Scientific review: Amélie Guay, M.Sc., PNC(C), perinatal advanced practice clinical nurse, CHUM If you’re losing amniotic fluid, you must go to your birth location even if you aren’t experiencing contractions. It can be difficult to tell the difference between amniotic fluid and vaginal secretions or urine leaks. Water breaking can signal that you’re in labour. However, it will be odourless, whereas urine will have a distinct smell. You may also feel a loss of amniotic fluid when you sneeze or cough. The flow of urine stops when your bladder is empty. Urine leaks usually occur after physical effort, certain movements, sneezing, or coughing. You therefore don’t need to go to your birth location if you lose all or part of your mucus plug. Rather, it signals that your cervix is preparing for your baby’s delivery.
However, this doesn’t mean that labour is imminent. After the 35th week of pregnancy, some women pass their mucus plug, which comes out as jelly-like discharge and may be tinged with pink blood. The mucus plug-a collection of gelatinous secretions resembling egg whites-protects the uterus from infection during pregnancy. These symptoms could indicate an infection. If your vaginal secretions change colour, have a foamy texture or a bad smell, or feel itchy, see a doctor. They may dampen but not soak your underwear. Vaginal secretions are heavier and more liquid at the end of pregnancy and when the ambient temperature is warmer (e.g., in summer). However, if she’s not full-term, the medical team will try to prolong the pregnancy while preventing complications for both mother and baby. Labour induction can also be done earlier if the mother is a carrier of group B streptococcus.
Exceeding this time frame has been associated with a higher risk of caesarean section. Inducing labour is recommended if the mother is full-term and contractions still haven’t started after 24 hours. The medical team will monitor for signs of infection and decreased movement of the baby. For this reason, it’s recommended that pregnant women go to their birth location within 2 hours of their water breaking. When the membranes rupture, the risks of infection and umbilical cord compression increase. If labour doesn’t begin, your medical team may opt for induction. Generally, contractions should start within hours of your membranes rupturing. If it is, you’ll need to remain at your birth location, even if you aren’t experiencing contractions.
#Leaking amniotic fluid professional#
A health care professional will administer a test to help you determine whether your water is breaking. If you suspect that you’re losing amniotic fluid, call the hospital’s birthing unit or visit your birth location. The flow will increase when your baby moves or if you change position. If you’re losing amniotic fluid, your discharge will be continuous, clear, and odourless, like water. Try to determine how heavy and frequent the flow is. To identify your discharge, pay attention to its appearance. In this case, it may be more difficult to determine whether your water has broken. It’s also possible that your amniotic fluid is trickling out slowly because the sac is only partially ruptured. If not, the discharge may be vaginal secretions or urine leakage. If you’re losing amniotic fluid, the pad will be fully soaked. To find out if your water is breaking, put on a sanitary pad and continue your activities for 30 minutes. Among other things, it can signal that you’re in labour. Nevertheless, it’s important to pay close attention, as a loss of amniotic fluid (water breaking) before 37 weeks of pregnancy can pose a risk to the baby. It’s not always easy to tell the difference between amniotic fluid and vaginal secretions or urine leaks.
#Leaking amniotic fluid how to#
Here’s how to tell the difference between amniotic fluid and other types of vaginal discharge.Īmniotic fluid plays several roles during pregnancy: it keeps the baby at a stable temperature, cushions it from outside blows, and allows it to move and develop its muscles in the womb. Water breaking before 37 weeks of pregnancy can pose a risk to your baby.
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