What did it feel like for you just before your waters broke?

[Daydream Believer]

My waters broke before contractions started. I woke up (after 10mins sleep) & I felt like I had to wee & then I felt a pop & there was a gush (all over the bed)
HTH

[Visitor7]

1st time I was sleeping, so felt nothing.
2nd time, I was in established labour and thought my body was going to break in half when my waters broke. Once they broke though it was the best feeling, and bub was born only 40 min later.

[Visitor3]

Thanks for your responses girls ! Ok so waters can break after contractions ..... didn't know that? I always thought your waters break and then contractions start shortly after... So I guess I just wait then....

Thanks again

[Lisa]

MIne have only broken once naturally.
I remember squatting down to pick something up off the floor and I felt a pop. I worried heaps because I didn't know if I'd hurt myself or the baby. I went to the toilet and realised I was leaking. I changed underwear, put on a pad and carried on with my day. Later I felt strange and went to the toilet to check and my mucus plug was sitting there on the pad. I didn't get a big gush of fluid, just consistant leaking until bub was born.

[~clover~]

Mine broke before contractions started with DD1. (Didn't feel them as I was asleep)
They had to be broken with DD2 about 5 minutes before she was born.
They broke about an hour into a 5 hour labour with DS.

Every birth is different They may break, they may not.

[Tinks]

I felt as though I needed to go to the toilet although I'd just been a minute or 2 before. Then I rolled over in bed and it just popped and fluid gushed out. I thought I was weeing but couldn't stop, then I realised what had happened.

[Laranna]

My waters broke before contractions started. I was asleep in bed and didn't feel anything other than a slight leak and I remember suddenly waking up thinking "oh crap I'm peeing the bed!" As soon as I stood up, I had a big gush. Didn't feel anything other than wet!

[Cricket]

Ok so waters can break after contractions ..... didn't know that? I always thought your waters break and then contractions start shortly after... So I guess I just wait then....

That's what usually happens, actually. For most women, their water breaks during labour at some point. Occasionally it happens before contractions start, but generally, it's a strong contraction that causes the membranes to rupture. (Or the midwife might break them for you in labour - in my experience, that speeds things up quite a bit, but it doesn't work for everyone, and it does put your labour on a time-line before they want to start antibiotics and augment your labour.)

The really heavy feeling you've got is most likely your baby's head - it's dropped into your pelvis, getting ready to come out! Hurray! If you want to, and can manage around the belly, you can feel your baby's head, in the bath or shower - I find that an amazing thing to touch. (through the vaginal wall/cervix, of course - you won't be actually touching baby's skin just yet) Just make sure you are gentle and have nice clean hands - wash before and after.

All the best for a great delivery!

[MrsB26]

I was already in active labour and my waters broke at the end of a contraction. I didnt have any warning, i was bent over and i felt like a kick down really low on my cervix (which obviously couldnt have been as ds wasnt breach) and then a lovely warm feeling lol. I immediately said that my waters had broke even though i had never felt that before.

[Evie76]

Thanks for OP Prettybutterfly.

I wondered the same thing. My waters broke right before I gave birth last time, so I have no idea what I'm looking for. It's evidently a reasonably significant event. I was worried I'd miss it as my whole pg I've worn a pad because it's always been quite wet down there! (sorry TMI).

Very interesting to see what's happened to so many different people.