What Does It Feel like When Your Water Breaks?

While lying in bed next to hubby, felt a "pop" and release of fluid. My husband said he actually heard it, too! I felt a warm sensation, like I peed myself. The leaking continued after I went to the bathroom.

My contractions with my son felt like really bad gas/stomach pains. I was asleep and would wake up and toss and turn for a few minutes then it would go away. I was 3 weeks early so I was convinced it was either Braxton Hicks or just gas. They progressively got worse to the point where it felt like someone was taking a knife or needle and slowly dragging it across my stomach. The pain is very hard to explain, but counting through them works. If you count through the first one and relaize it lasts 30 seconds, then the next time it hits, you can get through it easier because you'll know how long it will last.

As my mom once explained, it feels like a train is heading towards you then you feel like you were run over but then right after the contraction is gone, you feel normal again. Until the next one! LOL

I was in the hospital and trying not the push my son out even though my body was pushing for me! The nurse kept telling me to not push but I kept telling them I couldn't help it!! It was as if my body was just trying to get him out even though I wasn't doing any work. Then I felt a gush of warm water and knew my water broke. At first I thought I peed from my body pushing. It was a very strange senstation!

The first time I delivered, I did not shower until the next day because I had an epidural. The second time I delivered very fast and they had me shower almost immediately afterwards. I didn't want to because I was tired (middle of the night) but they insisted and I am glad that they did!

Sleep as much as you can/want but for me, I just wanted my baby in the room with me! That would usually mean me calling and asking them to bring the baby to me because it seemed like even if I asked them to bring the baby to me at feeding times, they would not so I could sleep.

The pads (or diapers filled with ice) that they will probably use to help reduce swelling after birth are wonderful. I had those for an entire day! Don't worry if you need to take pain medication for a day or two afterwards. That is normal!!

Buy pictures of your baby in the hospital. You will take a bunch (as will family) but it's nice to have a professional one of him/her when they were 1 day old.

I put on regular pajamas almost immediately after the birth of my daughter. It made me feel better. With my son, I was in the hospital for a little over 24 hours so I just stayed in their pajamas. If you are planning on breastfeeding, make sure you remove your bra before getting into the gown because it will be harder to do after you have the baby!!

Congratulations and good luck!

A bit of water came down my leg then the contractions came. I had a bowel movement which was good because I didn't want anything else coming out while i was pushing. Your body totally takes care of everything... truly amazing. YES they hurt like you have never hurt before. Get the epidural and relax, put on makeup and watch TV. Good luck you will do great!

I'm sure everyone will have a different story...with each pregnancy.

For me, water breaking was an audible "pop" that woke me from a dead sleep. My underwear was wet. As soon as I stood up, the "leaking" stopped. Typical since the baby's head blocks the birth canal. I cleaned up, put tissue in my underwear crotch then laid back down for 5 mins. Then I got up and checked the tissue, which was wet. So I KNEW I was leaking fluid and we were on our way to having a baby.

Contractions for me started like a dull backache, eventually progressing to can't catch your breath menstrual like cramps. I also had back labor with two of my kids. That feels like muscle spasms that make your knees weak.

The bottom line is they don't give out medals for "waiting" to get pain meds.

I've had three kids and every labor went differently.

I'm happy to answer any questions based on my experiences.

Every birth is different, even for the same mom! With my first, my water didn't break until I was well into labor, but I know moms whose water broke days before the baby came. With my second pregnancy (twins) it felt like a water balloon "popped" and then it all gushed out, but they were breech so nobody's head was there to act as plug. The contractions can be painful or not that bad, it's always amazed me that the experience is so different for everyone. Congrats and God bless - may you have a wonderful birth experience !!! Remember, no matter how it happens, as long as you get a healthy baby that's what matters!

My water broke before the onset of labor. I though I was having to pee (like my bladder was weak and losing urine), there was no pop or anything, I just "knew" something was unusual. Every time I lied down I would loose a little water and when I got up, it stopped. I also lost my mucus plug right then and there and that's when I was sure (slippery, blood tinged mucus).

My contractions didn't start until 2 hours later. They were just uncomfortable cramping for about an hour (much like menstrual cramps). I had a very short labor (just five hours from the first weak contractions until my baby was born, 7 hours after my water broke). My contractions picked up in an instant, they did not get stronger slowly. At the strongest they felt like very strong menstrual/diarrhea cramps - painful but manageable. I did not get pain meds and did not need them.

BTW, my daughter was born at 37 +3 - so it could be any day now....

Mine broke early and I didn't know that is what had happened. I was supposedly no where near ready to deliver at 37 weeks and no cervical changes. Mine broke when I lost my mucus plug, and just felt like I needed to pee. Then I was having tiny contractions that I thought was the baby kicking my bladder, making me feel like I needed to pee or was leaking pee. Turned out it was my amniotic fluid leaking with every contraction, every hour or so. I expected either a big gush, or for them to have to do it for me, not what I got.

My water broke 5 weeks early (YIKES) so it was totally unexpected. Sitting down, I literally felt a "gushing" and then I was completely soaked through panties and sweatpants. I went in the bathroom to clean up before heading to the hospital and THAT was totally pointless because I then proceeded to soak through two more sets of clothes. However, I guess it should be noted that I had already been told I had excessive amniotic fluid, so that could be why I kept gushing so much.

I finally just put on black sweat pants and a thick maxi pad (which didn't really help BTW) and headed for the hospital. While it totally sucked to go to the hospital at 2 a.m. looking like such a hot mess, I figured if you can't be your messy self during labor, when can you be.

I've looked back on it now and thought "thank God it didn't happen at someones house or while hubby and I were out" cause based on my experience, it would've been a mess. So I suggest expecting moms try to be prepared in case it happens away from home.

Oh, it's a fun ride waiting for that moment to happen. I think every expectant mom dreads that moment (will I be out at the store? driving somewhere?).

For me, my water broke at home while I was laying on the couch. It was an audible "pop" and the flood gates opened. I soaked my shorts and the couch. I remember saying to my husband, who was sitting across from me on the computer, I think my water just broke. He jumped up, I jumped up, and the flood gates opened again. It's so funny thinking back. We were bothing panicking, at not only the impending arrival of our first child, but what to do to get the water to stop coming out! =) He grabbed me a bath towel and I remember waddling around the house with the towel between my legs wrapped up like a diaper. This was at 10:30 at night. Called the doctor, headed right to the hospital (45 mins away). Got changed into the wonderful hospital gown and the nurse checked me and I was already 7 cm. They ushered me across the hall to the birthing room and checked me again, and I was 10 cm and pushing. My daughter was born at 12:02 am....hour and a half after my water broke (and 2 weeks early)! Turns out I have an extraordinary pain tolerance. Apparently, I was in labor all day and didn't know it. The contractions weren't anything terribly unbearable (for me). I remember feeling crampy and having to sit down a lot that day (we were at Lowe's earlier buying paint to paint the nursery that night). Once my water broke the contractions got more intense. That was ever more apparent with my second child. For fear that baby #2 would come even faster than the first, we headed to the hospital way too early. I labored in the hospital for about 5 hours...mainly because I need 2 doses of anitbiotic for testing positive for the group B strep. The doc told me they would break my water after they got the second dose in. They started the second drip around 5:15 am, and broke my water minutes later. The nurse no sooner left the room and the contractions were unbearable. She came back in and checked me, and I was 9.5 cm. I told her I couldn't wait for that last .5 cm, so I pushed past it. My second daughter was born at 5:24 am.

I am currently pregnant with #3 and my biggest fear is waiting too long at home. With my "inability" to know labor contractions from Braxton-Hicks contractions, I worry that I will wait too long, and with the hospital being 45 mins away, plus having to drop off 2 kids at grandma's house, that I'll end up delivering at home...yikes!

The best advice I can give you is to just listen to your body. You'll know when it's time. And no amount of advice or mom's labor stories will prepare you for how labor actually feels. It's just one of those things that you have to experience to FULLY understand! Good luck and hang in there...you're almost there!!! =)

Hi, my water broke at home at 38 weeks. I was lying on the couch and my stomach made this HUGE rumbling sound! (lol) my sister was sitting there and we just looked at each other like what the heck. So, I thought I had to go to the bathroom. When I went "pee" just kept coming out or so I thought. Then, some of the plug was in the toilet......I called my Dr office and they said even if I thought my water broke to go to the hospital. It was really just a slow trickle. The contractions started about 20 minutes after my water broke. I got to the hospital and they tested the fluid to be sure it was my water and it was, so I was admitted, I was only 2cm. And by 3cm I had my epidural, 6 hours later I had my little one, who is now almost 8 by the way :-)
i remember being really annoyed because everyone would say "you'll know when the contractions are real" , because braxton hicks sure felt "real" to me! But, honestly it is true. The "real" contractions to me, felt like a knife jabbing in your super low pelvic area. But, I only had to deal with it for a couple of hours. After I got the epidural I felt nothing until it was time to push. Good luck!!! How exciting:)

When I was around 37 weeks pregnant I thought my water broke on 2 separate occasions. Turns out the pregnancy just made my bladder really weak and I just peed on myself! I didn't even feel like I needed to pee so it was really strange both times. My water didn't even break until I was about 7 cm dialated so your water breaking wont necessarily be what makes you figure out that you need to go to the hospital. It just feels like a sudden warm gush a liquid but alot more than you would ever pee. I have heard of womens water breaking and it just kind of comes out a little at a time but that was not the case at all with me. You will most likely feel some consistent, close together contractions before your water breaks.

A.,
3 babies - 3 different stories -

Baby 1 - It was the "classic" scenario every mom imagines - uncontrollable urge to go to the bathroom - thankfully I was home and was able to make it to the bathroom....then a WAVE of fluid exited my body - I still am not sure how all that fluid was there:) Didn't have major contractions 'til after i was at the hospital a few hours later.

Baby 2 - Just the constant need to use the rest room all day - every time I stood up or walked more than 50 feet - I had to go to the bathroom - water was not totally broken - it was "leaking" or whatever....

Baby 3 - Doctors had to break my water once I got to the hospital - no constant need to use the bathroom like with Baby 2.

Contractions for me started higher up in my stomach area and it just felt like muscles contracting or cramping like when you are exercising. My stomach would get rock hard and then relax...not painful...just you noticed it happening. As Labor progressed - yes - contractions dropped more to the pelvic region and it was exactly like monthly cramps on steroids:) Just breathe through them....I had pain meds with baby 1 and baby 3 but baby 2 was all natural....you CAN do it with out meds if you have to:)

Good luck
T.

the night my water broke, I couldn't sleep so I went out to the couch and fell asleep. about an hour later I woke up and thought that I had peed on the couch, but it did not stop, warm fluid kept dripping down my legs. I rode to the hospital with a towel between my legs and was soaked by the time I got there. My contractions felt like terrible menstrual cramps, but they come and go, giving you a few seconds relief, but the relief time gets shorter and shorter!

It usually doesn't happen like they portray on television and the movies. For most woman, your water doesn't break until you are well into labor. My water didn't break for either or my kids until I was about to transition (9-10cm).

Don't worry about the pain. Again, I think that the media has made woman afraid of their own bodies. Contractions start out mild and farther apart, so you are well use to them before they build in intensity. Unlike menstrual cramps, you have a contraction and then you have a break before the next one. Mentally just try to be in the moment, and take one contraction at a time. Don't allow yourself to look ahead to how long it might take or how much more intense the labor might become. Stand up, move around, take a shower- all those things to move things along.

It is "labor", it is work. Ditch the idea of pretty scented candles, romantic music an a cute nightgown. Roll up your sleeves and get ready for a workout. But, after delivering both of my boys (8lbs 3 ounces, and then 9lbs 4 ounces) naturally, I would say it isn't anywhere near as bad as I had anticipated. Its amazing to me how the women who choice epidurals think it is worse than those who deliver naturally. I still think it is more the fear of the unknown than the known.

Best of luck to you- and enjoy the experience!

my first one my water never broke they broke it for me. my second it was a gushing that wouldnt stop and I knew it wasnt urine cause I had just peed. it soaked everything.

I was 37 weeks when i started to feel what I thought were Braxton Hicks contractiosn on a Sunday morning. These came and went through out the day then started to increase in intenisty, and time come evening. I went to the hospital around 1030 with 3-5 minute contractions and my water broke an hour or so later on its own. To me it felt like a water balloon sliding out then popping. Sounds silly, but that is exactly what comes to mind. He he!Good luck, you will know when it is time!

My OB/GYN didn't believe me all day when I thought my water had broke with my daughter (2nd child). I woke up "damp" for lack of a better term. They kept telling me it was "stress incontinence". Finally, on the 3rd call, the told me to come to the hospital to be tested - to everyone's amazement (except mine), it had broken and was "leaking".

It finally "popped" several hours later. I could hear it literally pop and then gush like I'd wet myself.

With my son, my mucus plug initially dislodged, and then the contractions began (never had them with my daughter because of induction from water breaking and epidural).
I had bad back labor and could only be comfortable on an exercise ball or the toilet before they administered the epidural.

Good luck. No 2 labors are the same. I hope yours is quick and relatively painless. Trust your instincts if you think you're going into labor/water breaks. Worst thing that happens is they send you home, and you go back later.

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For me it was like I needed to pee but then couldn't make it stop lol. I went up a set of stairs and thought omg I am not going to make it to the bathroom. I went wiped and started out of the bathroom only to have more run down my leg. went to the hospital sitting on a towel. I thought to myself is this all it is when your water breaks. but nope as soon as I got examined in the room whoosh a tidal wave of water lol.

my daughter said that with her youngest son it was the weirdest feeling ever. she felt it pop like a balloon.

It feels annoying. I had a 36 hr labor, 17 hrs of increasingly painful contractions before I got the epidural (at that point I felt the anesthesiologist was my best friend in the world). All that pain and I was only dilated 3 centimeters. They put an absorbent pad under me and ruptured my membranes in the hospital (looks like a long crochet hook with a sharp point on it) hoping it would speed up labor (it didn't as far as I could tell), and then I trickled fluid all night long and through most of the next day (my son was born at 5pm with only 1 1/2 hrs of pushing). They had to change the pad several times. You make more fluid all the time, so you never dry out. I could sip water or suck on popsicles and ice (my husband kept me well supplied) and I never got dehydrated. All in all it was a very positive experience and I felt my son was the most beautiful baby in the world (I think every mother feels that way). Just a few more weeks, and you'll have your very own birth story to share!

Well i cant help you with the water breaking because they broke my water in the hospital. Contractions for me felt like a giant hand grasping me around my lower back squeezing me like a stress ball. tightening, holding the tightness and then slowly relaxing over and over again. I hope this helps

Everyone kept telling me my back would ache when you start your contractions. Nope they were so wrong. Mine were a clenching in the front lower of my abdomen. By the time I figured out they were contractions and got to the hospital I was already 8cm! My water broke at the hospital about 17 hours after the contractions started. It broke on it's own and was a huge gush. The contractions started out pretty mild and I just didn't think that's what it was. It wasn't until about 12 hours after they started that they got more intense and more repetative. Mine were also 8 weeks early so I really didn't think they were contractions. But it all turned out great in the end. We have a happy and healthy 17mo.

interesting question....mine thankfully broke over the toilet. Got up d/t some odd pain as if I had to go pee, barely had my underwear off when I felt a whoosh of loose "water" break free. Had no control over it, wasn't a lot but enough to go...wait a sec...that's not pee. They tell you to look at the color and make sure it's clear, if not call the Dr immediately. Mine was clear to cloudy like. With my second, they broke my water and I suggest if they do that to you and you're not good with pain, get something before they do that, b/c the immediate pain you'll feel after they break your water is not pleasant. Especially since you're on your back and you have to physically get up to help ease some of the pain. Hope that helps!

Every woman is different. I had my baby very early on a Monday morning. Saturday night, I didn't sleep well because my stomach was hurting. It really just felt like something I ate didn't agree with me because I seemed to be constipated. Didn't really feel like menstrual cramps. On Sunday morning, I felt a little better, but my stomach felt pretty...tight. I opted to go lie down instead of get ready for church. Good thing, too, because at the time we'd normally be sitting down for church services, my water broke at home. In my case, it was a GUSH. BIIIIIG GUSH. I put on the heaviest-duty maxi-pads to contain it, but it was like I was wearing nothing at all. I couldn't control it and was pretty much stuck on the toilet for a while. Given how fast it was coming, I was 95% sure that it was my water breaking. Even after the heaviest part finally stopped, I still had occasional spurts come out, heavy enough that I kept soaking through pads. Think of a big earthquake and aftershocks--that's what this was. I wasn't really having any contractions at this point, however. I was almost thankful that it was happening this way instead of it slowly trickling--at least there was no doubt what was going on!

When I got to the hospital a couple of hours later, I found out I was only 3 cm dilated! Yikes! So I might not have even been dilated that far when my water broke. I had to get Pitocin to get any sort of contractions, and yeah, then they did feel like really bad menstrual cramps.

By the way, I was at 37 weeks, 6 days when my water broke.

The majority of first time moms don't have their water break, and its usually broken for them once they get to the hospital/birth center.
I would advise against letting someone break your water, only because then the risk of infection and/or complications increases.
If it does break, it really doesn't feel like anything. You'll feel water come out of you, much like peeing your pants but you'll know its not that because you can't stop it. :)
Congratulations!!!

Both of my children were breach. I was asleep when I woke up feeling I had wet myself and felt my panties were "squishy". I didn't know what happened but when I stood up the water gushed out onto the floor as if someone had thrown a bucket of water at my legs. I called my husband who brought me a towel. I knew then my water had broke. I called my mother then at 6am and she rushed over. I knew since this was my first baby I knew it would be a while and I felt safe since the hospital was only 10 minutes away. I didn't start to really hurt from contractions until 10:30 that morning. My labor lasted for 37 hours then had an emergency C section after getting an epidural for pain several hours prior. I decided after that my next pregnancy would be a C section. NO pain at all that way! Both babies are now in college!

It doesn't always happen in that order - water breaks, then contractions. For me I had major, intense contractions, three centimeters dilated at least, before my water broke. And you will know it when it does. It feels like a pop and then a gush of fluids comes out.
I would also like to offer that I know how much pressure a mom feels to give birth already when it gets late in a pregnancy but I truelly feel it is best to let the birthing happen on it's time, not on our overly intelectualized time regarding when we are told it SHOULD be happening. Relax, but keep moving - taking walks every day helped me. Another natural and non invasive way to get your and the babies bodies in synch for birthing is acupuncture. Check that out. It helped my first labor be an 8 hour, rather than most firsts which are 24 hours at least. All the best to you!

Dear A.,
All experiences are different.
With my first baby, my doctor actually broke my water for me in the hospital as I had been well into labor for some time and it hadn't happened on it's own. Boy, did things really get going after that! It felt like a big, warm gush. Not painful at all.
With my second baby, I was scheduled to go to the hospital at 6am to be induced and the night before we went to my favorite place to get dinner as we knew the next day would be a long one. It was weird, I couldn't eat. I took a couple of bites and I just couldn't do it. My back was killing me and I just wanted to go home to try to get some rest.
My back hurt so bad that I couldn't get comfortable. I tossed and turned so my husband went to sleep in the spare bedroom. I didn't get a wink of sleep. At 4:45am, I felt a little pop and a gush like I was peeing the bed so I rolled off the edge. Don't ask me why, but I hurried and just went and stood in the bathtub while I leaked. My husband called the hospital and they told us to come on in. I stood in the tub while he got dressed and got my daughter up. I folded a hand towel and put it between my legs under some loose fitting pants because by now my contractions were starting and with each one, I leaked a little more, but just a little.
Anyway, I didn't realize it, but I had been in labor since the day before. That's why I didn't feel like eating and my back hurt so bad.
Angela is right....it's not like on TV or in the movies where all the sudden you grab your belly and know it's time to go to the hospital. And, your water might not even break on it's own.
I know you must be getting anxious. I'll tell you....I cried the last week of my first pregnancy. I was so tired of being pregnant and I just wanted to hold my baby. She came two days before her due date. And my son came two days after his.
If your water breaks, you'll know it.

I hope you get some great responses and I also hope you will let us all know when your baby arrives.
Keep your eye on the prize!
You'll do just great!

Best wishes!

Most women experience contractions before their water breaks. In fact the avrage dilation for water to break without intervention is 8cm so very far along. My water didn't break until I started pushing. When I went into labor my contractions were very manageable. I just visualized a lake that my husband and I vacation at and was able to manage quite well. I am not sure how you plan to manage your pain but I was in the shower and tub most of the time and the water was so relaxing and soothing that I had a natural birth. Good luck.

Hi there-

I just had baby #2 6 weeks ago. She was 3 weeks early so I was not expecting anything and like you was unaware what it would feel like to have my water break since my first baby was induced.

For me it started slowly over a few days. I took a nap on a Friday afternoon and woke up feeling like I had wet myself. I didn't think to much of it since it was not a lot and discharge is normal, (although I was also pretty sure I had passed my mucus plug earlier that week too). Rest of day was normal, braxton hicks, etc...Same thing happened when I woke up on Saturday morning so I called the nurse and they told me to go in and get checked. At the check I was not dilated or effaced and they said my water was intact...

Fast forward to Monday-saw the dr at noon, he didn't do a pelvic since I was just 37 weeks and planning to be induced at 39 weeks. Afternoon was uneventful until f5pm-when what I thought were BH's started, but kept up and were close together...called the dr at 8-skeptical he said go in...hospital by 9-when they checked me I was 8cmm..:) She was born at 11:31pm!

So-moral of my story-the dr thinks my water had broken or was breaking slowly so it wasn't that 'all at once' feeling and I was probably in pre-labor for a few days before things really got going.

If it breaks at once, I think you'll know. BUT, contractions may not start immediately-but still call the dr.

Good Luck!

I was lying in bed and felt like I had to go to the bathroom. After I peed, the fluid just kept leaking out so I thought, hmm I think my water broke. I only lived 5 minutes from the hospital and worked at an OB/GYN office, so I was familiar with a lot of birth stories. I woke my husband up and told him I thought my water broke, but I didn't want to leave yet. He said okay and actually went back to sleep! Of course I couldn't sleep, so I tidied up a bit, sat on the couch and had a snack. My water broke at 9:00pm, at around 1:00am I noticed some blood when I wiped so I woke my hubby and said we better get going. I hopped in the shower really quick before we went cause I didn't feel too fresh. All this time I was not having contractions.

My husband didn't think it was the real deal, I told him it was! If your water breaks, they won't let you go more than 24hrs without delivering the baby due to risk of infection. So no matter what, we were staying at the hospital. By the time we got to the hospital I had started to have contractions. I think they took me in at 2:00am, checked me to see how dilated I was, and put me on the monitor. It was funny because I had a blood pressure cuff on that would check my blood pressure everytime I had a contraction, so of course it was elevated. When I got to the hospital I was only 1.5 cm. My doctor told me she would give me two hours to dilate more and if I didn't, they were going to start pitocin to get things going.

I got into the room and they started the pitocin. That's when the contractions really started. It's true they hurt like the worst period you've ever had times 100. My contractions were about a minute and a half apart, so I felt like I couldn't relax in between, cause I knew the next one was coming. I just couldn't wait to get the epidural. I think I got it around 7:00am? It was like heaven! The best 500 bucks I've ever spent.

After I got the epidural, my son's heart rate was up and down so they kept turning me over on one side or the other to see which way was best. This went on for a while, so I never got a chance to rest. The epidural worked great, at first I could still feel the pain on the right side but not the left. But within 20 minutes it was all gone. I could feel pressure though, like I wanted to push. The nurse checked me and I was already complete, just a few hours after being 4 cm! The doctor was in the next room delivering another baby, so the nurses had me do a few pushes, but he was right there already! I had to keep from pushing through a few contractions until the doctor got there, but once she got there, he was out in two contractions!

I got incredibly lucky with the pushing because he was already so low in the canal when I got to the hospital, that makes all the difference. I only had to push for 20 minutes.

I hope my story helped you. My water never stopped leaking hours after it broke. The contractions didn't get really bad until I got the pitocin and I got the epidural a few hours later. This was my first baby too.

Just keep a positive attitude and i believe things will go smoothly for you. The nurses were complimenting me on that, they were really surprised how well everything went for me, I hope it does for you too!

Congrats!