If your water breaks, lie down flat, elevate your hips, and call 120 — don’t walk around or take a shower

8. If your water breaks, lie down flat, elevate your hips, and call 120 — don’t walk around or take a shower

Cost: No cost at all

In plain terms: If your water breaks, there’s no time to calmly gather your things and head out. The right thing to do is lie down right where you are, raise your hips, and call 120 immediately. Walking around while standing up causes amniotic fluid to leak even faster, and the umbilical cord can be pulled out along with it. This is a life-threatening emergency for the baby.

Benefit: This is exactly what the Beijing Municipal Health Commission recommends: “Immediately lie down flat to prevent further loss of amniotic fluid,” “Do not walk around casually,” and “Call emergency services at 120 right away.” While waiting for help, inform family members so they can bring necessary items to the hospital. Medical sources further explain why this is essential: when a person stands, amniotic fluid drains much more quickly, increasing the risk of umbilical cord prolapse — a critical emergency for the fetus. Therefore, lying down and elevating the hips is crucial; a left-side lying position is ideal.

Evidence grade: B

Notes: The three main signs of impending labor are regular contractions, vaginal bleeding, and water breaking. With the first two, you can still prepare calmly, but water breaking demands immediate action: lie down and call for help. Common mistakes include showering, squatting on the toilet, or driving yourself to the hospital. Be sure to note the exact time water broke and its color; tell the doctor if it appears yellow-green or contains meconium, as this indicates fetal distress and oxygen deprivation. If you also experience regular contractions, a marked drop in fetal movement, fever, or chills, emphasize that this is a true emergency.

Sources: Beijing Municipal Health Commission. Weekly first aid topic: What should expectant mothers do if their amniotic fluid breaks prematurely? <https://wjw.beijing.gov.cn/bmfw_20143/jkzs/jzjj/202001/t20200115_1575632.html>; Beijing Shunyi District Maternal and Child Health Hospital. What should I do if my water breaks at home in late pregnancy? <https://www.bch-syfy.cn/Html/News/Articles/9453.html>