A Sudden Gush

What Happens When Your Water Breaks?

By Renee Roberson

"A baby's blood sugar mirrors the mother's blood sugar, which can produce more urine as a result of diabetes," Dr. Lazarus says.

Dr. Nardone says that polyhydramnios is also sometimes associated with the umbilical cord falling through the cervix when the water breaks, or a cord prolapse. "This is a serious obstetrical emergency requiring immediate delivery," she says.

In oligohydramnios, there is often not enough fluid to safely cushion the fetus and the umbilical cord. Therefore, when labor commences sometimes the fetus cannot tolerate the uterine contractions because they result in cord compression and decreased blood flow to the fetus. This also requires immediate delivery for the baby as well, Dr. Nardone says.

"Amniotic fluid volume can be easily measured by ultrasound and this is usually referred to as the Amniotic Fluid Index," Dr. Nardone says.

If you suspect your water has broken, Dr. Lazarus advises that you check with your health care provider immediately. Even if you are unsure if that is what has happened, your doctor can check the PH of the fluid to determine whether or not it is urine or in fact amniotic fluid.

Sometimes the baby's head can bump a woman's bladder, causing a small trickle of urine to leak out. If the baby's head is not well engaged, the rupture of membranes will usually come out as more of a gush, Dr. Lazarus says.

Whether you are one of the 10 percent of women whose water breaks spontaneously or a patient who has her water broken by what looks like a crochet needle, it will no doubt be a memorable experience and one that you will most likely share with others when recalling your birth story. Just be sure to have your bags packed just in case and call your physician as soon as possible to determine your next steps.