Have my waters broken? What to look for and what to do

Not everyone gets the dramatic gush from films. Here’s how to tell if your waters have broken, what to do, and what usually happens next.

How to tell

The NHS says amniotic fluid is normally clear and pale, and it can be hard to tell apart from urine. It may be slightly bloodstained at first. It can come as a gush or a slow trickle. If you’re not sure, wear a pad and see whether it keeps coming.

What to do

Call your midwife or maternity unit straight away, even if you’re not having contractions, and even at night. The NHS lists waters breaking as a reason to call urgently.
Wear a period pad (not a tampon), as the NHS advises, so the midwife can see the fluid.
Tell them straight away if the fluid is smelly or coloured, or if you’re losing blood.
Check your baby is moving as usual. Call straight away if movements change.

What happens next

The NHS says labour usually starts within 24 hours. An NHS trust guide for pregnancies over 37 weeks says 6 in 10 women whose waters break before contractions start go into labour naturally within 24 hours. If it doesn’t start, you’ll be offered an induction, because the risk of infection rises a little once the waters have broken. The same guide gives the risk of serious infection for the baby as about 1 in 100 once the waters have broken, compared with about 1 in 200 when they are intact. This is one England NHS trust’s guide, so your unit’s advice may differ slightly. See induction of labour.

While you wait, the NHS says to take your temperature every 4 hours when you’re awake. Call your midwife if it is raised or you feel unwell, flu-like or shivery. The trust guide also advises avoiding sex because of the infection risk, and says you can shower or bathe as normal.

Rarely: the umbilical cord

The RCOG says that in between 1 in 200 and 1 in 1,000 births, the umbilical cord slips down in front of the baby after the waters break (cord prolapse). If you can see or feel the cord, call 999, say you are pregnant and think you have a prolapsed cord, and don’t touch the cord or push it back. Get onto your knees with your elbows and hands on the floor and bend forward, and stay like that until help arrives. If you can’t manage that, you can lie on your side with a pillow under your hip. Don’t eat or drink in case you need an operation.

Group B strep

If you carry group B strep, the trust guide says induction as soon as possible is recommended, with antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection to your baby. Tell your midwife if you know you carry it. See group B strep in pregnancy.

If your waters break before 37 weeks

The NHS says if you’re under 37 weeks and think your waters have broken, call your maternity unit straight away. See premature birth: what to expect.

When to get help

The NHS says to call your midwife or maternity unit for guidance if you think you’re in labour, or if your contractions are coming every 5 minutes or more often. Call them straight away, day or night, if:

your waters break
you have vaginal bleeding
your baby is moving less than usual
you’re under 37 weeks and think you may be in labour
a contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes
you have 6 or more contractions in 10 minutes

If you can’t reach your midwife or maternity unit, call NHS 111 (where available). If you’re in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, use the number on your maternity notes first. Call 999 if you think your baby is coming now and you have a strong urge to push.

Questions people ask

Will my waters break in the middle of the night?

It can happen any time. If it does, call your midwife or maternity unit then, rather than waiting until morning.

Can I have a bath after my waters break?

The NHS trust guide says you can shower or bathe as normal, but should avoid sex because of the infection risk. Ask your midwife if you’re unsure.

What if it’s just wee?

It can be hard to tell. Wear a pad and call your midwife anyway. They would rather check than have you wait.

What if the fluid is green or brown?

Tell your midwife immediately. The NHS says coloured or smelly fluid needs reporting straight away.