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India's Best Guide to Pregnancy for Indian Women

The Normal Pregnancy

Week-by-Week Fetal Development

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Once the Baby Arrives

Breaking of Water before Labour

Waterbreakingisoneofthefirstsignsoflabour.Ifyouhaveconcernsregardingwaterbreaks,thenreadontoknowthecausesandindicationsofbreakingofwaterduringpregnancy.Waterbreakingisoftenconsideredasoneofthesignsoflabour.Youmayfindyourwaterleakingwhenyougetoutofthebedinthemorningoranyothertime.Ratherthantriggeringthepanicbutton,itisbettertocontactyourdoctortotryandunderstandactuallywhathashappened.Whenthewaterbreaksspontaneouslyonthecompletionofthepregnancytermitisconsiderednormalandyoumaygointolabour.Butifthewaterbreaksbeforethecompletiononthepregnancytermthenyoumustreporttoyourdoctorimmediately.Breakingofwaterbeforethetermisknownasprematureruptureofthemembranes(PROM).Letustakealookatthefactorsbehindbreakingofwater.InthisarticleFactorsbehindBreakingofWaterIndicationsYourWaterhasBrokenContractionsafterBreakingofWaterBreakingofWaterandInfectionSpontaneousRuptureatTerm(SROM)FactorsbehindBreakingofWaterThebagcontainingwaterisreferredtoastheamnioticsac,whichhas2layersthatholdthecontentsinside.Theinnerlayeroramnionliesclosetothebabyandyourwater.Theouterlayerorchorionliesnexttotheamnionlayer.Yourwaterbreakswhenboththelayersrupture.Whatexactlycausesyourwatertobreakshalldependonwhetherithappenspretermorfullterm,andalsoafterorbeforethecommencementofyourlabour.IndicationsYourWaterhasBrokenHerearesomeindicationsyoucanconsidertobesureyourwaterhasbroken:Incaseyouhavenocontrolovertheflowofwater.Ifthewaterflowiscontinuous.Ifyoufindyourpantyshieldisnotcapableofabsorbingthefluid.Ifthefluiddoesnotsmelllikeurine.Insomecasesthewatermaysmelllikesemen.Youneedtomentionifyoudonotgetanysmellfromthefluid.Thewatermustbeclearwithslightpinktingeinit.Ifyoufindthecolourtobegreen,brownorofanyothershade,youmustimmediatelynotifyyourdoctor.ContractionsafterBreakingofWaterYoumaynotexperiencecontractionsimmediatelyafteryourwaterhasbroken.Youmaybegintoexperienceslightpainlikeyoufeelduringyourperiods.Thiswithtimeshallgetstrongerandyourcontractionsshallincrease.Again,insomecasesyoumayhavetowaitforseveraldaysbeforethecontractionsbegin.Thisgenerallyhappenswhenthebabyisinabreachposition.However,donotblameyourbabyforthis,asthewrongpositionisnotyourbaby’sfault.BreakingofWaterandInfectionTheprotectionaroundyourbabyisnomorethereonceyourwaterhasbroken.Thisincreaseschancesofbacteriaenteringyourbaby.Thus,itisimportantyougoforthevaginalexaminationsonceyourwaterhasbroken.Incaseyourwaterhasrupturedartificially,thechancesofinfectionisevenhigher.Incaseyourwaterbreaksspontaneouslythechancesofyourbabygettinginfectedislow.Thefluidtendstoflowdownwardsinthiscaseandthebacteriathuscannotreachyourunbornchild.Incaseyourwaterhasbeenbrokentoinducelabour,thenyouwouldbegivenantibioticsimmediately.Thisshallreducechancesofinfections.Theantibioticsaregenerallyinjectedinyourbodyorpassedthroughthedrip.However,itisalwaysbettertowaitforthewatertobreakspontaneouslyratherthanusingartificialmethods.SpontaneousRuptureatTerm(SROM)Yourwaterbreaksatsomepointortheothertoallowyourbabytocomeout.Waterbreakingincaseofactivelabourisconsiderednormal.However,doctorshavenotyetbeenabletoascertainthefactorscausingmembraneruptures.Nevertheless,itisapartofthealreadyprogrammedpreparationforarrivalofyournewborn.Someoftheseincludethefollowing:Enzymescontainedintheamnioticmembranegetactivatedwiththestartofyourlabour.Proteinsandprostaglandinsareothercontributingfactorsinmembranes.Anystressonthethinlayerscanresultinuterinecontractions.Biologicalsubstancesareknowntomakecollagensweakinthemembranethatresultsinbreakageofthesac.Youcanalwaysdiscusswithyourdoctorabouttheconcernsregardingwaterbreaks.Wishyouahealthypregnancy.Whenyouobservethesymptomsofthebreakingofwater,youmustimmediatelycontactyourdoctor.Whenisbreakingofwaterduringpregnancyacauseofconcern?Whattodowhenthewaterbreaksduringpregnancy?Howdoesbreakingofwaterduringpregnancyaffecttheunbornbaby?

Water breaking is one of the first signs of labour. If you have concerns regarding water breaks, then read on to know the causes and indications of breaking of water during pregnancy.

Water breaking is often considered as one of the signs of labour. You may find your water leaking when you get out of the bed in the morning or any other time. Rather than triggering the panic button, it is better to contact your doctor to try and understand actually what has happened.

When the water breaks spontaneously on the completion of the pregnancy term it is considered normal and you may go into labour. But if the water breaks before the completion on the pregnancy term then you must report to your doctor immediately. Breaking of water before the term is known as premature rupture of the membranes (PROM).

Let us take a look at the factors behind breaking of water.

Factors behind Breaking of Water

The bag containing water is referred to as the amniotic sac, which has 2 layers that hold the contents inside.

The inner layer or amnion lies close to the baby and your water.
The outer layer or chorion lies next to the amnion layer.

Your water breaks when both the layers rupture.

What exactly causes your water to break shall depend on whether it happens preterm or full term, and also after or before the commencement of your labour.

Indications Your Water has Broken

Here are some indications you can consider to be sure your water has broken:

In case you have no control over the flow of water.
If the water flow is continuous.
If you find your panty shield is not capable of absorbing the fluid.
If the fluid does not smell like urine.

In some cases the water may smell like semen. You need to mention if you do not get any smell from the fluid. The water must be clear with slight pink tinge in it. If you find the colour to be green, brown or of any other shade, you must immediately notify your doctor.

Contractions after Breaking of Water

You may not experience contractions immediately after your water has broken. You may begin to experience slight pain like you feel during your periods. This with time shall get stronger and your contractions shall increase. Again, in some cases you may have to wait for several days before the contractions begin. This generally happens when the baby is in a breach position. However, do not blame your baby for this, as the wrong position is not your baby’s fault.

Breaking of Water and Infection

The protection around your baby is no more there once your water has broken. This increases chances of bacteria entering your baby. Thus, it is important you go for the vaginal examinations once your water has broken. In case your water has ruptured artificially, the chances of infection is even higher.

In case your water breaks spontaneously the chances of your baby getting infected is low. The fluid tends to flow downwards in this case and the bacteria thus cannot reach your unborn child.

In case your water has been broken to induce labour, then you would be given antibiotics immediately. This shall reduce chances of infections. The antibiotics are generally injected in your body or passed through the drip. However, it is always better to wait for the water to break spontaneously rather than using artificial methods.

Spontaneous Rupture at Term (SROM)

Your water breaks at some point or the other to allow your baby to come out. Water breaking in case of active labour is considered normal. However, doctors have not yet been able to ascertain the factors causing membrane ruptures. Nevertheless, it is a part of the already programmed preparation for arrival of your newborn. Some of these include the following:

Enzymes contained in the amniotic membrane get activated with the start of your labour.
Proteins and prostaglandins are other contributing factors in membranes.
Any stress on the thin layers can result in uterine contractions.
Biological substances are known to make collagens weak in the membrane that results in breakage of the sac.

You can always discuss with your doctor about the concerns regarding water breaks. Wish you a healthy pregnancy. When you observe the symptoms of the breaking of water, you must immediately contact your doctor.

When is breaking of water during pregnancy a cause of concern? What to do when the water breaks during pregnancy? How does breaking of water during pregnancy affect the unborn baby?