What to do when water breaks?

Question

Im only 20 weeks and I know this is a stupid question but what do you do when you r water breaks, because most likely I will be at work, I need to work right up until my due date, and my husband will prob. be at work too, do i call someone to get me at work, should I drive, do I go right to the er, or up to the maternity ward?? Do I call my doc before?? How long do I have to get to the hospital, its like 15 miles from where i work, but 1 mile from my house?

Answer 1

No need to get in a panic or a mad rush if your water breaks.

All you need to do if it happens is to call your doctor or midwife and put them "on alert." Sometimes your water breaks and labor doesn't start immediately. For some women it takes several days.

You might want to keep a towel at work and a change of clothes just in case your water breaks in a gush. For other women it breaks and only comes out in a slow trickle, so keeping large maxi pads on hand would be good insurance, too.

Only if your water breaks suddenly and then contractions immediately start, I would get someone to drive you to the hospital. Usually, though, most women have a lot of waiting to do, even if their water breaks.

However........

Keep in mind that your labor probably will NOT start with your water breaking. That's what happens in the movies all the time LOL. But it only happens with like 10 percent of pregnancies.

Answer 2

no, that's not a stupid question at all! before you have the baby you'll probably go thru registration and for a tour of the maternity center at the hospital where you'll have the baby. They'll inform you of what the procedure is and how they'll contact your doctor. Also as you approach your due date, your doctor will instruct you of signs to look for.

When your water breaks, it's a clear sticky substance and sometimes it's a gush and sometimes it's kinda like you just peed a little bit. If your water breaks or contractions start (because you never know which will happen first), calmly call your husband and tell him to come and get you, or have a designated person that can be on call for this. You still could have hours and hours ahead of you, but it's best not to try to drive and have the baby decide to make a hasty appearance.

Answer 3

First of all Congrats! Now for your question...A majority of women don't normally have thier water break before the onset of labor, so as long as you haven't had any real contractions, I wouldn't worry too much. But if it does happen, I would either have a co worker drive you to the hospital or if your husband isn't too terribly far, have him drive you. When your water breaks, especially with a first child, you will probably have some time before you are in hard labor. Also make sure to take note of the color of the amniotic fluid. If it is a tinged green color, it is most likely meconium, which is not good for the baby to inhale during the birth. You might also want to make sure the umbilicle cord is nowhere to be seen or felt after your water breaks. If you can see it or feel it, get on all fours and call 911 immediatly. This usually doesn't happen unless you are pre-term or your baby is in a position other than vertex (head down). Usually hospitals have birthing classes, you might want to look into them. I went to one and it was very helpful. They will give you detailed instructions on hospital procedures, like when to go where and what to expect and so on...Good luck!

Answer 4

Well there are some different views here. Personally when my water broke it was about 6am and I stood up and all the sudden was gushing. What I did was get my husband out of the shower and call my mother. You need to make sure you have a lot of pads because I never stopped leaking. It was horrible. My contractions started immediately. Anyway I called my mother because she lives in a different state and then my husband drove me to the ER. I had to check in with the ER before I could go to the maternity ward. It took twelve hours before I had a C-section. They called the doctor. If I was by myself when my water broke however I would have called for an ambulance. They are faster and if something happens they are more likely to know what to do. I wouldn't dream of driving myself. I probably would have crashed because of the pain. I hope that helped.

Answer 5

I went into labor at 5pm and my water broke at 8pm. Some peoples water break and they send them back home from the hospital. It is best to have the baby with in 24 hours of your water breaking. At the hospital I delivered, I had to be 36 weeks before I could go to the birthing center, before that I had to go to the ER for anything. (I never had a 'false alarm" and I stayed home until the pain was unbearable and still didnt want to go to the hospital. it was 30 miles away)
In the unlikely case your water does break you will know when to go...but yes, call your doctor and let them know and they will direct you on what to do. Usually as long as your contractions arent 5 minutes apart, they dont suggest you go right in. Mine were never 5 minutes apart....they went from 10-15min to 3-4min apart!
Congrats and Good Luck.
You will know when it is time!

Answer 6

Most women do not even have their water break until they are in full labor. IF your water breaks at work (I would advise keeping a change of underwear, some maxi pads and a change of pants just in case), you will have PLENTY of time to call your husband and get to the hospital. Most doctors want the baby born with in 24 hours of your water breaking and want you in the hospital after in breaks for infection reasons but it is NOT like the movies, you don't have a gush of fluid and then a baby 2 mintues later. If your water breaks and you are not contracting (again, not likely) you should call your doctor and ask him when you should come in. If you are contracting, you should obvioulsy not drive and should leave work.
Good luck!

Answer 7

Actually, very few women have their water break before they go to the hospital--around 10% or so. The rest have it broken for them by the doctor during labor. If it doees happen, just go to the maternity ward. They'll want to deliver within 24 hours to reduce the chances of infection. Ask your doctor if you should call him/her--I won't call mine, because she belongs to a large practice and the chances of her being the one to deliver my baby are fairly slim as she only does deliveries two shifts a week.

Personally, if my water breaks at work, I'm going to get something to eat (they won't let you eat at the hospital), and then I'll mosey on over there. :-) I'm the reverse of you--I'm walking distance to the hospital from work, but a 25 minute drive from home. Good luck!

Answer 8

When ur water breaks u will first call somebody to come get u and bring u to the hosptital then u will go to ur hosptitals er room or clsoest entery spot u can call ur doc but its not necessary and u could have any where from an hour to 6 hours after ur water breaks untill u have a baby in ur arms. most likely ur water wont break at work normanly u will have contractions first and ur water will break at the hospital but whater ever happens stay calm and rember u will be ok. I 2 kids and its not so scary. u will be fine.

Answer 9

The first thing you should do is contact your doctor. If this is your first pregnancy you don't need to rush as it will take longer for your cervix to dilate. My water broke 3 weeks before my due date and it was two hours later that I finally arrived at the hospital. I was still not having regular contractions and needed to be induced.

Just in case, toward the end of your pregnancy carry sanitary pads in your bag.

Answer 10

When you're in water, having a shower or tub you can also now not recognize correct whilst your water breaks. But while you get out you're going to. It will preserve to leak and spill out til the child comes. You might bleed a bit bit too, and will have to suppose contractions approaching. I could now not fear approximately it. You will recognize even though it occurs within the bathe you're going to be competent to inform after. I could now not cross swimming. It might purpose an illness if you're dialating. Doctors customarily dont suggest that. Also, while you get your membranes stripped do plenty of going for walks. Stripping membranes dont continuously paintings. They might have got to do it once more at a long term appt. If the child isn't capable the child wont come. But going for walks is helping, plenty of going for walks. You too can check out raspberry leaf tea. Dont check out castor oil, it dont continuously paintings and it may make the child have a bowel motion in utero. Good good fortune.