Water Breaking Signs: What Does Amniotic Fluid Look Like?

Water breaking signs usually include clear or pale yellow fluid that leaks out and cannot be controlled. The fluid may come out as a trickle or gush and may cause ongoing wetness that is not related to urine.

Water breaks when the amniotic sac ruptures and releases the fluid surrounding the baby. This can happen at the beginning of labor or during labor, and contractions may start soon after or become stronger.

Contact your OB-GYN, midwife, or healthcare team right away, especially if water breaks before 37 weeks. Immediate medical care is needed for decreased fetal movement, vaginal bleeding, fever, or changes in the fluid’s color or smell.

How to know if your water broke

Some signs that may show your water broke are:

• Release of clear or pale yellow fluid, usually without a strong odor
• A feeling of wetness between the legs that is not related to urine
• Fluid that continues to leak in drops or as a steady flow

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), when the water breaks, amniotic fluid may come out as a trickle or a gush. Unlike urine, the woman usually cannot control the release of fluid.

After the water breaks, contractions may start or become more intense.

In addition, as labor approaches, the mucus plug may come out. This is a thick mucus discharge that seals the cervix during pregnancy and helps protect the baby.

What to do

As soon as your water breaks, it is recommended to:

• Write down the time the fluid started coming out
• Avoid unnecessary physical effort
• Put on a pad, as this can help the doctor assess the amount and color of the fluid lost
• Contact your OB-GYN or midwife, or the healthcare team monitoring the pregnancy
• Follow their instructions about when to go to the hospital or birthing center

At the hospital, an ultrasound may be done to assess the amniotic fluid. The healthcare team will also assess the baby’s wellbeing and discuss the next steps.

Before 37 weeks

When the water breaks before the 37th week of pregnancy, known as preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM), it is important to go to the hospital as soon as possible for an evaluation.

Some factors can contribute to water breaking early, including a history of premature rupture of membranes in a previous pregnancy, inflammation of the fetal membranes, intra-amniotic infection, and vaginal bleeding during the 2nd or 3rd trimester.

Other factors that may contribute include drug or cigarette use during pregnancy, poor nutrition, or a shorter cervical length, for example.

In these cases, the baby may be born prematurely. This increases the risk of breathing difficulties, problems regulating body temperature, and greater susceptibility to infections.

Water broke but no contractions

When the water breaks, uterine contractions that mark the start of labor usually begin soon after, although the timing can vary from person to person. In some cases, contractions may take up to 48 hours to begin.

Even so, it is important to contact the healthcare team as soon as possible and follow their guidance on when to go to the hospital or birth center, because after your water breaks, the risk of infection increases.

At the hospital, the doctor or midwife may wait to see whether contractions start on their own, use medications or other methods to induce labor, or recommend a C-section if medically indicated. The approach will depend on the specific circumstances of each pregnant person.

Warning signs

If the water has broken and the pregnant person has not yet gone to the hospital, it is important to watch for the following warning signs:

• Decreased fetal movement (baby moving less than usual)

• Changes in the color or smell of the amniotic fluid

• Vaginal bleeding

• Fever, even if low-grade

These signs may indicate complications for the pregnant person and the baby. For this reason, it is important to seek immediate medical care.