When your water breaks, you may be unsure that this is what has happened. It isn't just one gush with no further leakage. While there often is a warm gush, it is usually followed by a slow, steady leak of small amounts of amniotic fluid. Having continuous leakage is a good sign that your water has broken. The fluid is usually clear, though it can be bloody, or yellow- or green-tinged. If you are unsure if your water has actually broken, smell it - it should smell sweet.

Your healthcare provider may have a test done to be sure, such as the nitrazine test, which is when amniotic fluid is placed on a strip of paper and the paper color changes to reflect the pH of the fluid, or you may have the ferning test, where a sample of the fluid is taken from the back of the vagina with a swab and examined under a microscope. Dried amniotic fluid creates a fern pattern, visible under a microscope.