Hollywood tells the stories we come to believe in and expect in real life. We’ve all watched the scene in movies: a pregnant woman gasps, grabs her belly, and—SPLAT!—a dramatic gush hits the floor. Cue panic. People rush to help, slipping and sliding in comedic chaos. The message is clear: the baby is coming. It’s thrilling, scary, and oddly hilarious.
That’s what I expected. But that’s not what happened.
Pregnancy #1: The Silent Leak
With my first baby, I didn’t get the big Hollywood moment. I actually ran out of fluid and had to be induced. I’d imagined a mop-worthy puddle and a mad dash to the hospital, but my experience was quieter—more confusing. Looking back, I probably had a slow leak. No cinematic SPLAT, no scene change. Just some missed cues and a very different ending.
Pregnancy #2: Too Early to Be True
My second time around? It was the opposite—traumatic, sudden, and way too early.
At just around 24 weeks, I felt a rush of fluid I couldn’t stop. It was as if a faucet had turned on—and wouldn’t shut off. My brain couldn’t compute what was happening. It wasn’t time. This wasn’t the moment. I was supposed to fly to Florida the next morning.
Instead, I was sent to the hospital, where I learned the truth: my water had broken. And just like in the movies, everyone started rushing. But this time, there was no humor in the room. No laughter. Just fear. Urgency. And the fragile hope that my baby might stay safe a little longer.
Why Do We Still Sign Up for This?
We dream of spa births and soft music. Warm tubs, gentle back massages. Partners whispering encouragement. But the truth? Many of us never get that version. And still, we come back. Still, we say: “Sign me up.”
Maybe that’s why moms don’t always share the gritty truth. We don’t want to scare others off. We need each other in the trenches of motherhood. Misery might love company—but so does courage.
We watch our own mothers and make vows:
“I’ll be just like her.”
or
“I’ll never raise my child that way.”
It’s not about winning. It’s about raising children who can go out into the world and make it better. We need more changemakers. And mothers help create them.
Go With the Flow
So when your water breaks—whether early, late, or not at all—go with the flow.
Literally. Metaphorically. Spiritually.
We’re so quick to want to mop up the mess. But what if that moment is sacred? What if it’s a doorway, not just a disaster? What if we slowed down and gave thanks, even in the fear, even in the unknown—trusting that God works all things for the good of those who love Him?
Sometimes the scariest breaks in life lead to the deepest breakthroughs.
There’s a place for you. Waste no more time.
~Sharon Rose
This post is a personal story, not medical advice. If you’re concerned about preterm labor or symptoms like leaking fluid, please seek professional medical care.
Hope on a Swing™ 