Understanding the Stages of Labor: A Guide for Expectant Mothers

6. When Does the Water Break?

Amniotic fluid is the water that surrounds the baby in the womb. Layers of tissue called the amniotic sac contain the fluid and protect the fetus. When it ruptures or breaks, a woman feels either a gush of fluid from her vagina or an intermittent trickle. For some expectant mothers, the water breaking indicates that labor will begin soon. For others, labor has already begun. Sometimes, labor does not start after the water breaks, and the doctor may choose to induce labor. If the mother’s water has not broken by the time active labor begins, the doctor may perform an amniotomy, a procedure that ruptures the amniotic sac.