These tests could include a vaginal exam to see if the cervix is dilating and the woman is in labor. An ultrasound can help doctors check how much fluid is surrounding the baby. They may also perform a dye test, which involves introducing blue dye into the amniotic sac and asking the woman to wear a sanitary pad.
If the dye shows up on the pad, this can indicate leaking amniotic fluid. The amniotic sac ruptures when a woman goes into labor. People often refer to this as the water breaking. For most women, it is more likely to feel like a constant trickle. Sometimes, the amniotic sac breaks or leaks before labor starts.
If the amniotic sac breaks before the 37th week of pregnancy, doctors refer to it as preterm PROM. Women who got pregnant less than 6 months after their last labor or are carrying more than one baby have a higher risk of PROM.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the leak, as well as the age, health, and development of the fetus. A doctor may recommend bed rest, meaning that the woman should reduce her activities and rest for most of the day. They may also advise abstaining from sex. If a woman has an infection, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics that are safe to take during pregnancy. If the baby is ready to be born, doctors may choose to initiate labor using a drug called oxytocin. Alternatively, medications called tocolytics can help stop premature labor if it is too early for the birth to occur.
About 12 days into pregnancy, an amniotic sac forms around the growing fetus. In most cases of leaking amniotic fluid, the rupture of your amniotic sac is just a prelude to the onset of labor within the next 24 hours. PROM, or leaking amniotic fluid after 37 weeks, occurs somewhere between 8 and 15 percent of pregnancies. PPROM is far less common, occurring in about 3 percent of pregnancies. He or she can help you figure out if your water really has broken and the next steps to take.
If your membranes rupture and you're at least 37 weeks along, your labor is likely to begin on its own within 24 hours.
If contractions don't start on their own, your doctor will probably induce labor. If you leak amniotic fluid and your membranes rupture earlier than 37 weeks, and your practitioner determines it's too soon for your baby to be safely delivered, you'll most likely receive antibiotics to ward off infection and may need to be hospitalized.
Depending on how early you deliver, your baby may need to be in the NICU for some time before coming home. But you can lower your risk of both conditions by attending all of your prenatal appointments, eating well and not smoking. A green or green-yellow color means that your amniotic fluid has been colored by meconium.
This happens when your baby has had a bowel movement. Make sure to let your OB or midwife know as this might affect steps they take during delivery to keep your baby safe. Urine smells like… urine. Amniotic fluid, on the other hand, has no smell or a slightly sweet smell.
On that note, you may want to discuss the necessity of vaginal exams after your water has broken with your healthcare professional. There is no current research, but one study from has shown that digital vaginal exams are a primary risk factor for infection with PROM.
Still not sure whether that trickle is urine or amniotic fluid? When in doubt, the best practice is to contact your OB or midwife and discuss your symptoms. Here are three tests that can help you healthcare team determine what that wetness really is:. These three exams may be used in conjunction to diagnose whether your water has broken.
Other hospitals may use proprietary tests, but they also involve getting a swab of fluid from the vagina for testing. If you notice meconium in the fluid remember that green-yellow color? In the very rare chance that you can feel something in your vagina or notice something at the opening of your vagina, call While it is highly unlikely, the umbilical cord can enter the vagina ahead of the baby and could be compressed, reducing oxygen to the baby.
It can also be stained with meconium, giving it a brown or greenish tinge you should notify your midwife or doctor if you see this.
It does not usually look like urine. Vaginal discharge, while it can be watery in consistency at times, very often looks mucusy. If you think your water is leaking, let your midwife or doctor know, and watch for other signs of labor, particularly the onset of contractions. Do not insert anything into the vagina, such as tampons — you can use pads to catch the flow, or sit on an underpad or towel.
Sometimes, the signs of leaking water are unclear, even after a talk with your care provider.
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