Labor officially begins when you experience regular contractions and your cervix is dilated 2-3 cm. By this time, your water has already broken because your uterine contractions tear the fetal membrane, leaking out the amniotic fluid.
My water broke before my contractions became “regular”. Am I in labor?
When your water breaks before regular contractions, your labor is labeled “premature” . This is true even if it happens after 37 weeks [1]. While this is not the norm, as long as the fluid is clear and free of impurities like blood or meconium (fetal stool), everything is probably alright.
How soon should I get to the hospital when my water breaks?
If your water breaks before week 37 of pregnancy, go to the hospital immediately.
If your water breaks after week 37, and you are experiencing contractions every 10 minutes or sooner, get to the hospital as quickly as you can. Your doctor can assess your cervical dilation and make a judgment call on labor and delivery.
Once your water has broken, as long as your pregnancy is full term, most doctors will judge it best to induce labor, even if there are no contractions. If you don’t want inducement, you can ask for a short waiting period (12-14 hours) before they proceed [1].
Some mamas prefer not to go to the hospital until their contractions are regular and frequent. That’s up to you, but be very mindful of the quality of the amniotic fluid, as we mention above. If there is any blood or meconium mixed in with the amniotic fluid, it indicates a possible threat to the baby. It’s wise to be at the hospital ASAP in case emergency intervention is needed [2].
What if I have regular contractions, but my water hasn’t broken?
An amniotomy, where the amniotic sac is pierced or torn, used to be a common intervention, though it’s no longer done in most countries [3]. Piercing the sac activates contractions of the uterus, accelerating labor, but it often leads to the need for a C-section due to higher risk of infection or damage to the umbilical cord. Talk to your doctor ahead of time to learn what he or she knows or thinks about this intervention.
