Hospital say my waters haven't broken but I'm convinced they have - ways?

[bangbangprettypretty]

Last night I felt a snap, stood up and leaked fluid down my legs, over the rug and through my knickers. I'm 38+2.

Went through four maternity pads overnight. I live around the corner from the hospital so called, then showered and went straight in today. They tested the fluid but said it must be discharge.

It was straw coloured, smelled of spunk (frankly!) and had bits of brown blood in. It literally poured down between my legs.

At triage this morning, they said I was having mild contractions but the swab came back as not being amniotic fluid. Anyone else had this? The baby is fine but I'm concerned about infection if it's not got enough fluid in there now. Should I go back? I would rather be at home for most of labour to be honest as it wasn't a very restful experience!

[bangbangprettypretty]

Ffs- WWYD not ways!

[ShelaghTurner]

I did with DD2. I was overdue by about 5 days and walked across the bedroom one morning with fluid running down my legs. Went straight to the assessment unit and they had a look but said it was discharge. It wasn't, there was loads of it. And it wasn't wee either. Heavily pregnant I might have been but I wasn't stupid! But they sent me home and I went into labour 48 hours later. They weren't fussed at all but I was worried about infection too. Didn't really know what to make of it but dd was fine. Sorry, not much help.

[OpalIridescence]

When you went in did they check the position of the baby?
I ask that because it turned out with me that the forewaters had gone but the babies head had totally plugged the waters behind.
Apparently this was due to the baby being back to back ( all explained after a missed back to back labour ).

Exactly as you describe with a snap sensation and then leakage.
Might be worth them checking the baby position, I hope it all goes well

[Wait4nothing]

I'd go back and say your worried - ask to be checked again by someone else. They should take you seriously due to the risk of infection

[OpalIridescence]

How you doing bang?

[bangbangprettypretty]

Thanks all - they did check the baby's position but didn't comment.

I've started having watery pink blood and mucus so I think labour is around the corner...

[Naughtyfrog]

Hi OP, hope you are doing okay and labour is progressing. Just in case you are still waiting when ny waters broke, I went to hospital, MW didn't believe my husband or I as there was no continued leak - we were in no doubt as there was so much fluid it was not me wetting myself! They gave me an ultrasound to check and my waters had broken, but babies head had dropped and plugged the hole (position was normal, not back to back).
Maybe ask for an ultrasound to check?
Good luck

[bangbangprettypretty]

Thanks naughtyfrog! I rang triage last night as I was soaking through pads with pink fluid but they weren't concerned and said it could be A WEEK before anything happens !

[Naughtyfrog]

Eek 😬. Hope it all goes okay, keep harassing them if you're still worried. Does your maternity ward have a self referred assessment unit?
Good luck and keep us updated x

[DoctorMonty]

It's hard to tell whether waters have gone sometimes; the tests aren't very good and as has been mentioned, the baby's head can plug the hole. Seeing fluid on ultrasound doesn't mean they haven't gone.

But - if you're sure and you keep losing water (it sounds pretty clear cut) then you need another assessment, it's not OK to just say "it might be a week", they should offer you augmentation (getting labour started with a drip) even if you choose not to have it.

[Finelinebetweenchaos]

I had something similar OP - it turned out it was cervical weeping - when the cervix softens and the collagen basically dissolves. It can be quite a lot of fluid. That said, if it is pinky then it's more likely to be your waters!

I had the cervical weeping with both of my pregnancies and went into labour within 48 hours both times. My waters broke at the start of both labours so it definitely wasn't my waters before that.

If you are worried then get back down to triage. It could be that you did have weeping but now your waters have gone!

[OpalIridescence]

I would second going back and asking to be checked again.

I don't think you should wait up to a week, even when they didn't believe my waters had broken they told me to come back in 24 hours if labour had not started to put me on drip.
No drama but might be worth another opinion. Good luck

[HelenaJustina]

I'd second going and getting checked if you are concerned.

My Dsis had her waters go but the hospital didn't believe her/check her thoroughly enough and she went to a routine midwife appointment three days later and then was transferrred by blue light to hospital. She had thought she was coming down with flu but it was a huge systemic infection. She and the baby required a week of IV antibiotics.

[EpoxyResin]

Soaking through pads with pink liquid sounds 100% like waters to me! Not a midwife or in anyway a professional, but that's exactly what my waters were like when they went and the hospital were very clear I would need induction within 48 hours of the leak starting to prevent the risk of infection. As with pp it was my hind-waters and baby's head had plugged the hole except when I moved, so when I rolled over in bed or stood up from lying down.

Don't wait a week - get thee to MAU! And take your hospital bag

[oldbirdy]

With my DS3 my water broke but ds head plugged it soon after. Very different from constant gushing I had the other 2 times my water went with different pregnancies. Luckily as a 3rd time mum they believed me. Definitely don't wait several days; you should really have antibiotics in labour if waters have been broken more than 24 hours before baby is born.

[sycamore54321]

OP in my limited personal experience, the pop/snap clearly indicates waters rupturing. I believe you are right to be concerned. I would go back, ask them to retest and/or scan and also ask them to record the error rate of the amniotic fluid swab (I believe it may be high for false negatives). Ask to see a consultant. Ask for it to be documented on your notes that you have strong reason to believe your waters went at X time, that you are concerned about infection risk and that they sign off that they disagree with your assessment and are refusing to induce. Infection following rupture of membranes is a big risk and can have terrible consequences for both you and the baby. I am not normally one for "trust your instincts above all else" but in this case you are term, there are very limited and controlled risks to inducing or at least keeping you for monitoring and huge risks if they are wrong and send you home.

Best of luck.

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

I had similare with dc4. Mw confirmed liquor. 12 hours later a consultant (who hadn't even seen me) decided it couldn't have been my water. Turns out it was my hindwaters as my forewaters went in the car park the next day. Do

[OpalIridescence]

How are you feeling today, have you been seen again? Hope everything going well for you.

[bangbangprettypretty]

Thanks all, I'm back at the hospital waiting to be triaged - will update when there is a plan!

[OpalIridescence]

Please make sure you tell anyone new you deal with that your waters went three days ago and they need to take that seriously.

If anyone tells you your waters are intact smack them round the chops with a wet maternity pad untill they change their mind.

Best of luck!

[Frazzled2207]

Good luck

[Reluctant2ndtimer]

Please stand your ground OP. My sil best friend was back and forth from hospital for a week as the midwife didn't believe her that her waters had gone. Her poor DS is brain damaged as a result. I don't want to worry you unduly as you and your baby are most likely perfectly fine but you know your own body best. Best of luck.

[WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup]

Good luck! X

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

How's it going Bang?

[bangbangprettypretty]

Thanks to you all I'm in the hospital halfway through an induction!

So grateful for your encouragement. Sending UnMNy hugs!