Leaking waters ???

[Newtothisstuff]

Can anyone explain what it feels like if your waters are leaking ??
Might sound like a silly question!!
I can't quite work out if mine are or not, either that or I've convinced myself to not waste the midwives time in even asking
Sorry for the TMI but in feeling really wet down below, I'm wearing a pad to save me feeling like I've wet myself, it's not an obvious drip or anything just a kinda wet not very secure (if that makes sense) feeling ??
Someone tell me it's an increase in discharge and to man up haha

[DrSeuss]

If you are concerned you must ask someone but chances are that it's either just normal discharge or someone sitting on your bladder!

[Dozeyland]

I've been having the same OP!

[bibbityisaporker]

Ime, you can't feel your waters leaking at all. You will know if its urine by sniffing the pad (sorry tmi).

Please be extremely careful if you suspect waters leaking. Go to your gp and if they try to fob you off, press very hard for a referral to the maternity unit where you can be swabbed with special sticks like long cotton buds which show if you are losing amniotic fluid. And say you know someone whose baby nearly died because she was disbelieved about her waters leaking for 4 days.

[pickledparsnip]

Leaking waters are serious due to risk of infection. Ring your midwife and get her to come & see you to check. Mine were leaking for about 3/4 days before I was believed (and that was after being fobbed off by the hospital. Apparently I'd probably wet myself. Uhm no).

[BellaCB]

I don't want to be a doom-monger or anything but I agree with bibbity, I would get it checked out if you are remotely worried. I was leaking waters for several days, I thought it was the last of my show so didn't raise it to anyone, but it meant my waters were infected and DD was whisked off to NICU the moment as she was born with a severe infection herself.

The chances are its just an increase in discharge, I really wouldn't worry, but I would call the delivery suite and ask for advice. As you sound as though you are near your dd anyway, its always worth checking just for the 1% chance that it is your waters. When you are near your dd then nothing is too silly to ask.

[pickledparsnip]

Bloody hell bibbity, that is fucking horrendous. Women know their own bodies, they should be listened to and respected.

[5madthings]

i agree get it checked out they can test to see if it is you waters and scan to check fluid levels etc, this is something WORTH bothering the midwife about!

[Dozeyland]

I know this sounds silly and tmi. but what 'smell' do you look out for with leaking water as opposed to increased discharge? i'm nearly 33wks with DC2. and just assumed it may be increased discharge :s I suppose it is best to get checked OP

[Flisspaps]

Amniotic fluid is supposed to have a semen-like smell Dozeyland

[Newtothisstuff]

I'm 33 weeks so not too near my DD !! Maybe it is increased discharge I dunno... I can't quite make my mind up.. I'll give the midwife a call first thing and see what she says.. Thanks everyone

[Graciescotland]

My waters went and I was told by the hospital (out of hours number in the notes) that if you were soaking a pad an hour and it doesn't smell of urine it's likely to be amniotic fluid.

Totally agree with what others have said about phoning hospital/ midwife and getting them to check. After soaking through a couple of pads, I was told to go to hospital. They gave me a quick scan to check fluid levels (borderline) and an internal exam (first of pregnancy) apparently it was hard to see anything due to "large pool of water"

I was never made to feel like I was wasting anyone's time and was always told it's better to check and make sure.

[Newtothisstuff]

I just always feel like I'm wasting their time. I only went 2 weeks ago because I was having braxton hicks every 10 minutes for 4 hours.. They will probably think I'm a complete drama queen !!

[BellaCB]

They won't think you are a drama queen - and even if they did, its your baby's health you are worrying about, its far more important than what they think.

[DorisIsWaiting]

iirc amniotic fluid smells sweet. Regardless it's very diferent from urine.

Do not feel worried about contacting the mw that is what they are very much there for, If your waters are leaking you will need acreful monitoring and that is better commenced sooner rather than later.

[Heartbeep]

Definitely give midwife a call. My DD was delivered early due to low fluid levels, it was only discovered by accident (had a scan to determine if baby was breech, she was but levels were low & got lower over just a few days). I didn't think I was leaking, but I was. Get it checked at least then youll know. Good luck.

[Newtothisstuff]

Well I called the midwife she didn't seem too bothered she said its unlikely that they are leaking unless it's gushing ! She said I might have wet myself.. I assured her I definitely hadn't wet myself but she said I'd be fine.. I've got an appointment with my community midwife tomorrow so I'll speak to her as well

[DorisIsWaiting]

That's really not true about the gushing. Mine leaked a little every time I stood up (started on the toilet ) Took 3 goes of standing up sitting down to establish that it was fluid and not wee.

Hope you have a better response from the mw tomorrow keep an eye on the kicks etc.

[Heartbeep]

I had no idea I was leaking. It certainly wasn't gushing in my case. I'm pregnant again at the moment, saw the consultant last week, I'm only 14 weeks but did ask what I should look out for, she said it can go unnoticed very easily & as a result they're going to start scanning me at 32 weeks this time.

[Newtothisstuff]

I'll speak to her tomorrow.. I'm not convinced she wasn't just fobbing me off.. I still think they are leaking a little bit

[BellaCB]

Definitely keep pushing. If you are remotely worried then get them to check. As a few of us have said the risk to your baby if your are leaking is significant, so don't back down. With hindsight I am now quite angry that despite being in and out of my maternity unit over a 24 hour period in early labour not one of the half a dozen mw's I saw asked if I thought I was leaking, or looked at my pad or anything like that. Maybe that's just a hindsight thing and they never actually do that. But I find it so distressing that I saw so many people over such a long time and no one noticed that my waters were leaking, honestly, the thought of how poorly DD would have been if I hadn't gone for an epi and finally been monitored properly (when they could see her heartbeat was very erratic). Next baby, I'm going to press the mw's with every single concern I have, so I can't advise strongly enough that you should press with concerns as well.

Having said that, fingers crossed for you that you aren't leaking yet.

[starlight12]

You should go and get it checked out in triage, sorry to alarm you but I lost my baby last week because I was leaking for a day.

[BellaCB]

Oh, starlight, I am so so sorry for you loss hugs

[Newtothisstuff]

Sorry starlight must be terrible

Went to my own midwife earlier she swabbed me to check for the leaking waters although she said it didn't seem like it which is good..