Q: How long after the water breaks is the baby born?

A: That can be extremely variable. Some women's water will break, even before labor begins. Therefore, as we discussed previously, it may be anywhere from two to more than 24 hours before the baby comes. At the other extreme, the water may break as the baby is literally being pushed out. So you can see, there is no rule about how long it takes to deliver after the water breaks.

• What is the shortest period of time you know between the first sign that my body is going into labor to the moment I meet my baby?
• What are some of the first signs of labor?
• How can I tell if my water has broken?
• How common is false labor? How do I know if I am experiencing false labor or real labor?
• What are the three stages of labor?