My Water Broke in a Classroom Full of High School Juniors

pregnant woman sitting on bed in blue dress with coffee mug

There’s a memorable moment etched in my mind from when I was eight months pregnant: my water broke in front of a classroom filled with 25 eager but unprepared high school juniors, just two days into the school year. Talk about embarrassing, right?

Now, as I await the arrival of my third child during a pandemic, I can’t help but chuckle at how much that moment once terrified me. Yet, it truly did—more than I’d like to admit.

With my first child, whose due date was April 8, I was caught off guard when he decided to make his entrance a day early during a snowstorm. In the weeks leading up to his birth, I would haul a teal tote bag filled with essentials—a full-size beach blanket and a change of clothes—just in case my water broke while I was at work. At home, I had organized a hospital bag, meticulously following the advice from my Lamaze class: scented lotion, cards for entertainment, outfits for both baby and me, and even a homemade tennis ball roller for massages.

When the big moment finally came with my first child, I was using the restroom when I felt a sensation that made me think I was still peeing, even though I was certain I was done. I called out to my husband, “My water just broke!” He skeptically replied, “Are you sure you’re not just peeing?” I definitely wasn’t.

Fast forward to my second pregnancy, I felt wiser, having gone through it once already. I was confident my water would break again, but I thought my baby boy would arrive right on schedule, so I left the beach blanket behind this time.

At the start of each school year, the staff wears matching t-shirts to help nervous freshmen identify us. In 2019, my shirt featured a map of the world, and I began the year resembling a human globe. Teachers asked about my due date, often surprised to learn I still had three weeks to go—my belly was a sight to behold.

Just days before school started, I voiced my concerns about possibly going into labor in front of students to my OB. “I really worry that my water will break in front of a bunch of immature teenagers, and I’ll never be able to face them again after maternity leave.” He reassured me with scientific explanations about how each pregnancy is different and that it’s rare for water breaking to be the first sign of labor. His parting words were hopeful: “Teenagers might surprise you. They often come together in significant moments.”

I appreciated my OB’s optimism, but I thought to myself, he clearly hasn’t spent enough time with hormonal high schoolers lately.

Then came August 22, three weeks before my due date. I had just settled my students and begun taking attendance when I bent over my desk and gasped, “I think my water just broke.” The students looked at me in shock. “I’m going to the bathroom. Don’t set the school on fire,” I said, quickly making my way down the hall and asking a fellow teacher to watch my class.

However, once in the bathroom, I thought, “This is odd. Maybe I just peed myself—how will I explain this?” So, I returned to the classroom and said, “False alarm. Pregnancy is weird.” The girls exchanged glances, relieved, “Oh good! We were about to come check on you, but we didn’t think we were allowed in the staff bathroom.”

Then, out of nowhere, I felt another gush. Thankfully, it was picture day. I quickly told my students, “Okay, you’re off to get your pictures taken. You’ll have a substitute when you return. I’ll see you in three months!”

After announcing to the office that I was in labor, I drove home, soaked but determined, wishing I had packed that beach blanket. I rushed to finish packing my hospital bag.

Murphy’s Law was in full effect: had I brought my beach blanket, I might have avoided a public mishap. If I had packed my hospital bag, my son might not have been early. Yet, I learned an important lesson: my students remained calm and composed. They didn’t panic, and I’m not even sure many of them knew what it meant for my water to break. Fortunately, I had been wearing black pants, so nothing was visible. No water puddles on the floor like in the movies!

When I returned after maternity leave, my students were genuinely excited to be part of my story. One student, who had asked to speak with his guidance counselor, was disappointed to have missed the moment.

People, even teenagers, can surprise you in the best ways. So if you’re expecting and worrying about your water breaking in public, don’t fret. It will turn into an amusing story and a shared memory, even with strangers you may never see again.

And remember, we often envision ourselves as the star of a movie—but when your water breaks in public, you truly are the star. That’s something to embrace. This time around, I’ll be sure to pack both my emergency water-breaking bag and my hospital bag well in advance.

For more stories and tips on pregnancy, check out this article or explore resources like Make a Mom for fertility insights. You can also find helpful information on home insemination at Hopkins Medicine.

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In summary, my unexpected experience of going into labor in front of students turned into a memorable moment, teaching me that even teenagers can rise to the occasion.

Keyphrase: My Water Broke in Class

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