I have to admit that a lot of women, myself included, spent an inordinate amount of time worried about my water breaking with my first baby. I didn't know much about it, except that it had to happen for the baby to come out. I had some random thoughts like:
- If I'm using a heating pad and my water breaks, will I get electrocuted?
- Should I pack some towels in case my water breaks?
- Would skirts be better at pants than hiding broken water?
As you can see, it was quite a wide variety of issues I thought about, none of which ever wound up mattering. Here's what I know on the flip side of eight of my own children and hundreds of other births attended as a doula:
- The vast majority of the time, when you leave the amniotic sac alone, it won't break until after 9 centimeters, often while you're pushing will it release.
- With the exception of small leaks, nothing really hides broken water except an adult sized diaper. (And even that doesn't hide it for long...)
- If your water were to break out in public, no one laughs. They have one of two reactions: Sheer terror or excitement at getting to be even a small part of the miracle of birth.
What worries you about your bag of water?
Related:
I must admit I am a bit worried about when my waters will break in this pregnancy, being my 4th. My 3rd child was born last year and after my waters broke, he was then born in only 4 pushes, in the space of about 5 minutes. I just hope I will be in the hospital when it all happens.
when my water bag tore, it was like an unintended wee. I was in my car on drivers seat left my husband at work and was waiting to pick my brother in law. Immediately took a towel I had in the car, called my husband back and drove off to hospital. I was wearing a black flair dress, I think it was ideal. Didn’t show I was wet at all and I think a dress is better than trousers, although we can never plan when we going to break waters. Now i’m pregnant again and with all the kicks I receive, I fear breaking bag before time. Does anyone else fear the same?
Im experiencing my first pregnancy – its nerve wrecking thinking abt water breaking…think my fear is that it doesnt happen in public & I hope my husband is with me when it does….or someone – for that support.