|
Q: What happens if my water breaks at home or in public? What is the fluid like? Will I be in terrible pain? Do labor pains start right away? How quickly do I need to get to the hospital before my baby is in danger?
A: The actual water breaking typically doesn’t hurt. If contractions started before your water breaks, however, they will become more intense. At full term, there tends to be more fluid present than if your water broke before 37 weeks, but that can vary among pregnant women.
If the fluid is a greenish color, the baby’s bowels have already moved, which typically occurs after birth. In this case, your baby may be in stress and you should seek immediate attention.
Once you believe your water has broken, call your healthcare provider and relay all the details: the time, the color of the fluid and if contractions have begun. Depending on your situation and your healthcare provider’s practice style, you may be told to wait before heading to the hospital if your contractions haven’t started and the baby is full term.
| 