Coat water breaking: understanding waters breaking in pregnancy

Fluid may come as a sudden gush or a slow, continuing trickle. Contact your maternity unit promptly if you think this has happened, even when contractions have not started.

The membranes form a protective sac containing amniotic fluid. Once they open, fluid can leak through the vagina. It is often clear or pale, cannot be deliberately held in like urine, and may keep dampening underwear or a pad.

Urine and increased vaginal discharge can feel similar, so appearance alone cannot always confirm what the fluid is. A maternity clinician can assess the leak, your stage of pregnancy, the baby's wellbeing, and whether labour is beginning.

Note when the leaking began and observe the fluid's colour, smell, and approximate amount. Use a sanitary pad rather than a tampon, and avoid putting anything into the vagina until you have received maternity advice.

Call your maternity unit or labour ward and follow its instructions about assessment. Keep your pregnancy notes available and mention contractions, pain, feverishness, bleeding, or any change in the baby's usual movements.

Seek urgent maternity care if the fluid is green, brown, bloody, or unpleasant-smelling; if you have vaginal bleeding, severe or constant abdominal pain, fever, feel very unwell, or notice reduced or absent baby movements.

Possible waters breaking before the pregnancy has reached term also needs prompt assessment because it can accompany preterm labour. If you can feel or see the umbilical cord in the vagina, call emergency services immediately and do not try to push it back.

You may want to ask how the leak will be checked, whether you and the baby need monitoring, what signs of infection to watch for, and what the plan is if contractions do not begin. Ask whom to contact if the colour, smell, or amount of fluid changes after assessment.