To know if your water has broken during pregnancy, look for these signs:
- You may hear a pop and feel a pressure release when the amniotic sac breaks.
- A clear, odorless, thin, watery fluid will leak or gush from the vagina. This fluid is different from urine or vaginal discharge.
- The leaking is uncontrollable and continues, often requiring frequent changes of undergarments.
- You might feel wetness in your vagina or down your legs. The fluid is usually clear or pale yellow and may trickle slowly or pour out.
- If you are unsure whether it's amniotic fluid or urine, you can lie down for 30 minutes and then stand up to see if fluid leaks again; this suggests your water broke.
- If the fluid has a green or brown color, it could mean the baby passed meconium and needs immediate medical attention.
- It is best to contact your healthcare provider or go to the hospital to have a professional check with exams or tests to confirm (such as using a speculum exam or tests for amniotic fluid).
If this happens before labor starts or before 37 weeks, it’s called prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM), and you should get medical advice promptly.
