How to Make Your Water Break

This article was co-authored by Susannah Kerwin, ANP-BC, HNP. Susannah Kerwin is a board certified Adult Nurse Practitioner in New York, New York. With over 10 years of experience, Susannah specializes in adult primary care, holistic medicine, and women’s healthcare. Susannah holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco. She obtained her MSN from New York University’s (NYU) unique dual degree program combining integrative and allopathic disciplines. Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Susannah worked for more than ten years as a Registered Nurse in psychiatric and surgical settings. Susannah also serves as an adjunct faculty member for NYU.

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Are you near or past your due date and want your water to break? If you are pregnant, there are several reasons you may want to encourage your water to break. Even if you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy and are ready to go into labor, it’s best to take extra precautions when considering lifestyle and medical methods to break your water. Always talk to your obstetrician, midwife, or a trusted medical professional before going through with any methods to encourage your water to break. If you get the okay, consult this article for different lifestyle changes or medical procedures you can ask about to help your water break! [1] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source

Sit on an exercise ball and gently bounce. Keep your legs apart and move your body up and down to help your pelvic floor contract and relax. Alternatively, perform a supported squat by positioning your back against a wall with your legs apart, then bending your knees and lowering your body as far as it is comfortable.

See your obstetrician or midwife.

Ask them if they recommend natural methods for breaking your water. It's important that you only try these approaches with the okay of your medical professional. Some of these methods could cause your labor to start rapidly, which could lead to complications if you haven't consulted your doctor first. [2] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source

• 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.
• If this is your 2nd or 3rd pregnancy, and labor for those first two was fast, be sure you're within a reasonable distance to your OB. [3] X Expert Source

Go for a walk.

Walking encourages your baby to move down to your pelvis. This puts pressure on your pelvis, which can get your cervix ready for labor and help your water break. [4] X Expert Source

• Take an easy walk of no more than 30 minutes at a time to stimulate the baby to move. 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.

Do other exercises.

Try deep breathing, sitting on an exercise ball, or supported squats. For exercises to encourage your water to break, your cervix needs to be soft and ready to be dilated on its own. In other words, your body has to already be preparing for labor for these methods to work. If your cervix and body are ready, low-impact exercises can encourage your water to break and start up contractions. [6] X Research source

• Try deep breathing exercises. Hold your breath and exhale slowly through your mouth, imagining the baby being pushed down into your pelvis. Repeat until you feel your pelvic floor muscles relax.
• Sit on an exercise ball and gently bounce. As you sit, keep your legs apart and move your body up and down on the ball. This can help your pelvic floor contract and relax.
• Supported squats stretch the pelvic floor, helping your baby move down towards your pelvis. Position your back against the wall and keep your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees and lower your body as far as is comfortable. Exhale as you lower your body and inhale as you stand up again.
• Once you start having contractions, your doctor will coach you through specific breathing techniques that might involve holding your breath for a few seconds as you push. [7] X Expert Source

Have sex.

If you’re comfortable, having sex at 39 to 40 weeks can be a great help. Sex stimulates the hormone oxytocin, which also causes contractions. An orgasm can also encourage your uterus to contract if your body is already ready to go into labor on its own. Consider deeply penetrating positions such as cowgirl or from behind. [8] X Expert Source

• Avoid having sex once your water is broken. This can introduce harmful bacteria into the birth canal. [10] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source