What if your water breaks at work?

absolutelymaybe · August 2014

So, what happens if your water breaks at work? Has anyone (STMs?) had this happen before?

I'm bringing this up because I had a friend mention to me that she was told by her coworkers that, by law, the building had to shut down and evacuated because it was considered "hazardous human waste." I don't believe this -- or at the very least, I don't believe it's a law. If anything I think it was likely just her building's policy.

Dana633 · August 2014

I work at a major oil refinery and my department shares a building with the safety and health department, I'll ask...BRB

soulcupcake · August 2014

I've never heard of that, but only 10% of women experience spontaneous rupture of membranes before the onset of labor.

My membranes have never broken before labor, and I supplement with vitamin c during the third trimester to strengthen the membranes.

Dana633 · August 2014

Ok...I spoke with our hazmat team and our plant nurse and they both said, they would not evacuate and there is no such law (at least not in Louisiana). The nurse did say that because there could be some bloodborne pathogens in the fluid that they would dispose of any towels used to clean up and they would disinfect the area with bleach.

FishyMom · August 2014

Since I work with all men, my plan (if it happens) is to clean it myself and then head to the hospital. Lol.. The guys in my office would totally lose it!

AnnieRoo13 · August 2014

I was actually thinking about this the other day. I'm often alone in the office and I'd probably just have to say "fuck it" and lock the door, leave the mess and high tail it out of there.

The real question is- do I drive home myself? Have someone else drive me home if possible? Go to the hospital in the city I work in (not my hospital)? Or go straight to my hospital?

SweetMelissa5 · August 2014

aeonlux said:

I've never heard of that, but only 10% of women experience spontaneous rupture of membranes before the onset of labor.

This, and I've never had my water break on its own; in all of my labors, the doctor had to break it for me (last time, I was about 9 centimeters, and it was still hanging in there until the doctor did her thing).

missnacholover · August 2014

Throw down a "wet floor" sign and bounce.

marajay6 · August 2014

I lurk the other BMBs quite a bit to read their birth stories and I don't recall a single one where the woman had her water break at work. Also, a while back on one of the other birth month boards there was a thread discussing where the person was when their water broke - the OP was looking to see if anyone had funny/embarrassing stories. Most women had their water break either at the hospital or at home in bed. There were a few that stated they had their water break during the car ride to the hospital - so here is your warning to have a towel ready. Some people experience a lot of fluid whereas other women just have a long, slow leak.

ssstephanie214 · August 2014

I have nightmares about this all the time. My plan is to point at one person, say drive me to the hospital, point at another person, say call my FI, and gtfo

dr_pr · August 2014

Mine didn't break last time until I was 10 cm and just about to push. If it breaks at work this time, I'm pretty sure they have to wear gloves to clean it up, use bleach, and dispose of the paper towels in a biohazard-type box for incineration ("they" because I'm leaving!). We had some blood on the floor of my classroom one day, and that's all they had to do to clean that up.

It would be rather exciting if mine did break at work, since it would mean I'd be in the middle of teaching a class. And I'd definitely just drive myself home and wait for H to get there before going to the hospital, unless the contractions were really close together and intense.

AnnieRoo13 · August 2014

sj+cm131 said:

I lurk the other BMBs quite a bit to read their birth stories and I don't recall a single one where the woman had her water break at work. Also, a while back on one of the other birth month boards there was a thread discussing where the person was when their water broke - the OP was looking to see if anyone had funny/embarrassing stories. Most women had their water break either at the hospital or at home in bed. There were a few that stated they had their water break during the car ride to the hospital - so here is your warning to have a towel ready. Some people experience a lot of fluid whereas other women just have a long, slow leak.

I just got a new mattress and new sheets. Think I should be throwing a towel down when I get closer to my due date? That mattress was expensive yo!

runningmama14 · August 2014

If my water actually broke at work, I'm sure someone else would clean it up. We've all cleaned grosser stuff before and everyone else there has had children.

I would probably stick around for a bit to see what was actually happening and which stage and phase of labor I was in before deciding what to do next.

My house is 30 minutes away from my office in the wrong direction from the hospital. Hospital is 10 minutes the other way. DH works all over, so he may or may not be close by to come get me. All else fails, I'm sure a coworker could/would drive me home or to hospital and dh could meet me there.

missnacholover · August 2014

I'd probably drive home because I wouldn't want to leave my car at work. Priorities.

absolutelymaybe · August 2014

AnnieRoo13 said:

sj+cm131 said:

I lurk the other BMBs quite a bit to read their birth stories and I don't recall a single one where the woman had her water break at work. Also, a while back on one of the other birth month boards there was a thread discussing where the person was when their water broke - the OP was looking to see if anyone had funny/embarrassing stories. Most women had their water break either at the hospital or at home in bed. There were a few that stated they had their water break during the car ride to the hospital - so here is your warning to have a towel ready. Some people experience a lot of fluid whereas other women just have a long, slow leak.

I just got a new mattress and new sheets. Think I should be throwing a towel down when I get closer to my due date? That mattress was expensive yo!

We have a waterproof mattress cover on ours. I would seriously think about investing in one just in case.

AnnieRoo13 · August 2014

absolutelymaybe said:

AnnieRoo13 said:

sj+cm131 said:

I lurk the other BMBs quite a bit to read their birth stories and I don't recall a single one where the woman had her water break at work. Also, a while back on one of the other birth month boards there was a thread discussing where the person was when their water broke - the OP was looking to see if anyone had funny/embarrassing stories. Most women had their water break either at the hospital or at home in bed. There were a few that stated they had their water break during the car ride to the hospital - so here is your warning to have a towel ready. Some people experience a lot of fluid whereas other women just have a long, slow leak.

I just got a new mattress and new sheets. Think I should be throwing a towel down when I get closer to my due date? That mattress was expensive yo!

We have a waterproof mattress cover on ours. I would seriously think about investing in one just in case.

Good thinking. Maybe we should have gotten a new mattress after the birth? Although, as others have said, I guess there's a small chance of my water actually breaking spontaneously.

mexinugget · August 2014

My water broke at home laying in bed on my due date. Not a huge gush, but an audible pop with trickling fluid immediately followed by very intense contractions. I would never have been able to drive myself to the hospital, Hell i could barely walk myself down their hall to check in lol. I think i'm in the minority though, my labor came on very suddenly and super intense.

venussapphire · August 2014

With DD my water broke at home at 8pm I got up from the couch and it started to trickle down my leg as I rushed to the toilet. It wasn't a huge gush, just a constant stream for quite a while, maybe an hour or so. Enough time to sit on the toilet and freakout, call the midwife and go to the hospital.

So if it does break it might not be a whole lot of mess to clean up if you can quickly get a pad on and new bottoms.

Also it did break without warning, I had no contractions before or after:(

absolutelymaybe · August 2014

This is all great information!

brichar31 · August 2014

I'm that 10%! My water broke just as I kissed my DH goodnight while I was laying in bed and it GUSHED, I jumped out of bed and got the dog wet, there was a trail of "stuff" from our bedroom to the bathroom. I had a towel trying to sop it all up and it just kept coming. I also read that for a lot of women it breaks when they are very relaxed hence water breaking in bed. My water broke at 9pm and contractions didn't start until closer to 3am so....in my case I totally could have driven, I didn't feel like I was in labor but I was scared to death about what was about to happen!

crizz13 · August 2014

dr_pr said:

It would be rather exciting if mine did break at work, since it would mean I'd be in the middle of teaching a class. And I'd definitely just drive myself home and wait for H to get there before going to the hospital, unless the contractions were really close together and intense.

This. I'm so worried about this happening....a group of 25 ten year olds would NEVER forget that day!

mb314 · August 2014

With DS1, mine didn't break until right before I was ready to push. I was in the tub and had no idea it broke, so I have no idea what it felt like.

In any case, I will probably have a towel in my car a week or before - just in case. I would probably clean it up to the extent possible, clean myself up, and drive myself home (not to the hospital). Even if contractions start right away after the water breaking (and that doesn't always happen), I think I could still do the 15 minute drive home to get DH, my stuff, call our doula, and then decide if we need to go to the hospital right away or wait and labor at home. Births don't frequently happen like they do in the movies - you don't go from the water breaking to immediate intense labor to pushing in within a short time period. There is usually a slow build up.

wildflower75 · August 2014

StacyMarie33venussapphire it was more of a trickle and not really anything big to clean up (besides my panties). To be honest I thought it was incontinence (plus I was in denial) and I didn't go to the hospital till the next morning (got yelled at by the doctor for that). So it doesn't always happen like in the movies.. a huge water fall... sometimes it's a consistent trickle like every 30 minutes or so.
If this were to happen at work for me this time... that would be bad because it would mean I am 36 weeks or less (I plan on working from home starting at 37 weeks) so I would probably let the cleaning staff clean it and I would have a friend take me to the hospital in a cab!

krgriffin26 · August 2014

This is my first so who knows how it will go. I've already told my boss that I will be working up to delivery (unless Dr says no) so he may be the one taking me to the hospital. I truly hope my water does break in front of him though.

My aunt on the other hand was part of the 10%. She was waiting at Olive Garden and when she stood up to go to her table her water broke and went everywhere. She was standing in a 4ft puddle and just started bawling. My uncle was so excited lol but she was mortified. Made it worse when the entire waiting area started clapping for her. My cousin came 4 weeks early and she was breach. We joke that she kicked the bottom out so she could meet us early.

sparklingwhit · August 2014

1: I kind of want something like this to happen because I work with a bunch of douchey dudes and I would love to gross them all out. I'm thinking I'd go up to the douchiest, with the nicest car and ask them to drive me and see their reaction. LOL!

2: I would likely drive myself to the hospital. It's right down the street from where I work...heck I could walk there :P

Dana633 · August 2014

Mine didn't break the first time, my doctor actually stuck this hook looking thing up there and busted it...then within minutes my contraction went from uncomfortable to painful. Once he broke my water, my DS was here within 4 hours.

OH and mine gushed out!

sweetbabyrahe · August 2014

My plan is to get someone to drive me to the hospital (probably my mom because she works in my building) and clean myself up. I work at a nursing home so our cleaning crew is used to cleaning up bodily fluids. I haven't thought about it much because my water was broken for me at the hospital at. 7 cm with DS. After that my contractions quickly became very intense so if that was the case I wouldn't be safe driving.

As far as a waterproof mattress pad, after baby was born I woke up soaked with leaking boobs. Just for consideration

Celticlass6 · August 2014

Econosaurus said:

AnnieRoo13 said:

sj+cm131 said:

I lurk the other BMBs quite a bit to read their birth stories and I don't recall a single one where the woman had her water break at work. Also, a while back on one of the other birth month boards there was a thread discussing where the person was when their water broke - the OP was looking to see if anyone had funny/embarrassing stories. Most women had their water break either at the hospital or at home in bed. There were a few that stated they had their water break during the car ride to the hospital - so here is your warning to have a towel ready. Some people experience a lot of fluid whereas other women just have a long, slow leak.

I just got a new mattress and new sheets. Think I should be throwing a towel down when I get closer to my due date? That mattress was expensive yo!

I am very in love with my mattress and contemplated getting one of those waterproof covers but then I realized I don't want an adult pee sheet and really the amount of baby batter that has been spilled on that thing is probably way worse.

I plan on getting a waterproof mattress cover just in case and also for any boob leakage that goes on. Plus I figure baby will be in our bed with us occasionally while I feed him so there could be messes. One I saw at the store wasn't plastic at all, which is what I was afraid of!

marajay6 · August 2014

Econosaurus said:

AnnieRoo13 said:

sj+cm131 said:

I lurk the other BMBs quite a bit to read their birth stories and I don't recall a single one where the woman had her water break at work. Also, a while back on one of the other birth month boards there was a thread discussing where the person was when their water broke - the OP was looking to see if anyone had funny/embarrassing stories. Most women had their water break either at the hospital or at home in bed. There were a few that stated they had their water break during the car ride to the hospital - so here is your warning to have a towel ready. Some people experience a lot of fluid whereas other women just have a long, slow leak.

I just got a new mattress and new sheets. Think I should be throwing a towel down when I get closer to my due date? That mattress was expensive yo!

I am very in love with my mattress and contemplated getting one of those waterproof covers but then I realized I don't want an adult pee sheet and really the amount of baby batter that has been spilled on that thing is probably way worse.

Modern waterproof mattress covers not that bad. They are fabric - not those plastic sheets that parents used to (or still do??) use for potty training kids. We have one on our mattress to help extend it's life. It's machine washable - we wash it as frequently as we do our sheets and it prevents our mattress from getting a stinky from our sweat. And like another poster mentioned - it will help when my boobs start to get all leaky.

EricaG1014 · August 2014

Mine broke in the hospital parking lot. Not a trickle at all...a HUGE gush. DD was born 6 hrs later.

highbornhunter · August 2014

One of my girlfriends at work had a baby a few months ago, and our company president (who is the world's most awkward man) kept coming up to her as her due date got closer and saying things like "Oh, you're still here..." "So when's your due date again?" Her water did not break at work. If mine does, this will be his face:

Or maybe this:

edited for punctuation

MmmPopcorn · August 2014

crizz13 said:

dr_pr said:

It would be rather exciting if mine did break at work, since it would mean I'd be in the middle of teaching a class. And I'd definitely just drive myself home and wait for H to get there before going to the hospital, unless the contractions were really close together and intense.

This. I'm so worried about this happening....a group of 25 ten year olds would NEVER forget that day!

Yo, I had a 6th grader tell me out of the blue, "Mrs. Popcorn, if your water breaks in class, I will definitely be there to help you." It was odd, but definitely thoughtful. I think.

@missnacholover, where in the hell do you find all these hilarious gifs?!?!

absolutelymaybe · August 2014

StacyMarie33 said:

Waterproof mattress pads are good for just incase water breakage and little ones after. We bought a nice one from a mattress store, it is fabric with a thin lining inside and doesn't crinkle or sound like plastic at all. It looks like a regular mattress pad you would normally use on a bed.

This is what we have, too. You can't even tell it's on the bed. DH made us get one when we bought a new mattress because I like to spill stuff in bed. Like wine (don't ask).

Dumbgurl04 · August 2014

Work is the one place I don't want my water to break. Even though my dad works there so I know he will help me to the hospital and relax me (cause I'm sure I'll freak out a bit being FTM). There are some old ladies in the office who would just go CRAZY and just doesn't seem like something I would really want to deal with.

hiketheworld · August 2014

I'm afraid of this. My mom had her water break before any contractions with each of her pregnancies so I feel doomed. I'm actually taking vacation time a week before my due date so hopefully I will be elsewhere when the time comes.

SweetMelissa5 · August 2014

sweetbabyrahe said:

As far as a waterproof mattress pad, after baby was born I woke up soaked with leaking boobs. Just for consideration

Plus, if you're ever going to have the baby in your bed (for nursing or sleeping or even just playing), you might want something there in case of spit up or diaper leakage.

bunnyray · August 2014

Hi. This will be my first post, although I have been reading all yours for a while now.

My waters broke spontaneously at 35 weeks (called PPROM) and it was a major gush at home. We drove to hospital an hour away but I never went into labour. They left me a week in hospital with my waters broken until a massive infection took over and I had to have an emergency c-section at 36 weeks. It was bad enough to require an additional 2 1/2 weeks in hospital with me on IV antibiotics and my baby in the NICU.

I only wanted to post my story so if you do have spontaneous rupture of the membranes make sure you are delivered within 1-2 days.

bunnyray · August 2014

I should mention that was with my first baby in 2008. I'm now 29 weeks pregnant with my second.

MrsDL · August 2014

It's always so dramatic on TV - I loved Sex in the City back in the day (still do) and I imagined scenarios like Miranda's water breaking on Carrie's expensive shoe or Charlotte yelling at Big and her water breaking in the street after some shopping and lunch - LOL. Mine broke while I was in the hospital bed after a few hours of Pitocin. I heard a pop, had the epi so I was out of it and when the nurse came back in just said "I think my water broke." She looked and said "yep." Not dramatic at all!

momtojad · August 2014

Mine broke at 4am before i would have left for work so i guess it could happen. I would clean it up though because im in no rush to get to the birth center.

clumsyatheart · August 2014

Water breakage at work would be up there with SUPER AWKWARD THINGS. Would prefer water breaking in Walmart tbh.

No experience with laws and such, but hazardous human waste? Wow!

What if your water breaks at work?

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