{"id":1128,"date":"2021-05-13T15:38:12","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T15:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/?p=1128"},"modified":"2025-05-21T12:34:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T16:34:25","slug":"your-water-broke-but-no-contractions-what-to-do-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/your-water-broke-but-no-contractions-what-to-do-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Broke, No Contractions: Next Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your water broke but no contractions?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your water breaks during pregnancy, it means that the amniotic fluid has leaked. This indicates that you\u2019ll start having contractions any time soon, and you\u2019re ready to deliver your baby. But, what if your water broke without contractions? What can you do to help induce labor?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, we\u2019ll explain what is water breaking, <\/span><a href=\"\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/obstetrician-boca-raton-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how to tell if your water broke<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the steps you can take to help start contractions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is Water Breaking?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may be wondering, what is water breaking? How do I know if my water broke?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Water breaking during pregnancy occurs when the amniotic sac that surrounds your baby ruptures. It consists of thin, white fluid, which we refer to as \u2018amniotic fluid,\u2019 and it protects and supports your baby\u2019s growth during pregnancy. When this happens, many women experience painful cramps, known as contractions, meaning that they might be going into labor soon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When water breaks, many women feel a sensation of wetness in their vagina or constant leaking of small amounts of watery fluid. Some patients may also experience pain and pressure on their pelvis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your doctor may use the term \u201cpremature rupture of membranes\u201d or PROM. This happens when you have carried your baby full term, your water breaks, and you are ready to go into labor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, some women experience water breaking but don\u2019t have contractions, pain, or discomfort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If that\u2019s the case, we recommend that you contact your doctor right away, which could increase the risk for preterm labor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1130 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/What-Is-Water-Breaking.jpg\" alt=\"Pregnant Woman With Beautiful Belly Makes Notes or Check List in Paper Diary.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/What-Is-Water-Breaking-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/What-Is-Water-Breaking-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/What-Is-Water-Breaking-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/What-Is-Water-Breaking-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/What-Is-Water-Breaking-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/What-Is-Water-Breaking-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/What-Is-Water-Breaking.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>What If Your Water Breaks Too Early?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preterm PROM is a pregnancy complication that occurs when the amniotic sac ruptures before the 37th week of pregnancy. This can increase the risk for infection and stillbirth<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Some factors that can lead to preterm PROM include:<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being underweight with poor nutrition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smoking during pregnancy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those who have already had a preterm birth.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaginal bleeding during the second and third trimesters.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a short cervical length.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re at least 37 weeks pregnant, your doctor may recommend proceeding toward delivery, depending on your medical history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if you are 24-34 weeks pregnant, your healthcare provider may delay both labor and delivery, until your baby develops. That said, they may recommend:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antibiotics to help prevent infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corticosteroids to help your baby\u2019s lungs mature.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magnesium sulfate to protect your baby\u2019s nervous system and reduce the risk for neurological impairment.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that we have explained what is water breaking and what happens when the amniotic sac ruptures before the 37th week of pregnancy, we can move on to the next section: How to tell if your water broke.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to Tell If Your Water Broke<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re wondering, how do I know if my water broke? What can I do if my waters broke, but I do not have contractions? Read on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>These are the factors that can help you determine if you are experiencing water breaking:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Color: If the fluid color is pale and clearer than urine, then it is amniotic fluid. If it has a green or green-yellow color, your baby may have probably had bowel movement, and it is meconium that is causing that color.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Odor: Amniotic fluid is odorless, but sometimes it may have a slight sweet smell.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kegel exercises: You can perform some kegel exercises to determine if you experienced water breaking or if it was urine. If the activities do not stop the leaking, then it\u2019s broken water \/ amniotic fluid.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also put on clean underwear, add a pad or pantyliner, and lie down for a few minutes if you feel a sensation of wetness when you get up or fluid pooling in your vagina, it\u2019s water breaking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if your water breaks, the best thing you can do is to call your healthcare provider or head to your delivery facility right away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your doctor may perform a physical exam to check if you\u2019re leaking amniotic fluid. An ultrasound may also be helpful if they want to check your amniotic volume fluid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t use tampons and avoid having sex if your water broke- the amniotic sac protects your baby in a sterile environment, and helps reduce the risk for infection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Natural Ways to Induce Labor<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your waters broke but no contractions? Here\u2019s what you can do:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Wait<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first thing you can do when your water breaks is to wait. If you don\u2019t have a fever, foul odor, or discolored fluid, your healthcare professional may recommend that you wait until you feel some contractions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s best to keep in mind to avoid getting into a tub of water or engaging in sexual activity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Nipple Stimulation<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can stimulate your nipples by using your hands or a breast pump, as this can increase the chances of producing oxytocin which can help start contractions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re manually stimulating your nipples, focus on one breast at a time and spend about 15 minutes on each one. Don\u2019t just focus on your nipples, but make sure also to stimulate the areola, which is the darker area that surrounds the nipples.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Walking<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walking can increase pressure on your cervix, which may lead to a contraction. This can make it easier for the baby\u2019s head to move out through the birth canal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/womens-health\/faqs\/exercise-during-pregnancy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, exercising during pregnancy can also help:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relieving stress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easing constipation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decreasing your risk of cesarean delivery.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reducing back pain.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We recommend that you keep exercising after your baby is born, as this can reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis. This can develop a few weeks after you deliver your baby.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Muscle stretching<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle stretching can also relief cramps and pelvic pain as it opens up contracted areas to release tension.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Acupuncture and acupressure<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicinal practice where people stick needles into the areas of their body to relieve pain and prevent illnesses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6795272\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 2019 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that acupuncture can help pregnant women who are over age 40. One patient received acupuncture treatment during the 36th week of pregnancy, and the other women received treatment during week 39. The researchers note that both women proceeded toward delivery and they both had natural vaginal births.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acupressure is another technique where practitioners use their fingers, palms, or elbows to apply pressure to certain areas of the body. They may use it as an alternative treatment to induce labor naturally without any side-effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1550830720302226\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 2020 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also notes that self-administered acupressure can alleviate the symptoms of constipation during pregnancy in clinical practice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1131 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/Natural-Ways-to-Induce-Labor.jpg\" alt=\"In the Hospital Woman in Labor Pushes to Give Birth, Obstetricians Assisting, Husband Holds Her Hand for Support.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/Natural-Ways-to-Induce-Labor-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/Natural-Ways-to-Induce-Labor-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/Natural-Ways-to-Induce-Labor-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/Natural-Ways-to-Induce-Labor-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/Natural-Ways-to-Induce-Labor-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/Natural-Ways-to-Induce-Labor-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2021\/05\/Natural-Ways-to-Induce-Labor.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Medical Intervention<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your doctor may administer Pitocin to help start contractions. It is the artificial version of oxytocin and is given through an IV. It can help start contractions, and your healthcare provider increases the dose every 10-30 minutes until you achieve the desired contraction. Healthcare professionals administer Pitocin only in a hospital setting, as they can ensure that there is no risk for fetal distress or too strong, or long contractions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Book An Appointment Today<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your water broke and you don\u2019t have contractions, call your midwife or doctor right away so you can discuss your symptoms and the safest course of action for your pregnancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We recommend booking an appointment with your healthcare provider if you are planning to get pregnant or have any health concerns that could affect your pregnancy and baby\u2019s growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Call now to schedule a consultation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise During Pregnancy. (2019). <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/womens-health\/faqs\/exercise-during-pregnancy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.acog.org\/womens-health\/faqs\/exercise-during-pregnancy<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handayani, S., <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">et al. <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(2019). Pre-Labor Acupuncture for Delivery Preparation in Multiparous Women Past Age 40. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6795272\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6795272\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kirca, A. S., <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">et al. <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(2020). Effects of self-acupressure on pregnancy-related constipation: A single-blind randomized controlled study.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1550830720302226\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1550830720302226<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your water broke but no contractions? When your water breaks during pregnancy, it means that the amniotic fluid has leaked. This indicates that you\u2019ll start having contractions any time soon, and you\u2019re ready to deliver your baby. But, what if your water broke without contractions? What can you do to help induce labor? In this  [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1129,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[23,3,5],"tags":[117,118,114,116,113,115],"class_list":["post-1128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gynecology","category-health","category-pregnancy","tag-how-do-i-know-if-my-water-broke","tag-how-to-tell-if-your-water-broke","tag-water-breaking","tag-water-broke","tag-waters-broke-but-no-contractions","tag-what-is-water-breaking"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/womens-healthcare-of-boca-raton\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}