How do I know my water has broken?

Pregnant women will feel a little nervous before giving birth, and they are prone to symptoms such as frequent urination and urgency. During this period, they should promptly understand whether the amniotic fluid is ruptured. This will help them to go to the hospital in time to prepare for delivery, especially to distinguish between urine and amniotic fluid. In addition, they should remain calm as soon as the amniotic fluid breaks. Let's take a look at this aspect.

How do I know my water has broken?

1. In fact, it is very simple to distinguish between amniotic fluid rupture and urinary incontinence, but the prerequisite is that you have to master the method. Usually, urinary incontinence is the feeling of being unable to hold back the urine from the urethra, with a little water leaking out and the urine having a foul odor. When the amniotic fluid breaks, there will be a feeling of "water flowing to a lower place". You will feel that there is a stream of water flowing out of the vagina continuously, and the water will not disappear because of holding the urethra. The amniotic fluid is clear or milky white, has no odor, and is relatively large in amount.

2. The first method can generally determine whether it is amniotic fluid rupture or urinary incontinence. However, if the expectant mother still cannot determine whether it is amniotic fluid rupture or urinary incontinence, she can use pH test paper to test it in the vagina. Since amniotic fluid is weakly alkaline, if the amniotic fluid ruptures prematurely, the pH test paper will change from orange to dark green. When this test paper is observed under a microscope, small fat blocks and fetal hair in the amniotic fluid can be seen.

What to do if your water breaks

1. If the amniotic fluid breaks, the first thing you should do is stay calm and lie down flat. Do not stand because standing will speed up the outflow of the amniotic fluid. If the amniotic fluid dries up, it will affect the breathing of the fetus, which is very bad for the baby.

2. When you lie down, you can put a sanitary napkin under your buttocks with the help of your family to keep the vulva clean and reduce infection. If the amount of amniotic fluid is large, use a clean bath towel or towel to pad under your buttocks.

3. Try not to take a bath after your water breaks, because if the expectant mother takes a bath while standing, the amniotic fluid will only flow faster, and the baby in the uterus will lose its own protective membrane. Therefore, if bacteria or dirty water enters the vagina during the bath, it is very likely to infect the baby's health.

4. After completing the above emergency measures, you should call 120 immediately, or go to the hospital for early treatment if your home is close to a hospital.

During pregnancy, expectant mothers should try to avoid doing heavy work, and leave the dirty and tiring work to their husbands. Activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as mopping the floor and climbing stairs, can easily cause amniotic fluid to rupture. At the same time, sexual intercourse should be avoided.