The amniotic sac is the fluid filled bag that your baby grows inside during pregnancy. This sac will break before your baby is born. When it breaks, the fluid will drain out from the vagina.Most women’s waters break during labour, but it can happen before labour starts. If your waters break, you may feel a slow trickle or a sudden gush of fluid. This fluid is normally clear or pink in colour, however sometimes a baby can pass their first poo (called meconium) inside the sac, causing the fluid to become green or yellow.If you think your waters have broken it is important to call your maternity triage/assessment unit straight away, particularly if you think you can see meconium. If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant this may be a sign of premature labour. If you think your waters have broken, wear a thick sanitary pad as your midwife will ask to see this when you attend your maternity unit for a check-up. You can also take a photo of the initial loss of fluids as this can help with assessment.Make sure you take plenty of pads and a change of clothes with you on your journey into the maternity unit as, once the waters have broken, you will continue to leak amniotic fluid. If your waters do break before labour starts, you will be offered induction of labour (IOL) to reduce the risk of infection for both you and your baby.Induction can be immediate, delayed until 24 hours, or expectant management. Expectant management (waiting for labour to start spontaneously) beyond 24 hours is not recommended in current national guidance.
The amniotic sac is the fluid filled bag that your baby grows inside during pregnancy. This sac will break before your baby is born. When it breaks, the fluid will drain out from the vagina.
Most women’s waters break during labour, but it can happen before labour starts. If your waters break, you may feel a slow trickle or a sudden gush of fluid. This fluid is normally clear or pink in colour, however sometimes a baby can pass their first poo (called meconium) inside the sac, causing the fluid to become green or yellow.
If you think your waters have broken it is important to call your maternity triage/assessment unit straight away, particularly if you think you can see meconium. If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant this may be a sign of premature labour. If you think your waters have broken, wear a thick sanitary pad as your midwife will ask to see this when you attend your maternity unit for a check-up. You can also take a photo of the initial loss of fluids as this can help with assessment.
Make sure you take plenty of pads and a change of clothes with you on your journey into the maternity unit as, once the waters have broken, you will continue to leak amniotic fluid. If your waters do break before labour starts, you will be offered induction of labour (IOL) to reduce the risk of infection for both you and your baby.
Induction can be immediate, delayed until 24 hours, or expectant management. Expectant management (waiting for labour to start spontaneously) beyond 24 hours is not recommended in current national guidance.
