You are pregnant and nearing your labour, and apart from many other concerns, the thought that your water may break anytime soon might be freaking you out. You must have heard about it from many moms but you don’t really know how it will happen and what you should be doing. Therefore, it’s better to gear yourself up in such a situation. If you are looking for the information that may help you know about water breaking during pregnancy, then browse through the following article.
You may have heard about ‘water breaking’ during pregnancy, but in reality, only 15 percent women may actually experience their water breaking before they go into labour and out of those women, only 1 in 10 women may feel a liquid gushing out. But you may not know which category you may fall in. So, here are some signs of water breaking that you should know about:
The name may scare you, but as your delivery nears, you may lose your mucus plug that seals your cervix by making you ready for the upcoming labour. Sometimes losing a mucus plug and the breaking of water may happen side by side, while sometimes, you may lose mucus plug, but your water may not break immediately or it may not happen at all. Whatever be the case, once you lose your mucus plug, you should get the hint that your water can break anytime.
Sometimes infections in your vagina, cervix, kidney or bladder may make your water break. However, this is harmful to you and your baby. In case you feel any signs of fever, flu-like symptoms, back pain or other such symptoms, seek your doctor’s help because you may have an infection down there and it may cause water breaking too.
As you near your labour, your body releases prostaglandins, which help in labour. But this hormone-like substance may excessively stimulate your bowels, making your bathroom visits frequent. This is an indication that you are in early labour and that your water may break anytime, so be prepared.
It may sound weird, but before your actual water or fore water breaks, you may leak some hind water, which leaks from a hole in the sac behind your baby’s head. Hind water breakage may be felt as a dribble, and this may stop on its own when the membranes reseal it. Therefore, if you experience a little water show before you actually experience a waterfall, understand that this is a sign of water breaking.
Your tummy may feel all tight and churned up, the same way when your periods are near. Though these may not be the actual contractions, however, this cramping may be an indication that your water may break anytime soon. So, grab a plastic sheet or a towel and prepare yourself.
When the sac of fluid around your baby ruptures, you will hear a popping sound. It may feel more like the crackling of bones or popping of a balloon wrapped up in a towel, but you will hear that popping sound. After that, there may be a sudden gush of warm water between your legs.
Towards the end of the pregnancy, there is too much pressure building on your bladder that you may find yourself leaking urine occasionally. This may happen while coughing, laughing, or due to other such activities that may put pressure on your bladder. However, the smell of urine and amniotic water are different. Amniotic water is pale or light yellowish in colour with no odour contrary to urine, which has a distinctive smell. If you are leaking odourless liquid, it is your amniotic water.
The litmus paper test is also helpful in establishing whether what you are leaking is amniotic fluid or something else. In case, the litmus changes colour, it is a clear indication that you are leaking amniotic fluid and you should get in touch with your doctor immediately.
You may sometimes feel a trickling sensation when liquid leaks out from your vagina. You may mistake it for urine and think that amniotic fluid usually comes gushing. But that is not true, amniotic fluid may sometimes come slowly, and in case you are confused about the liquid that you may be leaking, you should seek your doctor’s advice on the same.
Vaginal discharge increases during pregnancy, which is very normal. However, if you have excessive vaginal discharge that is stringy and clear, this may be your cervical mucus. In case you find too much vaginal discharge, this may be one of the signs that your water has broken.
The above-mentioned are some of the signs and symptoms that may help you know when your water may break. However, our body signals us enough when it is ready to go into labour. You may rely on your gut and recognise the symptoms that your body may exhibit to you. If you think that what you may be leaking is amniotic fluid, it is advised that you get immediate medical assistance.