What Are the Steps to Confirm If My Water Has Broken?

If you think your water has broken, your healthcare provider will follow a few steps to confirm it. First, they will ask you about your symptoms and then do a speculum exam to take a closer look inside your vagina. This helps them see if there is any clear, watery fluid present. Next, they might perform a nitrazine test. For this test, they take a sample of the fluid, place it on a strip of paper, and check for a color change that shows if the fluid is more alkaline—just like amniotic fluid. They may also do a fern test, where a drop of the fluid is placed on a slide. When the fluid dries, it sometimes makes a pattern that looks like fern leaves under a microscope, which is another sign that your membranes have ruptured. Some doctors use additional modern tests (like AmniSure) that look for specific proteins in amniotic fluid. These steps help your doctor determine if your water has broken so they can decide on the best care for you and your baby.