How do I tell the difference between leaking "waters" and discharge?

[Amani]

Can I just ask - how do you know if your waters are leaking as opposed to havng a discharge?

Was reading about the signs of labour and read that waters can trickle slowly aswell (didn't know that - sorry to sound a bit thick) as well as come quickly out?

Been having this dampness feeling downstairs (sory if this is TMI), which I always believed to be dischatge (am 37+ 1 wks) but after finding out the about getting a little paranoid.

[zisforzebra]

If i remember correctly, waters smell sweet. Hopefully someone will be along to confirm that though!

[chankins]

Hi - I only had the experience of waters breaking with my third child as the other two popped in labour - but it was a weird feeling a bit like wetting yourself a tiny bit ! I wasn't sure for ages if it was the waters, as it was so subtle, but eventually I was sat on loo, trickling away, so knew it wasn't anything else ! Sorry if TMI !

[Cryptonomicon]

Sorry for the TMI but my midwife said that generally speaking waters will soak into a pad whereas discharge will sit on top.

[LittleB]

The best thing to do is pop into your local hospital, they can do a quick swab which will let you know. I had a really slight leak, not even a trickle but dampness, spoke to my midwife who said to pop in to hospital, the midwife there said it did't look like I had a leak(?!) but would do a swab to check (not painful) and I did have a leak. I then went home and had to take my temperature every 4 hours to check for infection. I was induced a couple of days later. But I was 38+3 then and had started irregular contractions and had a show. Best to get it checked though, it doesn't take long and will put your mind at rest.