If you leak amniotic fluid and your membranes rupture earlier than 37 weeks, and your practitioner determines it's too soon for your baby to be safely delivered, you'll most likely receive antibiotics to ward off infection and may need to be hospitalized. Either way, you’ll likely meet your baby soon! If contractions don't start on their own, your doctor will probably induce labor. If your membranes rupture and you're at least 37 weeks along, your labor is likely to begin on its own within 24 hours.

He or she can help you figure out if your water really has broken and the next steps to take. If you think you’re leaking amniotic fluid at any point during your pregnancy (or even if you suspect you might be but aren’t sure), call your practitioner. What should you do if you’re leaking amniotic fluid?

Prolapse or compression of the umbilical cord if your baby's head is not yet engaged in your pelvis.

Premature labor and birth, which is the major risk of both PROM and PPROM.

Possible medical issues from PROM and PPROM include: But it’s more serious, since it comes with the risk of premature labor and birth before 37 weeks. PPROM is far less common, occurring in about 3 percent of pregnancies. PROM, or leaking amniotic fluid after 37 weeks, occurs somewhere between 8 and 15 percent of pregnancies. It’s not all that common for your water to break before you go into labor. How common is leaking amniotic fluid during pregnancy?

Have chronic vaginal bleeding during your pregnancy.

You may be at increased risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes if you: Preeclampsia: Symptoms, Risk Factors and Treatment Who is at risk of premature rupture of membranes? In most cases of leaking amniotic fluid, the rupture of your amniotic sac is just a prelude to the onset of labor within the next 24 hours. Got doubts about the liquid you're leaking? Call your practitioner to be on the safe side. That’s because when you’re upright, your baby’s head blocks the cervical opening and keeps most amniotic fluid trapped inside. If your water has truly broken, you’ll notice more fluids leaking when you’re lying down than when you’re standing, sitting or walking.

If it smells foul, it may be infected amniotic fluid.

If it has a somewhat sweet smell, it's probably amniotic fluid.If it has an ammonia scent, it's probably urine. If it doesn't smell like ammonia, it's more likely to be amniotic fluid.You can tell whether you're leaking amniotic fluid and not urine by taking the sniff test:

The main symptom of PROM or PPROM to watch out for is the leaking or gushing of fluid from the vagina. Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is when a membrane rupture and leaking of amniotic fluid occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy. What is preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)? Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is the term doctors use when the membrane sac holding your baby and your amniotic fluid breaks open after 37 weeks of pregnancy but before you're actually in labor. What is leaking of amniotic fluid or premature rupture of membranes (PROM)?

Amniotic fluid leak on pad