✨What should you do when your water breaks?

Think T.A.C.O 🌮

No, not the food, but the acronym!

T: Take note of the time. You will want to share that with your care provider. Each care providers has a window of time they like to see their patients in active labor once waters have ruptured.

A: The amount of fluid. Was it a gush, a trickle or even possibly urine leakage or vaginal discharge?

C: Color. It should be clear or pale yellow. It’s important to note if there’s a dark blackish/green color. This would be meconium which is the baby’s first bowel moment and can indicate fetal distress.

O: Odor. Yup, I am going to ask you to smell it! Some people describe the smell as sweet others say there is odorless. Note if it has a foul smell. This can be an indication of infection and you should let your care provider know right away.

If your water broke before the onset of labor, most people will see contractions start within 24 hours.

If you are already in labor and your water breaks, just note T.A.C.O to share with your provider so they can get a sense of how you and baby are doing.

Final piece of advice about your water breaking, once your membranes are ruptured the barrier of infection has been removed, so limit vaginal exams and anything else that may be going up there.

➡️Education is vital for feeling confident and ready for your upcoming birth. That is why we integrate childbirth education into all our ONLINE and IN PERSON prenatal yoga classes! See you on the mat