What should you know about symptoms for water breaking during pregnancy?

The fluid may keep leaking after you change position, unlike a single episode of urine leakage. It is often clear or pale, but fluid colour and smell can vary. Wetness can also come from urine, normal discharge or mucus, so appearance alone cannot confirm rupture of membranes. The sac around the baby normally contains amniotic fluid; when it opens, the pregnancy may need monitoring for labour or infection. Leakage before labour, especially before the pregnancy is full term, can be linked with preterm labour and should not be watched at home without advice.

Contact your maternity unit or obstetric team immediately for instructions, even if the leak is small or contractions have not started. Wear a clean sanitary pad to observe the colour and amount; do not use a tampon. Note when the wetness began and whether you feel contractions or reduced fetal movement. Avoid putting anything into the vagina and avoid sex until assessed. Do not rely on an online description or home test to decide that the fluid is harmless.

Go to urgent maternity care if the fluid is green, brown, bloody or foul-smelling, or if you have fever, severe abdominal pain, regular contractions, heavy bleeding or feel unwell. Seek immediate help for reduced or absent fetal movement. A visible cord or part of the baby at the vaginal opening is an emergency: call emergency services and follow their instructions while waiting.

Could this fluid be amniotic fluid, urine or discharge? How will you confirm the source? What monitoring do I and my baby need? What signs of infection or labour should prompt a return?