Breaking the Waters

In a Nutshell

Around 12 days after conception, an amniotic sac forms in your uterus. This amniotic sac is where your baby will live for the duration of your pregnancy. This amniotic sac is full of water, which helps cushion your baby and the umbilical cord. Most bags break on their own at some point before or during labor, but some providers may offer to break the bag in labor to help “speed things up”.

Dig Deeper

At some point in your pregnancy, your amniotic sac will rupture, or your water will break. Ideally, this happens when you are >37 weeks pregnant and usually happens either while you are in labor or soon before labor starts.

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Waters Break On Their Own

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Waiting 48-72 hours - “With proper care, waiting for up to 48-72 hours after the water breaks does not increase the risk of infection to babies who are born to people that meet certain criteria.”
Role of amniotic sac - “The amniotic sac and fluid play an important role in facilitating birth and protecting the baby. There is no evidence that rupturing this sac will reduce the length of labour.”
Antibiotics - “If there are no signs of infection, antibiotics should not be given to either the woman or the baby, even if the membranes have been ruptured for over 24 hours.”