When the water breaks..
• It can be a gush of fluid or a slow trickle.
Either way there is a rupture to the membranes.
If it is a dribble it is probably only the hind
waters that are leaking and the membranes often
reseal by themselves.
• Whether it is a gush or a leakage of small
amounts of fluid, it is often described as a constant
wetness, especially when you stand. This continuous
leakage of fluid is a good clue that your bag
of waters has broken.
• If it is a gush, check if the fluid is
stained or clear. Clear waters indicate your baby
is engaged in the pelvis. If it is stained brown
or green it could mean baby has emptied meconium
(a sign that baby could be in distress) or there
is uterine infection.
Must
Know
• Many women confuse water breaking with
urine leak or copious vaginal discharge, which
becomes a tendency during the final trimester.
Your doctor will be able to confirm it.
• Once membranes rupture the contractions
usually start or become more intense.
• Rupture of membranes at term is more likely
if you have had vaginal examinations in the last
weeks of pregnancy.
• Water breaking is not indicative of a
difficult labor ahead since fresh amniotic fluid
is being replenished every 3 hours to keep baby,
its cord and the surrounding tissues moist.
• It is essential to be aware of your baby's
position at the end of pregnancy because if the
membranes rupture it is important to
know the position your baby is lying.
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• If baby is in breech position or the head
is high up, make preparations to go to hospital
at the soonest
• If labor is slow taking more than 24 hours
from the rupture then risk of infection increases
• Take your temperature to check for infection.
A fever is indicative of an infection. Your caregiver
should be informed.
• Do not place anything into the vagina
once the membranes have ruptured, and this includes
vaginal examinations – a very good reason to decline
such checks so that infections can be prevented.
• Put on a sanitary pad and change it frequently.
• Practice hygiene when visiting the washroom
i.e. don't forget to wipe from front to back,
away from the vagina.
• Don't starve yourself during the waiting
time. Eat carb-rich foods like pasta or baked
potatoes for energy. You may not have the urge
to eat once labor begins.
• Drink plenty of fluids to replace the
amniotic fluid, to keep your energy levels up.
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