Release of Membranes
Water bag breaking or water breaking is also known as the rupture of the membranes, in medical terms. We would like to rephrase it to ‘release of membranes’.
Your baby has been growing inside a fluid-filled membranous sac called the amniotic sac, through your pregnancy. The sac and liquid cushions and protects your baby. When membranes release, the amniotic fluid can either trickle or gush out.
Your membranes will release either at the beginning of labour or during active labour. If they release earlier than 37 weeks, it is known as PROM - pre-labour release of membranes and requires immediate medical attention.
You have been led to believe that when your membranes are released, it means the baby is coming right away. In some cases, this may be true. Water breaking is a significant important sign in labour. But does that mean your baby will pop out right after? Not really. This is just a signal to say that baby is on its way. Sometimes it may take a day or two after the water bag releases for your baby to arrive into the world.
In most cases, labour will begin with contractions and sometimes in the course of the labour, your water bag may release with a gush. In this case you would already be in the hospital and this release will speed up the contractions.
For some women, the membranes may release early, even before the contractions have begun. This may happen as a slow leak or trickle.
Important things to know about membranes releasing:
Check the colour and smell of the fluid. Amniotic fluid is straw colour to colourless and has no smell. In case you see a colour, namely green, brown or red, that will need a further check by your care provider. The baby may have passed its first stool (meconium) within the womb and that requires medical attention.
Check if it is a gush or trickle. A gush with no prior contractions need to be evaluated by the care provider.
Stay informed about how long you need to wait before any interventions or checks or any medication that you may be prescribed, including antibiotics. This is a discussion you need to have with your healthcare provider before labour begins as a part of your birth preferences. This is applicable if all is well, including the above points.
Try not to panic - this is a natural part of labour. Not everyone may experience it, but if your membranes release, it is a step closer to seeing your baby. Just make sure you have a plan in place for this occurrence, so that you can make informed decisions in the hospital or at home.
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