What does it feel like when you water breaks?

Ccat1977 · October 2015

Seems silly to ask since this is my second baby, but the first time I was induced and in the hospital already. If you were standing up would it be a big gush of fluid and if so how much? Does it stop after a short while? I'm assuming you change clothes before you head to the hospital, do you have to put a towel on the car seat? Strange questions perhaps but I'm really curious and want to be prepared.

NJPita22 · October 2015

My water broke in one huge gush but it doesn't ever stop leaking so you will need a pad or something to go to the hospital. It doesn't always happen like that it's possible that you start leaking and then just never stop instead of the huge stereotypical gush. I felt like I had to pee and a gush of "water" came out of there...

april172010U · October 2015

When my water broke with my second (induced at 41 weeks with my first)I had just gotten up at night to pee and while walking back to bed I got a big gush, probably 1-2 cups of fluid down my legs. I have heard others don't get quite as much, but unless you have problems controlling your bladder, it's pretty unmistakable. I knelt down and smelled it to be sure and it is different than urine smell, haha. I showered as my previous labor had been 17 hours and I was not having contractions, and put a pad on my underwear. That was sufficient for the hour between when my water broke and getting to the hospital, but again I think a lot came out initially.

kmkaull2 · October 2015

My water broke when I stood up from lying down on the bed. It was a gush and completely soaked my pants. It continued to slowly leak out so I wore a pad to the hospital. Yes, a towel is a good idea to protect the car. It was more shocking than anything---didn't ruin the carpet or anything. ;-)

Mags128 · October 2015

I went to the bathroom and when walking back I definitely felt a gush. Contractions hadn't started to I was planning on laboring on at home. But I ended up soaking through pads because I was continuously leaking. By the time I left my house and got to the hospital and checked in I had soaked through a pad and ended up just throwing out my underwear. That was about an hour.

kittyberet · October 2015

Mine was a large leak and felt like I peed my pants. I changed and brought a towel to sit on for the car ride to the hospital (GBS+ so I had to go right in). It continued to leak quite heavily during my induction.

Mamabear2u2 · October 2015

With DS they had to break my water at the hospital and it was a constant slow leak for me. I was already laboring so I was already at the hospital in just a gown, but had I been driving in I'd have definitely needed a pad and towel.

elbou · October 2015

With DD1, they broke it while in labour at the hospital, and it was a huge gush after they did. With DS, it broke spontaneously while in labour at the hospital and it was the same huge gush.

With DD2 (my middle child) however, it broke on its own at home. I was sitting on my living room floor and it felt like something inside just let go. I wasn't even sure that that was what had happened. I got up and went to the bathroom to check, and didn't even get any on my underwear (that I could see at least). The only reason I figured it was my water was that it was wet when I wiped even though I hadn't peed. I put a pad on the same pair of underwear to go to the hospital...still a little unsure that's what it was...they confirmed it for me once there.

I don't think I even soaked the first pad, but it would be a good idea to have some on hand (along with extra clothes) just in case you get the big gush.

BellaM110 · October 2015

Im a FTM but I am an RN with past L&D experience. Everyone is different. When your membranes rupture (water breaks) it can range from a gush as PP have described to a small trickle. Once it does break it will continue to leak so you will want to wear a pad and just to be sure, sit on towels in the car.

JulieK79 · October 2015

With DS I had a slow leak. I had to keep going to the bathroom every 5 minutes which I thought was odd. Went to L&D since it was a Sunday night and I was shocked when they told me my water was leaking and 4 centimeters dilated. At that point I wasn't having any contractions.

Gingermom15 · October 2015

A co-worker of mine was driving his wife to a Dr's appointment when they heard a loud popping noise. She never leaked fluid or had a gush but they stopped at the nearest hospital on a whim. Turns out she was 8 cm and the bags ruptured at the top, so none of it leaked immediately. She also never felt contractions until it starting to push.Their baby was born within 20 minutes and came out with a big gush of fluid. Every water rupture is different. I'm not trying to hold the experience up to any expectations.

Jessperry27 · October 2015

My water broke right after I had gone pee at 4am. It was very much the stereotypical gush that people describe. I did wear a pad to the hospital as you continue to leak after your membranes rupture.

chelseymmcghee · October 2015

So if your water breaks at home (say in the middle of the night) if contractions haven't started yet, do you usually have enough time to shower and then get to the hospital or should you go right away? Or does it differ for each person. In my mind now, I think I'd want to try to shower (sounds silly) but I also don't want to have a car baby if I wait too long. (My hospital is 45 mins away!)

ReedBabyMama · October 2015

@chelseymmcghee great question. I'm a FTM and thought I would shower before going to the hospital as well after my water broke.

However, my hospital is 15 minutes away

blansaw · October 2015

Like you peed your pants. Over and over.

Ccat1977 · October 2015

Glad I know what to expect now! Is it weird that the thought of this happening in front of my in-laws or coworkers freaks me out? Thankful I'm leaving work pretty early.

Jessperry27 · October 2015

When my water broke I called triage at the hospital. They asked me to come in (I had some issues the day before- I thought I was leaking at the Drs the day before but test confirmed I was not) but to go ahead and shower and eat breakfast before driving in (I'm about 30 mins away where). I wasn't having contractions yet but they still wanted me to come in. By the time I got to the hospital and they hooked me up to some machine they told me I was having contractions (I couldn't feel them yet). My water broke at 4am and I think we were at the hospital by 5:30am, I was admitted shortly after that.

stickybun14 · October 2015

chelseymmcghee said:
So if your water breaks at home (say in the middle of the night) if contractions haven't started yet, do you usually have enough time to shower and then get to the hospital or should you go right away? Or does it differ for each person. In my mind now, I think I'd want to try to shower (sounds silly) but I also don't want to have a car baby if I wait too long. (My hospital is 45 mins away!)

Talk to your midwife or OB about this one. I am going through a private midwife clinic who prefer you to stay at home as long as you feel comfortable before heading to the hospital. We would be looking for 3 x 60 second contractions every 10 minutes for about 2 hours before going in. But they come out and do checks if you want as well. All depends on
what you are comfortable with and what your chosen health professional suggests.

lholland1019 · October 2015

Like yourself I didn't go into labor on my own, and I was also induced for my 1st pregnancy. My second one I definitely did. It feels like something is pulling, very uncomfortable I heard a pop and a small trickle of water started. I asked the nurse when I got to the hospital when the leaking stops and she said once you have the baby. I ended up having a C-section so I'm not sure if this is true, but good luck!

Want a personalized experience?

What does it feel like when you water breaks?

Re: What does it feel like when you water breaks?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards