- With Mayo Clinic certified nurse-midwife
Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
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Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Mary Murry is a certified nurse-midwife in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Murry, a Cincinnati native, has been a nurse-midwife practitioner for more than 20 years and is an instructor at the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic. She was a contributing reviewer and writer of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book.
Her research interests include adult female survivors of sexual abuse, women's perception of pain in labor, and obesity in pregnancy.
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Pregnancy and you blog
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Oct. 12, 2010
Rupture of membranes: Has your water broken?
By Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
During pregnancy, your baby is surrounded and cushioned by a fluid-filled membrane called the amniotic sac. At some point before your baby is born, the sac will rupture. This is known as your water breaking or rupture of the membranes.
When your water breaks, you may expect large amounts of fluid to run down your legs and fill up your shoes. It isn't always so easy to tell that your water has broken, though. At the end of pregnancy, all the glands you never knew you had in your vagina produce fluid to lubricate the way for the baby. To cloud the issue a little more, sometimes the amniotic sac can spring a leak without actually breaking. Think of a water balloon with a pin-sized hole. It's also common to leak small amounts of urine during pregnancy, even when your bladder doesn't feel full or you've just urinated.
So how do you know if you're leaking urine, vaginal fluid or amniotic fluid? Here are some clues:
- If you're leaking urine, the fluid will likely have a distinctive odor.
- If you're leaking vaginal fluid, the discharge will probably be clear or white to yellowish. It can be rather sloppy, requiring multiple changes of underwear or panty liners in a single day.
- If you're leaking amniotic fluid or your water has broken, the fluid is likely to saturate your underwear or panty liner over and over again. The fluid may be clear or contain white flecks, perhaps tinged with blood or mucus. It isn't likely to smell, however.
If you're unsure what you're leaking, contact your health care provider. You may need an exam to find out for sure. This is especially important if you suspect that your water has broken or the fluid is green — which usually means that the baby has had a bowel movement and needs special attention at delivery.
Whether your water breaks in public, at home or in the hospital — either in a gush or a slow trickle — take comfort in the fact that you'll soon be holding your baby in your arms.
8 comments posted
November 20, 2012 3:28 p.m.
Thanks Roxanne im going through the same situation right now..I thank God I was able to pull this up and read your testimony!! GOD IS ABLE AND HE IS REAL! MY DOCTOR TOLD ME ABOUT TERMINATING AT FIRST BUT HE CAME BACK AND SAID NO HE HAS HOPE I CAN continue on! Im praying and Keeping the Faith because God's Grace is sufficient and will bring me and my baby through!!
- brooke
August 10, 2012 2:28 p.m.
My water broke during the 13 week of pregnancy, and did not find out until week 18 during a level 2 ultrasound, If was advised to terminate because there was nothing doctors could do to safe my baby,I declined termination. I was put in bed rest and was advised to drink lots of water, we added lots of prayers too. By week 23 I was admitted to the hospital. On week 29 and two days I delivered my daughter Grace via c-section. Doctors are amazed that she survived. I know that she survived thanks to God's mighty power, mercy and grace.
- Roxana
May 30, 2012 11:11 a.m.
Annett, sounds like you are doing everything you can do. Stay the course. Sorry I don't have more to offer.
- Mary@Mayo
May 24, 2012 1:28 p.m.
Yvette, why would you stop eating when you're body's about to do the hardest work it's ever done? Do you stop eating when you're preparing for a marathon? You absolutely should eat and drink during labor, and especially in early labor! Pain meds do make some women nauseous, but that's independent of what's in your stomach. Bowel movements are normal in birth, and no one even notices (except the care provider, who is accustomed to quietly removing it with no consequence).
- Lindsey
May 23, 2012 7:09 p.m.
Hi, I had conceived twins in feb. during week 7 of pregnancy I started brown spotting. My doc detected I had sub chorionic hem. He informed I would keep bleeding off and on in my pregnancy. During week 13 ultrasound we found out that one twin heart bit had stopped and the other twin had low amniotic fluid. Since then I am. Monitored weekly. My baby has strong heart bit but my bleeding has now changed to bright red since last 2 weeks. Any treatment that can help me? My doc has put me on partial bed rest. I am now 16 week pregnant..
- Annnett
August 4, 2011 11:56 a.m.
What is vaginal Fluid? Is it something that could harm the baby if I am leaking it at 7 months
- Amanda
December 7, 2010 1:17 a.m.
If your water breaks and contains bright red blood &/or blood clots call an ambulance. This happened to me and when I called my doctor to let her know she was not alarmed. She told me "this can happen" and that she would meet us at the hospital. We drove to the hospital ouselves, and upon arrival they determined my water had broken and thought the blood loss was due to placental abruption. After about 40 min. of evaluating our daughter's heart rate go up and down, they delivered her via emergency c-section. Addison was born on Oct. 19th, 2010 and she was a perfectly healthy 38 week old infant, but she died at birth due to VASA PREVIA. I had never heard of this. I my case, I had several vessels that traversed the membrane, and one tore near the placenta when my membranes ruptured (water broke). This condition is very dangerous, but it can be diagnosed during the 20 week ultrasound with a 4D transvaginal doppler. Women are not given this additional ultrasound unless their doctor requests it. PLEASE request this additional test. There are cetain risk factors which increase your chances of having vasa previa, but I didn't have any. Any early c-section can be scheduled in order to ensure a safe delivery. If I had known about vasa previa, I would have requested the test and my daughter would be here today. I cannot believe the pregnancy books and medical websites do not even mention vasa previa. And that doctors are not ordering the additional test for
- Melissa
October 16, 2010 Noon
I would like to add, if you suspect your water has broken, then stop eating. While you may be hungry, you do not want food in your belly when you are in labor. The pain medication is likely to make you nauseous and the pushing could cause more to come out than a baby.
- Yvette
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