When your water breaks during pregnancy, it’s important to stay calm. Your water breaking isn’t an emergency, but you must contact your ob-gyn and follow their steps immediately. In the meantime, following these steps will help ensure that you and your baby receive the appropriate care and support during this important time. Continue reading to learn what to do when your water breaks during pregnancy.
Note the Time and Color
Try to remember the time when your water broke and if the fluid is clear, yellowish, or tinged with blood. This information is helpful for your healthcare provider.
Call Your Healthcare Provider
Contact your doctor or midwife to let them know that your water has broken. They will give you specific instructions based on your situation, including whether you should head to the hospital or birthing center right away.
Monitor for Signs of Labor
Even if contractions haven’t started immediately, labor can begin soon after your water breaks. Be attentive to any changes in your body, such as an increase in the intensity and frequency of contractions.
Keep Track of Contractions
If you’re having contractions, keep track of their frequency and intensity. Your provider may ask for this information to determine how soon you need to go to the hospital.
Avoid Inserting Anything into the Vagina
To reduce the risk of infection, avoid inserting anything into your vagina, including tampons or fingers. Inserting things into your vagina can introduce bacteria and potentially cause problems. Your doctor should be the only one checking your cervix or vagina.
Stay Hydrated and Comfortable
Drink fluids and try to stay comfortable while you wait for further instructions from your healthcare provider.
Avoid Bathing
While you can shower to stay clean, avoid taking a bath to minimize the risk of infection. Stick to showering until you have consulted with your healthcare provider.
Wear a Pad
Use a sanitary pad (not a tampon) to absorb the leaking fluid. This can help you keep track of the amount and color of the fluid, which can be important information for your healthcare provider.
Pay Attention to Baby’s Movements
Continue to monitor your baby’s movements. If you notice a significant decrease in activity or if you are concerned about your baby’s well-being, inform your healthcare provider immediately.
Stay Calm and Positive
It’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety when your water breaks. Try to stay calm and positive, knowing that you will soon meet your baby. Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or listening to calming music to help manage any stress.
Prepare to Go to the Hospital
If your provider advises you to go to the hospital or birthing center, gather your essentials and head there as instructed.
Know When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Seek immediate medical care if you experience any of the following:
- A gush of green or brown fluid, which may indicate the presence of meconium (the baby’s first stool).
- Heavy bleeding.
- A fever or chills.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Feeling that something is not right.
If you’re preterm or have any concerns about the fluid’s appearance or your symptoms, seek medical attention promptly. Again, your water breaking isn’t an immediate emergency that you have to head to the hospital immediately unless you have issues listed above for immediate medical treatment. But you do need to contact your ob-gyn immediately and get their instructions. Most doctors want you to deliver within 24 hours to prevent infection or be hospitalized if your baby is premature.
This post is so helpful for expectant moms who might be feeling unsure about what to do when their water breaks. Staying calm and following these steps will definitely help ease any stress during such an exciting time!
These are certainly very helpful for expecting mothers. I was in the hospital with both kids before they broke my water, so I guess I never really experienced this.
After my water broke, I went into labor pretty quickly. It is good to be prepared and ready to go.
Thanks for sharing these tips and suggestions. This blog article is so helpful for expectant moms!
It’s always reassuring to know what to do in moments like this. Your clear steps on what to look for and how to stay calm are what expected mom needs to know.
I agree with you that the first thing we need to do is stay calm. Contrary to what we see in the movies, I agree with you that it is not an emergency. Thank you for sharing these tips. This is good to know.
This is such a wonderful and informative post and it’s perfect for expecting Moms and dads alike. My pregnancies were scheduled as I had C sections so I did not have to worry about this but I did learn all about it when I was pregnant with my first son. Thank you for sharing!