Question 1

once your water breaks should you be ready at any moment?

Accepted Answer

Time 2 go 2 hospital: Once your water breaks it is time to go to the hospital but this does not mean that the baby will deliver quickly. Sometimes the water will break during labor.  Sometimes the water breaks before contractions start. Labor willl follow or can  be started with a medication called pitocin (oxytocin).

Question 2

how long after your water breaks do you have your baby? generally.

Accepted Answer

Hopefully now!: Once your water breaks, the baby is more exposed to all the bacteria in your genital tract.  If you are ruptured for more than 24 hours, it can lead to infections in the baby.  If you are term, they will usually induce you within the day if water breaks and you don't start labor. If you are preterm, they may wait just a little bit and sometimes give you antibiotics while waiting for baby to mature.

Question 3

what does it look like when your water breaks? does that mean labor is starting?

Accepted Answer

Water broke.: When the water breaks, you'll notice a obvious amount of fluid coming out of the vagina and traveling down your legs, for example.  When the water breaks, it's time to get to the hospital.

Question 4

how can you tell if you go into labor before your water breaks?

Accepted Answer

Contractions: Bonnie,

If you develop contractions every 3-5 minutes, or start having clear fluid leakage, you may be in early labor. Call your OB or go to the ER. Hope this helps!

Question 5

when your water breaks does it have a slight oder? which sort of smells like salt and vinegar chips

Accepted Answer

Ruptured membranes: Indeed. Comically, I tell my girls to put a small jar of pickles in their bag. If their water breaks in a public place, say the grocery store or post office, throw and smash the jar of pickles and as they send people to clean up, quietly leave the store unnoticed in all the fuss.

Question 6

how do ob's check if water broke if you're unsure if it did? said she was going to check and then a gush came out. what is used to check?

Accepted Answer

Urine versus amnio: There are easy ways to determine if the fluid is urine (which it often is) versus amniotic fluid. These two fluids are very different.

Question 7

37wks, 3cm dilatead, had first kid an hour after water broke, worried if i wait to go to hospital till my water breaks won't have time for epidureal?

Accepted Answer

Contractions?: If you're 37 weeks you probably still have a while to go. You can be 3 cm for days or weeks. Are you contracting? Was your last labor very fast? I would have a low threshold for heading into the hospital, but wait until you are leaking fluid or having more contractions. Good luck!

Question 8

how much water is in / goes through the vagina when your water breaks ( giving birth). ?  in liters /mililiters  / ect.

Accepted Answer

Believe it or not...: There is not a lot of data on the actual volume. There are various fluid indices, but measurement of the volume is not typical. Based on prior dye-dilution techniques, it would be approximately 500 to 4000ml.

Question 9

would a blood clot during labor be cause for concern? after my water broke at 29 weeks i began to cramp. upon checking me the doctor discovered a blood clot about the size of 1/2 dollar. would this be cause for concern or would it be ok to continue to lab

Accepted Answer

Bleeding : Bleeding during pregnancy must be taken seriously.  Sometimes women pass "bloody show" which can occur when labor starts.  Usually if a woman goes into labor at 29 weeks, there are efforts made to stop labor, because the fetus is not fully developed, but many issues go into this decision, including the condition of the mother, the condition of the fetus, whether medications (steroids) have been administered so that the baby's lungs can develop, the fetal heart tracing, and many other issues.

Question 10

how can i know for sure if my water broke?

Accepted Answer

Tests: Unless its obvious, there really isn't a good way to know at home unless you have a midwife who can run some tests.  If you go to the hospital, there are several tests that can be done to know if your water is really broken.  Sometimes its obvious--a huge gush of water that soaks your clothing and gets on the carpet and won't stop for example.  Best wishes!

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Doctor answers about:

How to check if your water breaks

A member asked:

Once your water breaks should you be ready at any moment?

A member asked:

How long after your water breaks do you have your baby? generally.

A member asked:

What does it look like when your water breaks? does that mean labor is starting?

A member asked:

How can you tell if you go into labor before your water breaks?

A member asked:

When your water breaks does it have a slight oder? which sort of smells like salt and vinegar chips

A member asked:

How do ob's check if water broke if you're unsure if it did? said she was going to check and then a gush came out. what is used to check?

A member asked:

37wks, 3cm dilatead, had first kid an hour after water broke, worried if i wait to go to hospital till my water breaks won't have time for epidureal?

A member asked:

How much water is in / goes through the vagina when your water breaks ( giving birth). ? in liters /mililiters / ect.

A member asked:

Would a blood clot during labor be cause for concern? after my water broke at 29 weeks i began to cramp. upon checking me the doctor discovered a blood clot about the size of 1/2 dollar. would this be cause for concern or would it be ok to continue to lab

A member asked:

How can i know for sure if my water broke?

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