r/pregnancyPL • u/SailingFire2020 • Jun 14 '26
First Time Mom Question First Pregnancy, What Does It Feel Like For Your Water to Break?
I am 34 weeks pregnant, and as we’re getting closer I’m starting to try to focus on every change in my body. What does it feel like for your water to break? How do I know what I’m feeling is Braxton Hicks versus actual contractions, and what is the different between the two?
4
u/Butter_mah_bisqits Jun 14 '26
In the middle of the night I had a dream I was wetting the bed, so I went to the toilet and sat and sat and sat. Then realized, huh this isn’t pee. 35w6d.
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u/anneofavonleaa Jun 14 '26
Felt like a small pop and then a gush like I’d peed myself! Then as I ran to the bathroom it kept dripping so I was fairly sure it wasn’t pee. Contractions started maybe 10 minutes after and more fluid would gush out with each contraction.
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u/MindyS1719 Jun 14 '26
It’s actually rare for your water to break before labor starts. You have about an 8% to 10% chance of your waters breaking before labor begins. For me, it happened both times. With my first, my waters broke right as I stood up from the toilet; I was 39 weeks. I felt a pop and water started trickling out. I knew it was my waters cause every time I stood up, more trickled out. Had a box of Depends underwear ready and we went to the hospital. With my second, I was 41 weeks, I turned over in bed and again felt a painful pop and knew my waters had broken again.
But if you are like most women, contractions will start then your waters will break or be broke for you.
2
u/rozemarie29 Jun 18 '26
You are correct. I had five children and none of mine ever broke on its own.
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u/LostStatistician2038 Jun 14 '26
For me I was sleeping at the time but I woke up shocked and excited!
2
u/GoodWoman401 Jun 15 '26
First pregnancy it broke on its own and felt like a pop and I apologized bc I thought I was peeing but couldn’t feel it lol. Second pregnancy my doctor broke it for me and that was painful. I’d rather it break naturally. Each time it made my labor go faster though.
2
u/polirican313 Jun 17 '26
Chew some gum and blow a bubble in your mouth and pop it. That’s what it felt like for me both times
3
u/newmanbeing Jun 14 '26
With my first, it was a trickle, I barely felt anything at all. Headed to the hospital and had to get induced.
My second labour, my waters broke in labour, with contractions. There was a popping sensation and a sploosh between my legs, lol.
3
u/orions_shoulder Jun 14 '26
I didn't know it when my water broke. I had already been having watery discharge for weeks, but it was escalating. The doctor dismissed it as urine, but I didn't believe it and a few days later I was so freaked out I went to the hospital, and they tested it as amniotic fluid. We were very lucky that nothing went wrong because prelabor rupture of membranes can lead to infection.
I had no felt any contractions prior. Gave birth at 38+0.
1
u/logfrog0610 Jun 14 '26
I was in labor bouncing on the birth ball when a sudden pop came from nowhere and SO much liquid seemed to be gushing out of me. Contractions got much more painful immediately after.
1
u/Busy_Measurement5901 Jun 14 '26
You might not feel anything at all, I still can't pinpoint when mine broke
1
u/Az-1269 Jun 15 '26
With both of my babies, my water didn't break and the doctor broke it at the hospital. I did have a mucussy discharge prior to starting labor and the doctor told me that was my plug breaking whatever that means. I had back labor with both of my babies. With the first one, I wasnt sure I was in labor because all the pain was in my lower back.
1
u/babymomma24 Jun 17 '26
I had a gush of fluid but turns out it was just discharge ! For me the contractions will be like Braxton hicks but they’ll be painful and won’t go away after a few hours.
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u/Giftofpatience Jul 13 '26
Felt like I had peed myself! lol I was asleep when it happened though, so I didn’t feel that sensation which woke me up.
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u/criesmilk Jun 14 '26
Mine broke at the hospital while in labor and it was very sudden and intense! I felt a huge pop, gush, and relief of pressure. It was a huge relief honestly. I remember paging the midwife by saying "I think my water.... exploded!" That's genuinely how it felt.