Waters breaking - probably a stupid question

[Msbluesky32]

I wasnt sure if I should put this in Pregnancy or Childbirth...so my apologies if its in the wrong place!
How much water is there when the waters break? Is it a lot? Im just trying to work out how to protect the bed incase it happens at night... I think I might buy a waterproof sheet.
Im 32 weeks now. Is there a time when I should start wearing uber thick maternity pads in preparation? Or is this just not going to do anything anyway?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

It depends if babies head us blocking them or not. When mine went I felt a pop, and then they seeped. There was no gush like in movies.

Having said that, get a waterproof mattress protector on, and a puddle pad in the car, as everyone is different, and there is no harm in being prepared.

[MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel]

It depends really, with ds my waters went everywhere, with dd1 they didn't go at all, with dd2 there was a little bit and then a huge burst later and with dd3 there was a slow trickle for hours.

I would either get a matress protector or sleep on towels at nights, but there is every chance they could go in the middle of B&Q (as happened to my friend) rather than in your bed.

[Florin]

Mine popped in the night and it was a massive amount! I had kids disposable bed wetting mats which worked fine. You wouldn't want to wear maternity pads until necessary and I don't think it would do a lot anyway. When mine went dh grabbed a huge bath towel and folded that up and I stood over that. I honestly thought they would never stop gushing. I tried wearing pads to get to hospital but they made little difference. Good thing about the pack of disposable bed wetting pads is that you can use them in the car too for getting to hospital. At least mine went at home my sisters went in Waitrose and she was wearing light jeans and she had to an embarassing walk out of the store dripping water!

[notso]

When might went with DD there was a tiny popping sensation and a patch of water about the size of a two pound coin in my knickers.
With DS2&3 there was a massive squelching sound and gallons of water when I stood up, I soaked through all my maternity pads and went through all the trousers I'd packed in my hospital bag!

On the other hand they had to be broken with DS1 so there might not be any.

I would just buy some of those disposable mats for your mattress and keep one near the bed to stand on if they go in bed. Probably useful to keep one in the car and maybe a couple of pads in your bag just in case.

[Indith]

I'd pop a bedwetter mat on your bit of teh bed just in case but they might not even go until your are well on in labour anyway.

[Msbluesky32]

Thank you ladies These are all very good tips. I hadnt thought about the car!

[mameulah]

When my waters broke I was already 7cm dilated, and there was a big woosh like you see in the movies. We bought a waterproof sheet for our bed and even if you don't need it for when your waters break it will be good for leaking boobs and if/when your baby is sick.

[temporary]

In my experience, the fluid is too slippery and copious, so runs off the pad, so they aren't much use unless you are trickling.

[neolara]

I would buy a waterproof sheet for your bed. And sit on a towel in the car.

[fathergoose]

My water broke during the night and our bed survived with no protection :)

I wouldn't worry too much: it's actually only a fairly small number of women whose water breaks at the 'first' sign of labour (despite what the writers of every TV program or movie seem to think...): you're more than likely to already be in labour and so expecting it.

Wouldn't bother with pads: if it's more than a trickle they're unlikely to help anyway, plus you'll have enough time enjoying wearing nappies after birth...

[fathergoose]

(because of the lochia that is, not anything else!!).

[VisualiseAHorse]

I put a 'maternity mat' under the bedsheet during the last month. There was also one on the couch and one on the passenger seat of the car.

My waters did break at night - woke at 2am and thought I'd wet myself. Waddled along to the bathroom and halfway down the hallway 'WOOSH' loads came out. Stuck my hands in between my legs and ran to the loo! Shouted for OH to bring clean pants and a pad. Ended up wrapped up in a blanket, sitting on a towel - waters leaked for about 1.5 hours (used about 5 pads, and soaked 2 huge towels!) Then they suddenly stopped, as baby had 'dropped'. Went back to bed after phoning midwife, mum and sister and woke at 6am with contractions.

I was surprised at just how much there was. Sitting on the loo, it just kept coming for about 10 minutes.

[ShowOfHands]

With dd they went on the sofa, massive pop and whooosh. There was loads and loads and loads. I was in labour for 30hrs and lost water for at least the first 12 hours until dd's head dropped and got stuck preventing any more water.

With ds they went in bed and though it wasn't the massive initial loss, I had several biggish gushes between then and when I finally had an emcs 38hrs later. Maternity pads did bog all. I got through a lot of trousers until I gave up entirely and sat on a towel.

I was one of those people who had her waters break as the first sign both times.

[Msbluesky32]

I havent even tried the uber pads yet, they look huge. Im sure they do a good job after the baby is born but they are so big right now!

[Radiator1234]

Everyone is different but my waters broke in bed 4 am ish I had a maternity mat under the sheet for a few weeks before. The waters kept coming when I had heavy contractions so by lunch time I'd gone through a pack of maternity towels and all my maternity jeans/ trousers were soaked.... Wasn't ideal. However I don't think any of my friends had this....

[MrsHBaby3]

I'd wait until closer to due date, maybe 37/38 weeks then put pad under sheet (the plastic ones are too hot on top). I've got a washable bedwetting sheet thing and sit on folded up blanket in car.

Wirh DC1 I had the huge gush in bed, wirh DC2 they only went minutes before he was born. Chances are with DC3 my waterbirth I won't even know they've gone!

[LindaL19]

aw bless your heart my dear!
my friend had the same worry, she got some brollysheets mattress pads in the end but found she was fine and didn't need them in the end
hope all goes well with baby

[eltsihT]

When my waters broke there was only a trickle as my son was born there was a huge gush... Midwife had to dodge out the way... I couldn't believe a) how much there was and b) how well she dodged!

[EmpireBiscuit]

As everyone has said it can be all different! My forewaters trickled but my hind waters went with a big gushing pop!

[OneSliceOfSwissCheese]

My waters went with a massive gush. Luckily I was in the privacy of my own home at the time and not doing a bit of shopping in town! I was shocked how much water there was and how long it leaked out for.
I wasn't in bed at the time, but did have a waterproof protector on the bed from about 35 weeks as I was worried about ruining our new matress. I was very hot in bed though as it was plastic, so I am interested to see other posters suggestions of alternatives.
Good luck :)

[squidkid]

Mine broke in the middle of the night, dramatically, but I had time to flee to the toilet - I thought I needed a wee until I sat up and thought, that is NO WEE! Covered the bathroom but bed was fine. I didn't have a mattress protector on.

NO maternity pads would have helped.

I think only 10% of women have waters breaking as first sign of labour though. And lots of them have a trickle rather than a gush.

Also if your waters break in a shop you might get lots of freebies!! (So the urban myth goes...)

[Msbluesky32]

Thanks! It's just one of those things that you know might not happen but you'd like to prepare for - but with no idea of what it's like having never experienced it! I've only 4 weeks to go until my due date now, i really can't wait :-)