3 Precautions You Should Take When Your Water Breaks During Pregnancy

If your water breaks during pregnancy,  there are some precautions you have to take. It is well known that during pregnancy, your baby is protected by the amniotic fluid contained in a membrane sack (water bag) surrounding him.

It is this sack that protects your foetus from contracting infection during it's growth and development in the womb. Once the water bag breaks, you enter labour and the fluid begins to flow down your cervix and through your vagina.

When Will My Water Break? 

Your water probably won't break until you reach the 37th week of your pregnancy. After which there's a chance that your amniotic sack will break, which is a sign that your child is ready to be born.

There are three different stages of pregnancy when your water may break:

1. The first is when your pregnancy has reached full term and you are in labour already. This is also called Spontaneous Rupture of Membrane.

2. If the water bag breaks before labour starts, this stage is called the Pre-labour Rupture of Membrane.

3. And the third stage is a case where the water bag breaks before the 37th week of pregnancy. This is also called Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membrane.

Keeping Track Of When Your Water Breaks

Once you notice that your water has broken, that's the onset of labour, it's either you are in labour, or about to go into labour. Sometimes, it may happen that labour may not start before 12 to 24 hours.

Immediately your water breaks your baby is no longer protected by the amniotic sack, since it's broken. Although your body will continue to produce the amniotic sack till you deliver your baby, inform your doctor immediately your water breaks.

Once your water is broken, call your doctor and make sure that to keep a track record of when it happened, as your doctor would want to hear all about it. You need to:

• Double check that your water has really broken and it's amniotic sack that's leaking, not something else.
• Call your doctor and go straight to the hospital, if he says so.
• Check the colour of the discharge. Amniotic fluid is odourless and has a cloudy-white, straw colour.
• When the water breaks initially, you might see streaks of blood but if the entire fluid is stained with blood, it may signal a problem with the placenta.
• However, if the fluid you noticed is brownish or greenish in colour, seek medical attention immediately as baby has had his first poo while in the womb.
• After your water breaks, if you feel feverish, make this known to your doctor also.

Precautions To Be Taken Once Your Water Breaks During Pregnancy

Once your water breaks, do not panic, it's normal. But you still need to be careful about the next step you take;

1. Use sanitary napkins so that your clothes don't get wet. Do not take a bath until you deliver your baby, so head to the hospital straight away.

2. Don't forget that once your water breaks, your baby is exposed to the possibility of all sorts of infection.

3. As your baby is exposed to infections, do not let anything enter your vagina, do not have sexual intercourse, touch yourself or douche.

If you are lying down when your water breaks, it's likely the water come out in a gush of liquid. But if you are standing up when it happens, it might just trickle down your legs because baby's head will be pushing down against the cervix, blocking the gushing of the water (like a wine cork)

Ensure your baby is in good health by being safe! Congratulations in advance preggers!

Comments

Comments