Updates throughout to text, information, guidelines, formatting and sources, and new medical review.
By now, you may be wondering when and at what inconvenient place your water will break.
How can you tell if your water breaks?
It may feel like stream of warm liquid that makes your underwear and possibly even your pants wet.
But more likely is that it will be a slow and steady trickle of fluid.
What causes your water to break?
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Is it my water breaking or is it discharge?
Your water breaking may be accompanied by bloody show.
This mucusy discharge is streaked pink or brown with blood, and its a sign that labor is imminent.
You might alsolose your mucus plug, which looks like you probably imagine: a glob of mucus.
Is it pee or did my water break?
Though many pregnant women leak urine, especially in thethird trimester, a sniff will probably clue you in.
If the fluid is yellowish and smells of ammonia, it’s probably urine.
If it doesnt smell or smells sort of sweet, its probably amniotic fluid.
Will my water break before I go into labor?
And lots of women require theartificial rupture of the membranesby their practitioner, called an amniotomy.
What if my water breaks but I dont have any contractions?
Its likely that labors on the way, and soon.
For some moms, however, labor takes a little longer to get going.
When you go to the bathroom, be especially careful to wipe from front to back.
And not that you’re likely in the mood, but sex is now officially off-limits.
What happens if your water breaks early?
Labor will likely begin on its own within 12 hours.
If it doesnt, your doctor will induce labor soon to reduce the infection risk.
In fact, some women dont notice their water breaking at all.
