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.
Some people may feel a trickle of fluid that they can't control or a gush of water downward. Others may feel dampness in their underwear that looks like they've peed or had a heavy vaginal discharge.
If your water broke and you don't have contractions, call your midwife or doctor right away so you can discuss your symptoms and the safest course of action for your pregnancy.
The sensation is different for everyone. For some, it's a slow trickle or a discharge feeling (you may think you've suddenly become incontinent!). For others, it's that Hollywood-style gush, like you just completely peed your pants. Still others hear a pop and feel pressure, then relief, once the bag breaks.
There are no proven safe ways for a woman to break her water at home. It can be dangerous if the water breaks before natural labor begins or before the baby is fully developed. During the natural process of labor, the water breaks when the baby's head puts pressure on the amniotic sac, causing it to rupture.
If your water (aka “amniotic sac,” “bag of waters” or “membranes”) hasn't broken on its own when you arrive at the hospital, and you're five or more centimeters dilated, your OB might recommend bursting the bag by hand—especially if your cervix seems to be making slow (or no) progress.
Your waters breaking can feel like a mild popping sensation, followed by a trickle or gush of fluid that you can't stop, unlike when you wee. You may not have any sensation of the actual 'breaking', and then the only sign that your waters have broken is the trickle of fluid.
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.
In cases where your baby would be premature, they may survive just fine for weeks with proper monitoring and treatment, usually in a hospital setting. In cases where your baby is at least 37 weeks, current research suggests that it may be safe to wait 48 hours (and sometimes longer) for labor to start on its own.
Your doctor may advise you to stay home and wait to see if contractions start, or they may want to evaluate you. (There are tests that can be performed to see whether your water has actually broken.) As you wait for your labor to progress, you can rest, take slow walks, or focus on other ways to relax.
Your mucus plug will usually come out before your water breaks, though you can leak amniotic fluid through a tear — which doesn't necessarily mean you've lost your mucus plug yet, as it prevents bacteria from traveling up to baby, not water from leaking out.
You can't actually feel when your amniotic sac breaks/tears, however. Like peeing - For some people, their water breaking feels like they're peeing due to the sensation of liquid trickling out. Pressure - Once the water breaks, some people will feel increased pressure in their pelvic area and/or perineum.
Early dilation often feels like menstrual cramps as the cervical changes cause pain and cramping noticed in the lower part of the uterus. It is the same sensation and location as menstrual cramps. Active labor tends to be felt in a larger area but can be a similar sensation as cramping (with more intensity of course).
Rupture Of Membranes: Your Water Breaks
Usually the doctor, midwife, or nurse will break your water before you become completely dilated, if it hasn't broken by then. This allows them to learn if you have any problems that would impede the baby's safe delivery.
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.
Theoretically, the unequal walking pattern created by the curb causes the pelvis to open and allows the baby's head to descend. When the baby's head is deeper into the pelvis, there is more pressure on the cervix, causing dilation and effacement. This uneven walk should be done for about 10 minutes.
According to Brichter, sitting on an exercise or birthing ball in neutral wide-legged positions prepares the body for labor by increasing blood flow, opening the pelvis, and encouraging cervical dilation. You can also try birth ball exercises such as circular hip rotations, rocking, and gentle bouncing.
Thankfully, telling the difference between amniotic fluid and leukorrhea is usually pretty easy. When the discharge is amniotic fluid, it feels like a steady trickle or gush. It also has more of a light yellowish tint than a white one and a thinner consistency than that of leukorrhea.
Is bed rest recommended? There is no evidence that bed rest during pregnancy — at home or in the hospital — is effective at treating preterm labor or preventing premature birth.
Extreme fatigue is one of the early signs of labor, and you may notice that you are much more tired than usual. Rest as needed, and don't over exert yourself.
Insomnia before labor is a common issue. As labor gets closer, hormonal shifts and pregnancy-related discomforts can exacerbate insomnia. However, while insomnia may signal that labor is drawing closer in some cases, the absence of insomnia does not mean a person will not go into labor soon.