Random Childbirth Question... Water Beaking

[Mild Mango]

I have a random childbirth question that I was hoping some of you who already have kids could help me with.

When you went into labor, did you have any warning before your water broke (like contractions or something), or did it take you by complete surprise? I know it's still a ways off for me, but I have this fear of my water breaking in a public place (especially at work). I can just imagine my office administrator having to quarantine the break room while the receptionist mops pools of my amniotic fluid off the tile floor, or even worse, having to shampoo it out of the hallway carpet. So embarrassing. I plan on working as long as possible, so this is a major concern of mine.

In the movies, a woman is just walking around, feeling fine, and then... WHOOSH... her water breaks all over the floor (and everyone's shoes within a 3ft radius). I don't know if that's how it really happens, or if directors just add it for dramatic effect. PLEASE say it's just dramatic effect. Lol

 

[Conina]

I had no warning whatsoever, but I was in bed when it happened. It was just a bit of my pjs that was wet and when I rolled over, it woke me up. It certainly wasn't a flood like in the movies!

Also, it's supposed to be quite unusual that your waters break before you're in labour. Only 1 in 10 or something. So I had read that so often that I assumed it wouldn't happen to me - and then it did...

 

[Pix]

I was in early labor when mine broke. But for me it was that flood. I had GD and sooo much extra amniotic fluid that when it broke it made a audible pop. When I got up it exploded out of me. My mom had my bedroom cleaned for us it was that bad. When I finally delivered (10 hours later) there was another sac behind her. So again more fluid. It was insane.

Definite rare case but it can flood you!! At least for me I had the early labor. With my son he was born in the sac so it only broke while he was coming out.

 

[Spiffynoodles]

My water had to be broken in the hospital both times. I was dilated to 7cm both times when they broke it, so well into established labor.

See, I'm the opposite of you, because I actually WANT to experience it randomly breaking, like it does in the movies! I think it would be exciting.

 

[too_scared]

My water broke at home with no warning at all! I was in the bathroom right after I peed and was getting ready to stand up and they went! Luckily they went into the toilet but there was so much. Of course it was the only time I had left my phone downstairs and had to get up to get it to contact my husband at work. I waited but it seemed every time I moved more came out! Finally I just did it and stood up to reach into the cupboard under the sink for a pad and even more came out! On the floor, my underwear, and my pants! It was crazy. That was about 2:20 pm and my contractions didn't start until about 7 pm.

 

[DocMcStuffins]

No warning whatsoever for me but thankfully I was in bed at the time. I just rolled over felt a pop and then gushes of water. I stood up and it was just pouring out so ran to the toilet! Lol. My contractions started 30 minutes after the waters broke.

It carried on trickling for the next 2/3 days while I had contractions. Was a horrible sensation as it just felt like I was peeing myself! Lol.

X

 

[Mild Mango]

Thanks, Ladies! Guess I should arrange to work from home or take leave for the weeks leading up to my due date. Sounds pretty messy!

 

[Nanninoo]

I was induced so had my waters broke by the doctor it felt like I had peed myself very strange warm feeling there was a slow trickle but my waters kept trickling out throughout the whole day felt like they weren't stopping I must of had a lot of fluid inside x

 

[Gingerspice]

I had mine broken when I was around 6cm. They broke them to see if it sped things up as I had been in labour for days.

You can actually give birth with waters intact. Pretty rare, but it does happen. Baby and waters come out as one. Generally though they like to break them if they haven't broken by themselves ahead of pushing

 

[KrissyKris22]

When I got to the hospital I was 4cm dilated and having contractions. I remember I was going number 2 because the doctor said I was backed up and would defecate on the table if I didn't try and go smh lol. Neway I was standing to wipe myself and bam my water broke and that's when the contractions came harder. When ita ure first pregnancy u have a billion questions and never know how things are gonna happen. But I'm.sure u'll be fine hun.

 

[dairymomma]

The doctor broke mine both times and it wasn't until I was ready to push that they did it. I could have requested them to break it sooner but I figured I'd see if they would go on their own first. Since they didn't, I had to have my dr break them.We'll see what happens with this little one but I'm guessing it'll be the same.

 

[mammag]

Mine broke at home both times with no warning. It's not like someone dumped a bucket like on the movies though. You feel a little pop and it's about the same stream as if you'd peed. Except it doesn't stop coming till the baby does. Lol. But it is very uncommon. And that's how I'm now pregnant with #3 and unsure if I'll know when I'm in labor when it's time!

 

[Fallacy]

For me it was like a bucket. I woke up to wee during the middle of the night like usual and as soon as I got out of bed it gushed out. Contractions never started naturally though, so PROM. I'm told that it wasn't common.

 

[Pink Sarah]

Mine just broke unexpectedly at 35 weeks I woke up rolled over and the bed was soaked. Contractions started 12 hours later. There was a lot of fluid all at once.

 

[TryinFor1]

I also had absolutely no warning. I lost my show the day before but my doctor still set up an induction date. I was laying in bed and felt/heard an internal pop and then water gushed everywhere. Same thing happened to my best friend. It absolutely does happen!

 

[Gingerspice]

My understanding is that house insurance covers this event also so can result in new sofa/ bed etc

 

[Leliana]

Mine didn't break until baby was almost out!! I had been pushing for ages and the midwife did a vaginal examination - and accidentally broke my waters!! Good chance little one would have been born in her sac otherwise

 

[Unexpected212]

Mine were broken when I got to 8cm! Then I went back to 7cm and got stuck.Doh!

 

[RaspberryK]

Mine trickled for 24 hours, then didn't break properly until I was well into labour. It was a huge gush though, flooded my bathroom! Xx

 

[mmMlm]

They had to break my waters with my first.

With my second, I woke up at 2:30 AM lying on my side and realized that they had broken. I woke up DH and told him to get a towel, not much came out until I stood up and it wasn't a big mess because of the towel. Quite a bit came out at first, then they slowly leaked on and off until DD#2 was born. It was actually the top section that had broken, and they broke the bottom section during labour, another gush (had no idea this could happen)! I didn't have contractions for hours after they broke.

I really wouldn't worry about it to the extent of staying home from work at the end. They can break at any time, and usually it is just a slow trickle although gushes do happen. If the thought of it bothers you, you could start wearing pads near the end to catch any