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Ask A Doula
Questions and Answer

Q. How will I know when my water is broken and what do I do? You hear so many goofy stories about carrying pickle jars around and no one has practical advice anymore!

A. PICKLE JARS! I haven't heard that one! Many times the water does not break until a woman is dilated to about 7-10 centimeters (and that is usually because of the increase in pressure.)

When the membranes rupture spontaneously at home, before labor begins, it often feels like water is just dripping down your legs. You just can't seem to stay dry. Sometimes it is a huge gush, other times it is just a trickle. Labor will usually begin within 24 hours after this event. The best thing to do is stay well hydrated, drinking lots of water and other fluids, to stay clean, by wiping carefully and fully from front to back, and being in touch with your caregiver or doula. Taking your temperature every few hours will keep you on top of any infection that might be brewing. Although wearing a pad seems the logical thing to do, it's better not to. Allowing air to get to your bottom is more important than holding a pad up to your bottom that will, in fact, increase the risk of infection. It is okay to shower.

When the membranes are ruptured, the protection around the baby is gone. Anything going into the vagina carries with it germs from the outer labia which are to be avoided. A baby without that protection is now open to the possibility of infection.

When membranes are ruptured labor can become more intense. Much like when you hit someone underwater it doesn't hurt very much, but then outside the water, it does. When the bag of water presses against the cervix during contractions it is not as intense as when it is the baby's head (or buttocks) itself that does that.

Rather than carrying a pickle jar around, you might want to consider carrying some disposable chair pads (chux pads - waterproof pads) around. You might want to take extra care prenatally to eat well, with lots of protein, salt, Vitamin C and calcium to help build strong membranes.

Ilana Stein has been working professionally with pregnant women since 1983 as a childbirth educator, labor assistant and breastfeeding consultant. She was originally certified by the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth (The Bradley Method), The Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE), and Doulas of North America (DONA). She teachs the ALACE Labor Assistant training workshop nationwide. She has spoken at conferences and at the New York University Graduate Program in Midwifery about labor support. She is a Positive Pregnancy and Parenting Fitness (PPPF) instructor and La Leche League Leader. She is also a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor at the local YMCA. She volunteers as the coordinator of the annual New York Area YM-YWCA Women’s Wellness Weekend.