To know if your water has broken, look for these signs:

• You may feel a sudden gush or a slow trickle of fluid from your vagina that you cannot control

• The fluid is usually clear or pale yellow, thin, and odorless—different from urine, which has a distinct smell

• You might hear or feel a small popping sensation or pressure release when the amniotic sac ruptures

• The fluid often leaks more when you stand up compared to sitting or lying down

• The leak continues and may require frequent changing of pads or underwear

• If you are unsure whether the fluid is amniotic fluid or urine, you can put on a clean pad, lie down for 15-30 minutes, then stand up to see if fluid leaks out again. Amniotic fluid will typically leak more when standing

If you suspect your water has broken, contact your healthcare provider promptly. They can confirm it with a physical exam, including a sterile speculum exam, litmus or nitrazine paper test, or a ferning test of the fluid

. Remember, once your water breaks, labor usually starts soon if it hasn’t already

. If labor does not start within a certain time frame, your provider may induce it to reduce infection risk

. In summary, key indicators are an uncontrollable leak of clear, odorless fluid, often accompanied by a popping sensation and increased leakage when standing, but only a healthcare professional can definitively confirm it