We have had several moms believe their water has broken when indeed upon being checked, their amniotic sac was intact. So, I thought I would share a few things to help you determine if indeed your water is broken.

80% of women will have their amniotic sac break in the late stages of labor. Unike in the movies where almost always the water breaks at the onset of labor, this is rare- only 8 to 10% of women have this actually occur.

The amount of fluid most moms have is around 2 liters of fluid- so it usually is a gush of fluid that continues. But for a lack of a better way of describing it- women get a lot more “juicy” in the later weeks of pregnancy. It is nature’s way of keeping a woman clean as it forces any germs that may be entering the vagina out. So this extra amount of secretions causes some moms to feel their water is broken. A few tests to determine if it is your amniotic sac are to:

• Cough or laugh- does it gush a bit when you do so?
• Lay down or get up, does it gush with a change of position?
• Sit on the toilet and lift up on your belly- this helps to dislodge the “cork” of the baby’s head and often times the fluid will leak out.
• Remember it is continual- it is not a onetime leak- it continues to leak.
• Put on a thick menstrual pad and is it soaking with fluid within an hour or two?
• Try to feel the stream of fluid away from your body while sitting on the toilet, is it slick? Vernix is in the fluid and it causes the fluid to be slick- very visceral unlike urine. But  it doesn’t count if you are getting the mucus instead of the fluid- you must “catch” this fluid away from your body when you cough.
• Is it clear or pinkish- that is fine. If it is brown or greenish, call your midwife or doctor right away. This may be a sign of meconium which could indicate the baby has experienced some stress.
• Is there an odor? Amniotic fluid should have a sweet scent if any odor at all.
• Many care providers will not intervene for several hours- unless you are Group B Strep positive. They will allow your body to begin to contract on its own if you are negative.
• Every vaginal exam after your water is broken increases the chance of infection. Limit them or decline them all together.
• Being in the bath after your water is broken is not contraindicated- your vagina is not a straw. Remember just like a tampon is effective when swimming without the tampon filling up with fluid, your vagina does not pull water into your body.
• I know it is embarrassing to think you may have peed on yourself, but it is fairly common in the late weeks of pregnancy. Your baby could be blocking a section of your bladder from emptying and then when the baby shifts, that part of your bladder is kicked and it empties without any action on your part.

So if in doubt, go in to your care provider and have a litmus paper test or a slide test done. The Ph of amniotic fluid will turn the nitrazine paper purple. Or the fluid on a slide will show up looking like a fern under the microscope. But remember it is not that common. And it will continue to leak- and often times labor will begin within eight to twelve hours of your water breaking.