Do you have to be dilated for your water to break?
Usually the doctor, midwife, or nurse will break your water before you become completely dilated, if it hasn’t broken by then. This allows them to learn if you have any problems that would impede the baby’s safe delivery. Contractions usually become much more intense after your water breaks, and the labor goes faster.
How do doctors break a woman’s water?
To break your water, the doctor will reach up and prod it with something that looks like a crochet hook. You might feel (very little) discomfort as the device enters your vagina, but as for the actual water breaking, most women only feel a big, warm gush of liquid.
How do I know if it’s amniotic fluid or discharge?
Signs of leaking amniotic fluid Leaking amniotic fluid might feel like a gush of warm fluid or a slow trickle from the vagina. It will usually be clear and odorless but may sometimes contain traces of blood or mucus. If the liquid is amniotic fluid, it is unlikely to stop leaking.
Can you leak amniotic fluid and not have contractions?
If you’re leaking amniotic fluid, it means that your water has broken – the membranes that make up your amniotic sac have ruptured. If your pregnancy is full-term when your water breaks, but you’re not in labor, it’s called preterm rupture of membranes (PROM).
Is watery discharge normal in third trimester?
Watery discharge is a completely normal part of pregnancy, and it typically gets heavier as your pregnancy progresses. In fact, very heavy discharge towards the end of your third trimester could be a sign that your body is preparing to go into labor.
Why do I have so much discharge third trimester?
Close to your delivery date, you might see a thick, clear, or slightly blood-tinged discharge. This is your mucus plug, and it’s a sign that your cervix has begun dilating in preparation for labor.
When should I be worried about watery discharge during pregnancy?
Discharge Consistency Watery: May not be normal — call your midwife or doctor. Watery discharge toward the end of pregnancy could be amniotic fluid leaking, which is normal, but still requires alerting your care provider. If it happens earlier in pregnancy, it could be a sign of premature labor.