During pregnancy, your baby is surrounded and cushioned by a fluid-filled membranous sac called the amniotic sac. Typically, at the beginning of or during labor your membranes will rupture — also known as your water breaking. If your water breaks before labor starts, it's called prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM).

How long after water breaks do you have to deliver?

In cases where your baby would be premature, they may survive just fine for weeks with proper monitoring and treatment, usually in a hospital setting. In cases where your baby is at least 37 weeks, current research suggests that it may be safe to wait 48 hours (and sometimes longer) for labor to start on its own.

What does the phrase my water broke mean?

When your "water breaks," it means your amniotic sac has ruptured and labor is usually imminent (if not already under way).