How much time would it take for the labour to set in once my water breaks?

After your water breaks, contractions usually follow within 12 to 24 hours, if they haven't started already. In some circumstances, women have their water break before their bodies are ready to start the labour process. Premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) usually requires induction to move things along. My friend's water broke while she was taking a shower and she didn't realise it till the next morning when her stomach started aching. This happened well beyond 12 hours. Generally a laid-back person, she took her own sweet time with getting ready (taking another shower haha) to get to the hospital. Her husband was more frantic than she was.