small trickle of water and for some, it may still take hours before the baby is born. Here we come up with a guide to explain what exactly is water breaking and what you need to know about the same.
What Happens When Your Water Breaks?
During pregnancy, your baby is in an amniotic sac filled with amniotic fluid for protection and cushioning of your baby. This amniotic fluid also helps your baby’s lungs and digestive system develop. At the start of the labour, the membranes in the sac rupture, causing the fluid inside to flow out of the body and this process is called water breaking. It is considered as the early sign of approaching the labour.
What It Feels Like When the Water Breaks
For each mom, their water breaking experience is unique. The signs of water breaking include either a slight leak or a gush of water coming from your vagina. Some women even feel a slight pop. The way the fluid comes out may vary because the baby’s head might be acting like a cork, and so, for some women, water comes out in bursts when they change position as the head moves. You might keep leaking until the process of birth, so it is better to keep a towel and place it under you wherever you sit.
The color of the water that comes out is usually clear or pale yellow with no smell. The fluid reaches its peak by the 36th week of the pregnancy, but then the liquid starts decreasing.
What Happens After Your Water Breaks?
If you think that your water has broken, then make a note of the time. You might also start with stronger and regular contractions. There is a possibility that you are already in labour, but if not, it is going to start soon. You might be wondering how much longer you have to wait for the birth, but the truth is that it is unpredictable as the length of labour differs from woman to woman. But you just have to remember that the long months’ wait is now over and you will see your baby real soon.
If your water breaks before you go into labour, this is known as the Premature Rupture of Membrane (PROM). Although this rarely occurs, if this happens and you have no contractions, then your doctor may discuss labour induction with you. This is a procedure in which the doctor intervenes to bring on contractions.
What You Can/Can’t Do When Water Has Broken?
Once your water breaks, your baby is not protected by a cushion cover inside and to be on a safer side, it is advised that you avoid having a bath or using tampons. You can still move around and find comfortable positions, get a relaxing massage, watch a movie, and do some relaxing activities.
What If Your Water Doesn’t Break?
If your water doesn’t break and you have started having regular contractions, your healthcare provider will advise that that intervene to induce labour. In this process, your provider can rupture the amniotic sac. It doesn’t hurt during the process, but you might feel a pull followed by fluid coming out.
As explained above, the breaking of water is a very normal process and is a nature’s sign to tell you that you are going to meet your young one real soon. Generally, the process is normal and without much discomfort, but you can always seek help from your midwife or healthcare provider. In any case, you need to stay calm and if you are excited or nervous, practice calming techniques like breathing exercises. It might still take some time for the birth so you can use this time by relaxing, reading a book, watching a movie, or even listening to music.