There was a memorable moment when I was eight months pregnant, and my water broke during class with 25 high school juniors on just the second day of school. Embarrassing, right? Now that I’m expecting my third child and navigating through a pandemic, I find it amusing that I was ever worried about it. Yet, I truly was.
With my first child, who arrived unexpectedly during a blizzard the day before his due date, I prepared meticulously. I carried around a teal tote bag filled with a beach blanket and a change of clothes, just in case my water broke at work. At home, I had packed my hospital bag weeks prior, including everything I learned in Lamaze: scented lotion, cards for entertainment, multiple outfits, a homemade sock tennis ball for massages, and even photos of happy memories.
When my first child was on the way, I was in the bathroom when I suddenly felt a sensation akin to peeing, even though I thought I was done. I shouted to my husband, “My water just broke!” His response? “Are you sure you’re not just peeing?” I definitely wasn’t.
The second time around with my son, I felt more prepared and experienced. I was convinced my water would break again but thought it would happen right before his due date, so I decided against bringing my beach blanket to school.
On the first day of school, the staff wore matching t-shirts for the freshmen to identify us easily; this year’s design featured a world map. I started the year as a literal globe, with my belly resembling Switzerland’s mountains. A few days before school began, I shared my anxiety about potentially breaking my water in front of my students with my OB. He reassured me that it’s rare for water to break at the start of labor, despite how movies portray it. He suggested that teenagers might surprise me and act maturely in such situations.
On August 22, just three weeks before my due date, I was taking attendance when I suddenly leaned over my desk and gasped, “I think my water just broke.” The students stared at me in shock. “I’m going to the bathroom. Please don’t burn the building down,” I said, quickly making my way down the hall and asking a fellow teacher to supervise my class.
Once in the bathroom, I thought, “This is odd. Maybe I just peed myself. How do I explain this to my students?” I returned to the classroom, saying, “False alarm. Pregnancy is weird.” Two girls exchanged worried glances and said, “Oh good. We were concerned. We were about to check on you but weren’t sure about going into the staff bathroom.”
Then, I felt another gush. Thankfully, it was picture day. “Okay, you all need to head to the lobby for your pictures. You’ll have a substitute when you get back. I’ll see you in three months.” I then made my way to the office, announced I was in labor, and drove home, drenched, wishing I had that beach blanket. I hurried to pack my hospital bag.
Murphy’s Law strikes again. If I had brought that large bag with beach towels, I might have avoided the public spectacle. If I had packed my hospital bag sooner, my son might not have arrived early. But I discovered my doctor was right: my students handled it surprisingly well. They remained calm, and I doubt many understood the significance of my water breaking. Thankfully, I wore black pants, so no one noticed the wetness.
When I returned from maternity leave, they were eager to hear my story. One student who had wanted to speak with his guidance counselor at the beginning of class was disappointed to have missed it. People, including teenagers, can truly surprise you.
So, if you’re fortunate enough to not have to question whether you’re in labor or just experiencing Braxton Hicks, don’t fret about your water breaking in public. It will become a cherished story, a shared memory with those who were there, even if you never see them again. We often romanticize our lives as if we’re the stars of a movie – but in moments like these, you truly are the star. This time around, I will be packing both my emergency bag and my hospital bag well in advance.
For more on pregnancy and home insemination, check out this resource from the CDC. If you’re interested in gaining insights into related topics, you can visit our other blog post here.
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Summary:
A humorous recount of the author’s experience when her water broke in front of a classroom full of high school juniors. Despite initial embarrassment, she found that her students reacted calmly, and the experience turned into a cherished memory. With a mix of preparation and humor, she reflects on the unpredictability of pregnancy and the surprising maturity of teenagers.