what makes your water break

Your water breaks when the amniotic sac surrounding your baby ruptures, causing the release of amniotic fluid through the vagina. This typically happens because contractions or the baby put pressure on the sac, similar to popping a balloon from the inside. It can also be caused by a programmed weakening of the membrane as labor approaches or due to factors such as infections, poor nutrition, or excess amniotic fluid that weaken the sac. Sometimes, water breaks before labor starts (prelabor rupture of membranes), and in rare cases, the water may not break until delivery or by a medical procedure called amniotomy. The fluid is usually clear or pale yellow, odorless, and watery, signaling that labor is near or has begun.