Make Your Water Break

Are you near the end of your pregnancy or in labor and want your water, or amniotic sac, to break? Many women may want to have their water break to get the process of labor started. They may also want ongoing labor progress more rapidly. However, it’s advisable to leave the amniotic sac unbroken if possible. This can prevent pain during labor and minimize the risk of conditions such as cord prolapse. Speak with your doctor to see if breaking your water is an option. If you are healthy, you can promote your water breaking by using lifestyle methods or having a medical professional open the amniotic sac.[1]

Steps

Getting Your Water to Break Naturally

  1. See your obstetrician or midwife. Before attempting any type of technique to break your water, speak with your doctor or other medical professional. They can let you know if you are healthy enough to try techniques such as having sex. Not consulting your doctor could lead to rapid start of labor, which can cause complications.[2]
    • Ask your doctor if lifestyle methods or medical techniques are best for your pregnancy.
    • Avoid trying to break your water or induce labor before 39 weeks of pregnancy.
  2. Go for a walk. Walking may get your water to break and induce labor.[3] Go for an easy walk of no more than 30 minutes at a time to stimulate the baby to move, which may make your water break.[4] Remember not to strain or stress yourself when walking, even if you are excited to get labor started.
    • Wear supportive shoes to cushion your feet and legs from unnecessary strain. Stick to flat surfaces if you can.
  3. Do other exercises. Although not proven, other forms of exercise may also help break your water. Try another type of low impact cardio to make your water break.[5] Some examples include:[6]
    • Five minutes of deep squats
    • Sitting on a yoga ball and gently rolling the pelvis in circles
    • Lunges
    • Walking stairs[7]
    • Sitting upright and butterflying your legs
  4. Have sex. Although you may not feel like having sex at 39 or 40 weeks, it may be the best way to induce labor and break your water. In fact, labor is common within one week of having sex. If you are comfortable enough, have sex at least once a day, which may make your water break. Consider deeply penetrating positions such as cowgirl or from behind. These may better stimulate your cervix and get the prostaglandins from sperm to induce labor.[8]
    • Avoid having sex once your water is broken. This can introduce harmful bacteria into the birth canal.[9]
  5. Massage your nipples. If you’re hoping to start or already are in labor, use nipple stimulation to further progress your labor. Rub your nipples and areola between your forefinger and thumb, which mimics the how a baby nurses. Ask your partner for help if that is more comfortable for you.[1] This can also make your water break because it release oxytocin, which causes your uterus to contract.[5]
    • Recognize that it may require significant nipple stimulation to start labor.
  6. Eat foods that promote labor. Although there is little medical evidence for them, some foods may help break your water and induce labor. Try eating spicy foods such a hot peppers or curries and pineapple if you want to get your labor started.[1] Some other foods that may make your water break include:[10]
    • Eggplant
    • Balsamic vinegar
    • Licorice[11]
    • Basil
    • Oregano
  7. Consider castor oil. Some women find that taking castor oil can induce labor and make their water break. Talk to your doctor about dosing if you want to try castor oil.[12] Take the castor oil in the morning, as it can cause diarrhea.[5] This also allows you to monitor your symptoms and stay hydrated.[13]
  8. Use herbal supplements with care. Some people may suggest blue cohosh, raspberry tea, or other herbs to get your water to break. There is little evidence these work, and they may also come with unpleasant side effects such as diarrhea. Ask your doctor if these are safe for you and use with caution.[5]
    • Take 3-4 500mg capsules of evening primrose oil if you are at 38 weeks or beyond[14]
    • Make raspberry leaf tea and drink it as you like. This can organize contractions that may help your water break.

Having a Medical Professional Break Your Water

  1. Contact your doctor or midwife. Never try and break your water on your own. If you’ve tried lifestyle techniques, speak to your doctor or midwife about medically breaking your water. Recognize this can come with risks to you and your baby and professionals may only agree to do this in the following cases:[15]
    • You’re almost two weeks beyond your due date
    • You have a uterine infection
    • Your baby has stopped growing at the expected pace
    • There isn’t enough amniotic fluid, also called Oligohydramnios.
    • You have placental abruption where the placenta peels away from the inner wall of the uterus
    • You have high blood pressure or diabetes
  2. Have membrane stripping or sweeping. Your doctor may suggest membrane stripping, or sweeping, if you’re near or past your due date and there isn’t a pressing medical reason to induce your labor. This is a simple in-office medical procedure where the doctor separating your amniotic sac from your uterine walls with their finger. This can also massage or stretch your cervix during this procedure to further promote your water breaking.[16]
    • Recognize that membrane stripping can be uncomfortable and cause lingering cramps. It is also not as effective as other induction techniques.
    • Avoid attempting this at home. Only a trained medical doctor should perform membrane stripping using sterile tools and techniques.
  3. Undergo an amniotomy. If you’re overdue, your cervix is dilated and thinned, or your labor slows once the baby has moved down your pelvis, your doctor or midwife may perform an amniotomy. This procedure is the artificial breaking of the amniotic sac, or water with a special tool. An amniotomy may cause discomfort. Undergoing this procedure will break your water. It may also get your labor going.[17]
    • Allow your doctor to check you and your baby after the amniotomy to ensure the stress of the procedure hasn’t affected you.[1]
    • Recognize this procedure comes with risks including infection, uterine rupture, and increased risk of cesarean birth.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/how-to-break-your-water.html
  2. ↑ http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/how-to-get-your-water-to-break#intro1
  3. ↑ http://www.pregnancy-baby-care.com/articles/1057/preconception/10-ways-to-induce-labor-at-home-naturally.html
  4. ↑ http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/how-to-break-your-water.html
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/how-to-get-your-water-to-break#ways-to-induce3
  6. ↑ https://www.thebump.com/a/exercises-to-help-activate-labor
  7. ↑ http://www.pregnancyrelated.com/safe-exercises-to-induce-labor-naturally/
  8. ↑ http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/how-to-get-your-water-to-break#ways-to-induce3
  9. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/water-breaking/art-20044142
  10. ↑ http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/eating-well/week-39/bring-it-on.aspx
  11. ↑ http://www.obgynnorth.com/patient_education/childbirth_preparation/natural_ways_to_encourage_labor
  12. ↑ http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/castor-oil-labor
  13. ↑ http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/castor-oil-labor
  14. ↑ http://www.newhealthadvisor.com/how-to-break-your-water.html
  15. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/inducing-labor/art-20047557
  16. ↑ http://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/membrane-stripping
  17. ↑ http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Labor-Induction#done
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