dumb question about waters going

[silverfishlondon]

So I havnt really got a clue..

Is it like ..a puddle?
This can happen any time right, like when your out and about, or will you get contractions first? I have heard of friends going when she was at work teaching a class! Do people usually wear pads as due date approaches in preparation?

Also didn't realise about needing pads for days after birth till I read mumsnet, people dont talk about this stuff!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Mine were popped in labour both times. I think something like only 16 percent of women experience the "expected" waters going.

Yy to pads - Im on day 12 post birth and still needing pads, though the flow is much much lighter so ive swapped to Always.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Oh and no I didnt wear anything just incase.

[WhyOWhyWouldYou]

Waters rarely go "Hollywood style". Vast majority of people have waters break, well after contraction start. They also don't always flood/gush either.

Also yes, there is like a long heavy period type bleed after giving birth.

[ClariceBeanthatsme]

You will need serious pads as well! Mothercare sell maternity pads for post birth, buy lots. Normal pads won't cut it for the first few days.
I didn't wear them before birth (they are like nappies)

[Eminybob]

As hacked says, it's not that common for waters to go before labour, but it can and did with me.

I was 2.5 weeks early so completely unexpected, I was sat on the sofa watching telly, I felt like the baby was in an awkward position and I was a bit uncomfortable so I stood up and felt a trickle. Rushed through to the kitchen (off my new carpet!) and there was a gush. I was wearing a dress as it was summer so it just came pouring out! Obviously I wasn't expecting it so wasn't wearing pads or anything, but I did have some, and also had waterproof bed pads which I had planned to start putting down later that week!

My contractions started about an hour later and DS was born 15 hours after that.

[SweepTheHalls]

I never noticed mine go at all with DS1, and they went about 5 minutes before delivery, in the birthing pool with DS2.

[wonkylegs]

Agree not many women's waters break like they do on telly.
Mine did - whilst I was at home and it was clearly my waters breaking in a huge gush (which was a surprise as it was a month early) but I was the only one in our NCT group and wider circle of mummy friends, I believe most went when they were actually at the hospital and a lot it was a steady trickle rather than a gush unless they were purposely popped at the hospital.

[ShadowKat]

Mine both went before contractions started - lots with DS1. I noticed after I'd got up to have a wee and thought it was more wee at first, although it soon became clear that it was my waters. Soaked through several pads before it slowed down. With DS2 it was more of a trickle, again at night.

I didn't wear pads just in case of waters breaking.

[silverfishlondon]

Ha, Thankyou! Shows how ignorant I am!
Good I will worry less about them exploding everywhere. Had been worried about going to the swimming pool nearer full term.

[Redtractorwontsleep]

Mine went during labour about an hour before starting to push. 2 small gushes. Needed pads for about 3weeks afterwards and no I didn't know either! Kept asking midwife if she was sure it was normal!

[Wishfulmakeupping]

I was hallway up the stair when mine went- honestly thought Id wet myself.
You will need twice as many maternity pad as you think you'll need and lots of massive pants I had to send oh out twice to the all night asda for more supplies

[LetThereBeCupcakes]

Mine went "hollywood-style" too! I felt like I needed a wee, went to the bathroom and sat on the loo. Finished weeing so stood up and suddenly there was fluid EVERYWHERE.

Went downstairs to call the midwife and felt pressure again, managed to rush into the kitchen before a second gush. I was also worried about carpets!

Contractions started a couple of hours later.

[sleepybuthappy]

For me there was no gush, just a sudden trickle as I was out walking. Stupidly even though I was overdue my first thought was not that my waters had gone but instead that I was wetting myself! That's kind of how it felt, like I had just done an involuntary wee... By 12 hours later there was a lot more gushing. Apparently when your waters break the baby's head will often move quickly downwards to act like a cork so you only lose a little.
But as others say, I don't think it's very common for your waters to spontaneously break before the onset of labour.

[silverfishlondon]

Waterproof bed pads sounds good idea. Plus I guess that if there was sudden leak it's quite likely it will happen at home not in public, as I'll be sitting around on mat leave :)

[WishUponAStar88]

Depending on how the baby is lying waters breaking can be anything from a trickle to a gush. I never wore pads in anticipation but did buy a waterproof mattress protector for the bed and was glad I did as mine went in the night.
You definitely need lots of maternity pads for the days after labour. Normal pads should be fine after a week or so but you'll need proper maternity ones for a few days.

[HypodoomicNoooodle]

Mine went before contractions started with DC1, I was sat on the loo and felt like I'd finished weeing but could still hear trickling, took me a minute to work out what it was! Had lots of little gushes with early contractions but nothing Hollywood style. The other 2 we're planned csections so I presume the surgeons sorted it all out

[Sorehead]

I was in bed and heard a pop (DH heard too) then felt a trickle, then a bigger trickle and then a bit more of a gush. I was shocked by how much water there was! Luckily I'd stood up before the gush so there wasn't too much soaking of my mattress

Contractions started about an hour or two later and went from nothing to every 2.5 mins and lasting 1 min.

I didn't start wearing pads beforehand (and doubt they would have done anything anyway!) but put one on after the gush to catch any last bits and I still went through a few- make sure you take any used pads to the hospital with you as my midwife took one look and said it was definitely my waters. I'd bought mats for the bed but didn't get round to using them, although i sat on one in the car on the way to hospital.

[CilkieWallins]

My waters went a couple of days before labour started (I had to be induced in the end) so although it wasn't a Hollywood gush and it happened in bed at night I was quite grateful for pre-emptive pad wearing. At the risk of tmi, I could also show the midwife the pad to help confirm it was indeed my waters (she sounded pleased I had it but may well have been humouring me!).

[winterland]

I had a gush too. Unmistakable as waters not a bladder accident. I'd just got out of bed and whoosh! Contractions were very painful following that. For my 3rd I was in labour for a12 hours or so, Full contractions etc, but they hardly hurt at all. The midwife popped them and literally 30 seconds later baby zoomed out. And it it did smart a bit.

[unlucky83]

My first DC - 'hind waters' went - little gushes/trickles every so often - midwifes insisted I'd weed myself -they examined me and the sac was still intact. (Same thing had happened to someone at my antenatal group too- they also weren't believed)
I knew I hadn't as the first lot went as I was leaving the loo after a wee! None was big enough to soak anything -just made my trousers damp (and I was wearing a pad when I was leaving the ward and a bit more went - but missed the pad (you need granny pants!) -I gave them the pad discreetly in a one of those paper bags and they took it out, inspected it and sniffed it on the ward corridor and said it didn't smell like it!!!) It took a day of trickles to all come out. I was due to be induced anyway two days later but had to stop medication before - which I did against their advice. DC1 was born a minute before my induction appt! No problems.
Second lot went Hollywood style but whilst I was in labour suite on the delivery table - after contractions and within an hour of the birth ...MWs were out of the room filling in my paperwork when they went...(couldn't speak for the gas and air - told DP to tell the MWs and he was nodding and patting my hand...missed that water dripping on the floor )
If you don't know about these things you need to know about the show! I got what amounted to a light bleed/period 4 or so days before DC1 and 2 days before DC2 - heard it described as a bloody mucus plug - but that's not how I'd describe mine...
And big maternity towels for after - I saw a woman drip blood on the floor just after birth...

[unlucky83]

Ohh and yy to a waterproof mattress protector - although I never needed it for my waters - it was handy when DD1 had her first poonami...lying on my bed in a babygrow as I got dressed...it was a good one! and also when 'potty trained' bed hopping older DCs wet OUR bed!

[coldofhands]

I had a big gush when my waters went. Was asleep and something woke me up, panicked as I thought I was wetting the bed, stood up, and whoosh. I was surprised that they carried on going, stupidly I thought once they'd broken that was it.

[Showy]

My waters went Hollywood style, no warning, both times. Big gush followed by smaller gushes for days. Loooong labours.

You can bleed for 6-8 weeks post delivery. Your placenta leaves a wound the size of a dinner plate.

[bonkersLFDT20]

Both mine went during active labour in hospital. Immense pressure then boom, and boy did the contractions start then!

I used maternity pads post birth for only a couple of days. They are much softer and thicker than regular pads so feel more comfortable on your sore bits and more secure for the flow. Switched to regular, but cotton feel ones then because I don't like the sweaty feel of Always thin ones.

[Purplehonesty]

Mine went at the dinner table - we had friends round for dinner and I had just served out the food and sat down.
I heard a pop and managed to rush to the utility loo before the main gush! Still got it all over the floor on the way though. And I never got to finish my curry :(