Have my waters just broke?

[jellybelly85]

Morning ladies!
39w tomorrow... Felt a weird 'popping' sensation mid-belly this morning which I've never felt before. Got up, fed dog, done normal first morning pee... However this has been followed by 2 extra small gushes / leaks which have led me to run back to the toilet. Not dark coloured (as is expect from morning pee), and no particular smell (which again I would expect from morning pee).

I'm not normally a pee-leaker... Just wondering if this could be my waters breaking?!

[jellybelly85]

Ooh, bit of red streaked discharge...

[NamelessEnsign]

Exciting . Could be, by the sound of it!

My waters with DC2 broke mid afternoon, but with a distinctive gush down to my knees. I needed to go in for monitoring due to a pre-existing condition. As is common, MWs didn't believe me about the waters. Labour hadn't started at that point.

My waters went another time during monitoring (thankfully) and then continued to gush. Most unpleasant feeling ever (I sulked a lot). I started with rhythmic tightenings around 6pm, stronger by 9pm when I was finally admitted for observation (still didn't believe me about being in active labour). DC2 arrived a couple of hours later .

If you only had a couple of gushes, there may be more to come. Make a note of the time, let the midwife know. Get ready with pads and dry clothes and your labour bag!

I'd recommend keeping hold of the leaked-upon clothes/a pad. Waters are quite distinctive and you may need it as evidence!

The stats are quite interesting to read; a high percentage of labours start naturally within 48 hours of waters going.

[bittapitta]

Yes definitely sounds like it. Mine was a trickle not a gush and I wasn't sure until midwife confirmed it. Note the time they probably broke as they don't like you to go longer than 24 hours without progress because of risk of infection. Contractions might start soon but if not phone the delivery ward for advice.

[sparklytree]

Sounds very similar to when my waters broke - lots of little leaks/short gushes. Good luck!

[BikeRunSki]

Yes, they could have. Ring the labour ward. If they have gone, then you bus have an increased risk of infection, so they and you will need a "Plan B" to get your baby out if labour doesn't start spontaneously.

[Clairily]

(Assuming your baby was head down at your last midwife check) Put a pad on, walk around a bit and if it gets wet then it's likely that your waters have broken. It should be clear fluid and it doesn't have much of a smell. A few streaks of mucosy blood are also normal. Take any wet pads with you to hospital and then you can show them the evidence and hopefully avoid a speculum examination!
Call them sooner if you are worried about baby's movements.

[jellybelly85]

Blooming nora - eeek! I've just put a pad on hoping if it happens again I can 'capture' the evidence.

Had lots of random BH over the past few days but nothing regular or painful yet. Hips seem to have had an extra dose of relaxin during the past 24 hrs. I think I'll wait for another gush and then call in for advice from hospital. Does that sound sensible?

Bloody typical that the car is in the garage (today of all days). Only waiting for a non-essential part to be fitted so may ask for it to be returned...

[bloodymaria]

Yes it sounds like things are starting! Same thing happened to me in the middle of the night, followed by a much bigger gush the following lunchtime. Phone your maternity ward, they may want to see you soon. All the very best!!

[NamelessEnsign]

Good luck! Oh of course the car is in 😀. Mine was up on the rack with no wheels on when labour with DC1 began!

[CornishTea]

I think so! How far is the hospital? Can someone take you?

[jellybelly85]

So I've just called Maternity unit - they want to see me to verify if waters have broken. Figure I can get a taxi to the garage and pick up car on my way to the hospital (30 mins drive). New to the area so no one I can ask to take me really! Slightly unreal that this could be the start of things kicking off (nervous first timer).

[CornishTea]

Oh how exciting. I remember it well, also did it alone as a first timer. My hospital were wonderful.

Good luck OP

[NamelessEnsign]

Good plan. Don't panic. It may take some time for things to get going, but they will. Try to keep moving and walking around as much as possible, and also rest when you can. Hospital will likely send you home again so you can get started in peace. This is a good thing :)

[2nds]

Definitely sounds like things are happening Good luck

[2nds]

Have you got your hospital bag packed? Don't forget to bring your phone and charger with you.

[jellybelly85]

Contractions appear to have kicked off! Roughly every 10 mins so far, not too painful and lasting less than a minute (bloody love the TENS machine).

I do have my DP with me, so not alone. Glad to have someone as feel today is going to be quite exciting/emotional/scary/everything.

Bag is packed and ready. Going to head out in about an hour unless things get serious before then.

Thank you for your kinda words/advice!!

[Primaryteach87]

Good luck!! My waters broke first. Just to warn you, I had small gushes and the one huge gush an hour later that was proper 'burst a pipe' style!
So definitely take towels to sit on!

Also my contractions took almost 20 hours to start (the give you max 24 to be in established labour). I was starting to worry but it happened eventually. Xxx

[jellybelly85]

[NamelessEnsign]

Oh wow how speedy! Good luck :)

Just remember that at some point the contractions will feel unmanageable. Hopefully that will be the point at which you're nearly done! Don't panic, and try to get ahead of your contractions with your breathing and the TENS.

[GlitteryFluff]

Ohh exciting! Good luck!

[CornishTea]

Dont forget your notes & baby car seat!

[MummaGiles]

Good luck! I remember the sensation of my waters popping in the middle of the night when I was awake with insomnia. It was the one night that I had gone to bed with a towel, and good things too because it gushed! I knew something was happening - had some BHs the evening before. A friend's water leaked very slowly for days before she realised that was what it was, not just pregnancy incontenance!

[MyBreadIsEggy]

How exciting
Keep us posted OP a everyone loves a good birth thread!!
My waters broke first too, but I didn't go into labour so had to be induced. Sounds promising that you're having regular contractions

[Ilovenannyplum]

Ooohhh this is exiting! Good luck OP!

My waters went at 5am, I was cuddling DS by 4pm and I was back home by 11pm, 9 days early and first labour

[jellybelly85]

ilovenannyplum that sounds like the kind of labour I would like, pretty please!

Waters confirmed to have broken, all fine at hospital. Been sent home to relax and go with the flow. Still talking through contractions and they're not regular or painful enough to indicate baby is coming soon.