“Did my water break?” or “Did I pee myself?”

If you’re pregnant, you might be wondering when your water might break, and how you will know. We get it! The anticipation of your water breaking is a real fear most first time parents. 

TV tells us that your water breaking is how your labor will start.

When in reality, only about 20% of labors start with the water breaking!

Now that we know that your brand new rug is likely statistically safe from having all that baby fluid on it, let’s examine what you need to know about the amniotic sac rupture.

Everything  you need to know about your water breaking can be broken down into three categories:  TACO’s, Puppy Pads, and Freight Trains.

 Tacos are delicious, but what do they have to do with your waters breaking?

T.A.C.O. is an acronym to keep in mind if you think your waters have broken.

TIME: When did your waters break? Your provider will want to know what time they broke in order to monitor you for potential infection due to the duration of waters being broken.

AMOUNT: How much fluid left your body? Was it a little bit? A trickle? A giant gush?

COLOR: What color was the fluid? Amniotic fluids should be clear. If they are green or brown, it’s possible your baby has passed a bowel movement in the womb.

ODOR: Amniotic fluid is typically odorless. If your waters break and there is a foul odor, contact your provider right away.

Puppy Pads serve their purpose in the event your waters break prior to your hospital arrival.  Place one, or two down on the seat of your car. It’s way cheaper than getting your car detailed later!

Now, about those Freight Trains.

Freight trains are fast, and strong. Sometimes when waters break, contractions can come on like a freight train. In the event that they do, please head straight to your birthing facility. Broken waters coupled with incredibly fast contractions may be indicative of a precipitous labor! (Meaning your baby may be arriving in less than 5 hours).

Sometimes it can feel daunting waiting for your waters to break. In the event you’re not sure, lie down in bed on your side for about 15 minutes and then stand up. If you experience any kind of gush, small or big, it may be a sign that your waters have broken. Contact your provider and your Doula support team to make your next move.

___________________________________________

Cre’shea Hilton is a Childbirth Educator, Labor Doula, Infant Feeding Specialist, and Postpartum and Infant Care Doula.