Water Breaking Signs
Can you please tell me some of the water breaking signs I should be looking for as I enter into labor?
Having your water break is not always going to happen before you go into labor, as this only actually happens in a small percentage of women. In fact, the majority of women have their water break while they are in labor. This usually happens when you are around 9 cm dilated.
Signs Of Water Breaking
While inside your womb your baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid, which is what you want to look for whenever your water breaks. However, many women confuse amniotic fluid with other vaginal discharges that are quite common during the end of a pregnancy.
Most women who are going through their first pregnancy will generally assume that when their water breaks, it is a massive gush of fluid, but in most cases it is not nearly as dramatic as you would think. In all actuality, having your water break will simply leave you with a wet pair of underpants.
Most women describe the sensation of their water breaking as a releasing of pressure, almost like something has popped. You will then feel an uncontrollable gushing of fluid.
Since so many women have bladder control issues while they are pregnant, it is important to note that it is very easy to mistake urine for amniotic fluid. Typically, urine is going to have some type of color to it and will also have a distinct smell as well. However, amniotic fluid is going to have a strong smell almost like bleach and it will be clear in color. Most women should not have much of a problem distinguishing between the smell of urine and amitotic fluid.
It is important call your doctor or your midwife whenever you feel that your water has broken. Make note of the color and smell, as this will be one of the first things that they typically will ask you. At this point in time, your caretaker may schedule an appointment so that they can do tests on the fluid, to ensure if your water has broken or not.
If you are in a full term pregnancy and your water has broken, you will typically go into labor within 24 hours. If not, your doctor may decide to induce your pregnancy, because there is a greater risk of infection for you and your baby after your water has broken. Essentially, the quicker you go into labor after your water has broken, the better.
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