Can I take a shower before going to the hospital if my water breaks? What should I pay attention to when I go to the hospital if my water breaks?

We all know that when a woman is pregnant to a certain stage, she is about to give birth. Before giving birth, pregnant mothers generally have some symptoms, and water breaking is one of the most common symptoms. At this time, they need to go to the hospital to wait for delivery. So if the amniotic fluid breaks, can you take a shower before going to the hospital? Let's take a closer look!

Can I take a shower before going to the hospital if my water breaks?

If your water breaks, it is not recommended to take a shower before going to the hospital.

Broken water is an abnormal sign of labor, and the probability of occurrence is very low, perhaps less than 5%. Broken water, in simple terms, means that the amniotic membrane has ruptured, causing the amniotic fluid that feeds the baby to flow out. If the amniotic fluid flows too much, it can easily cause the baby to experience symptoms of intrauterine distress and hypoxia. Therefore, broken water is the most dangerous of the three signs of labor. When broken water occurs, it is not recommended to take a bath before going to the hospital.

Is it dangerous if my water breaks?

Amnesia can be divided into high-level amnesia and low-level amnesia. Both types are very harmful to the fetus, but the risk factors are different.

Amniotic fluid is the medium on which the baby depends for survival. If there is too little amniotic fluid, it will directly affect the life safety of the fetus. The most common consequence is that the baby will suffer from intrauterine distress and lack of oxygen.

There are two types of water breaking: one is high-level water breaking and the other is low-level water breaking.

High-level amniotic fluid rupture refers to the place where the amniotic membrane ruptures, which is located above the uterus. There may be a small rupture in this place, or this small rupture is just blocked by the body of the fetus. Therefore, the flow rate of amniotic fluid will be very slow, and sometimes it is difficult to detect. If it is not discovered early, the amniotic fluid will flow away little by little, resulting in less and less amniotic fluid, making the fetus insufficient and hypoxia. There is another problem. If it is not discovered early, the amniotic fluid may be contaminated. Contaminated amniotic fluid is also a hazard to the baby. It will also cause hypoxia in the fetus and even affect the fetus' respiratory system.

Low-level rupture of membranes means that the rupture of the amniotic membrane is outside the uterus. The larger the rupture of the membrane, the greater the amniotic fluid flow rate and the more serious the danger. Because as soon as the pregnant mother stands up, the amniotic fluid will flow very quickly, so when a large amount of amniotic fluid flows out, the pregnant mother must lie down and cannot move. It is best to use something to pad under the buttocks to prevent more amniotic fluid from flowing. At the same time, notify the family to call 120 quickly and go to the hospital to give birth. When the medical staff arrives, if the amniotic fluid flow rate is not very serious, you can walk a few steps out of the door. If it is a house with stairs, it is best to ask someone to come up and carry it.

The location of the ruptured membrane cannot be controlled. It may be high or low. The rupture may be small or large. But in either case, once the membrane breaks, it is very dangerous. You must not move and must lie down. Therefore, it is unrealistic to take a shower after the membrane breaks and then go to the hospital to wait for delivery. Taking a shower will only make the amniotic fluid flow faster, and the baby's condition will be more dangerous.

What should I pay attention to when I rush to the hospital after my water breaks?

1. Put on a sanitary napkin

After the amniotic fluid breaks, it will flow out from time to time. In order to avoid getting your clothes wet, it is best to put on a sanitary napkin so that you won’t be so embarrassed on the way to the hospital.

2. After the water breaks, try to lie down, keeping your head low and your hips high

After discovering that the water has broken, the pregnant mother should lie down as much as possible, keeping her head low and hips high. This can reduce the outflow of amniotic fluid. Too rapid loss of amniotic fluid can easily cause fetal hypoxia, and too little amniotic fluid is not conducive to normal delivery, so try to lie down and rush to the hospital as soon as possible.

3. Don’t move around

After the water breaks, pregnant women should not walk around at will, because as the body moves, more amniotic fluid may flow. If the amount is not much, go to the hospital in time with the company of family members and try not to walk; if the amount is a lot, you need to lie down and raise your buttocks, be lifted into the car or call an ambulance.

4. Don’t panic

Water breaking is a very common prenatal sign that many pregnant women will experience. It is also something that women must experience during childbirth. Even if your water has not broken now, you may have your water broken artificially before giving birth. It’s just that the time is different. Pregnant women don’t need to panic.

5. Seek medical attention promptly

Even if your water breaks at night, you still need to seek medical attention in time. Don't avoid going to the hospital because it's too troublesome. Of course, you can also contact the hospital before seeing a doctor, explain your situation, and then go to the hospital to wait for delivery under the doctor's instructions.