What happens if your water breaks too early?

If your water breaks before the 37th week of pregnancy, it's known as preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (preterm PROM). Risk factors for water breaking too early include:

• A history of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes in a prior pregnancy
• Inflammation of the fetal membranes (intra-amniotic infection)
• Vaginal bleeding during the second and third trimesters
• Smoking or using illicit drugs during pregnancy
• Being underweight with poor nutrition
• Short cervical length

Potential complications include maternal or fetal infection, placental abruption — when the placenta peels away from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery — and umbilical cord problems. The baby is also at risk of complications due to premature birth.

If you have preterm PROM and you're at least 34 weeks pregnant, delivery might be recommended to avoid an infection. However, if there are no signs of infection or fetal health problems, research suggests that pregnancy can safely be allowed to continue as long as it's carefully monitored.

If you're between 24 and 34 weeks pregnant, your health care provider will try to delay delivery until your baby is more developed. You'll be given antibiotics to prevent an infection and an injection of potent steroids (corticosteroids) to speed your baby's lung maturity. If you're less than 32 weeks pregnant and at risk of delivering in the next few days, you might be given magnesium sulfate to protect the baby's nervous system.

Corticosteroids might also be recommended starting at week 23 of pregnancy, if you're at risk of delivering within 7 days. In addition, corticosteroids might be recommended if you're between weeks 34 and 36 and 6 days of pregnancy, at risk of delivering within 7 days, and you haven't previously received them. You might be given a repeat course of corticosteroids if you're less than 34 weeks pregnant, at risk of delivering within 7 days and a prior course of corticosteroids was given to you more than 14 days previously.

If you're less than 24 weeks pregnant, your health care provider will explain the risks of having a very preterm baby and the risks and benefits of trying to delay labor.