Would you know if your waters broke in a swimming pool?

[QTPie]

Ok, maybe an odd question here, but...

I am 38w + 3d and probably have my last swimming session planned for tomorrow (have a CS scheduled for Monday). Have been swimming 1/2 mile twice a week for the past 16 weeks, so should be fine to do it tomorrow

Husband asked me if I would know if my waters broke whilst I was in the pool (hhhmmm, that would be fun to explain the the hotel whose pool I am using!!! )?

Knowing that my waters go is very important - since baby is breech (footling and quite "across my body" - alhough not actually transverse): so I need to hot foot it to the hospital STRAIGHT AWAY if they go...

QT

[meltedmarsbars]

Eeuww!!!

I thought I'd peed myself when my waters broke with one of my dc's!

[nickytwotimes]

When mine went (in bed) I felt and heard an almight 'pop' plus the flooding went on for about 20 minutes. DOn't know if that is average, but if so, trust me, you would know! ALso, waters don't usually pop before labour begins, so Iwouldn't worry about it.

[Jacksmama]

Hmmm. Not necessarily. When my waters went I was in bed, and thought I felt some leakage so popped off to the loo and they gushed when I sat down... but from what I experienced, if I'd been in the pool or tub, I don't think I necessarily would have felt it.

[Beasknees]

i dunno but if one was to pee in a pool i think one would know wouldn';t you?

[TanteRose]

amniotic fluid is body temp, so you would feel a warm flow as long as the pool is cooler than body temp.

My waters went with a "pop" - literally, it sounded like a balloon bursting! But you probably wouldn't hear that in a swimming pool....

Hmm, you actually might not notice....

[ShowOfHands]

Hard to know. Mine went with a gush but continued to leak for about 12hr afterwards so even if I'd missed the gush, I'd have known. There are MNers who haven't known when their waters went and assume they went while in the bath/pool whilst in labour.

So, maybe.

HTH.

[BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny]

My stomach shrank, this will be a good indicator. It's also warm so won't be the same temp as the pool water.

[Lionstar]

Mine went in the bath and I didn't notice (was contracting strongly at that point, not just having a nice wallow in Badedas). The midwives were waiting for them to go right up until DSs head appeared

[SuperSoph73]

With DS1 my waters broke while I was in the shower & I realised that something wasn't quite right as it felt as though I'd had a pee but I knew I hadn't IYSWIM. As the shower was nice and warm and I noticed, then I think you'd probably notice if you were in the pool.

[QTPie]

Thanks... sounds like a might know or I might not...

SOMETIMES you get "warm" currents in a pool (or when you swim in the sea)... from jets etc... MIGHT notice if it popped and gushed (so BIG amount of warmer fluid), but if it trickled more, then not so sure...

I would know if I wee'd myself, but that is probably mainly because it is a conscious decision to do it... since I have never felt waters go before, not sure what I would feel...

Seems like some people have had their waters go and NOT known - that is pretty scarey... especially since I WANT to know if they go... (so I can get to hospital quickly).

So some people notice a difference in how their tummy feels (after their waters go), but some people don't?

QT

[susiey]

my waters went with a leak so much so that I thought I had wet myself a little bit and they just kept doing it. So I'm guessing a pool I may not have felt the first 'leak but if it kept happening then I would have known.

[TottWriter]

The first I knew of my waters having gone was waking up to a large damp patch where they'd begun leaking in the night, but after that they kept doing that for the rest of the day, continually but slowly. It was only late that night that I got a 'gush'. But then my labour was really slow, and I had to be induced anyway.

Because it was so constant I think you would notice if it happened while in a swimming pool, as the crotch of your swimsuit would get noticeably warmer while the rest of you stayed cool. If they went in a gush, youwould obviously feel a greater area of warmth.

Personally I'd be a little nervous anyway, but I'm a fairly cautious person at the best of times. How long would it take to get to hospital from the swimming pool if it did happen? As long as you have a provisional plan in place it shouldn't be a problem.

[hurrydownthechimneytonight]

you would likely keep leaking after you get out the pool and its warm.

Mine has not stopped leaking in a gushing style since last night so ty not to worry midwifes keep a good eye on you once waters go.

Good luck!

[NorbertDentressangle]

With both my DC my waters have gone at night but I've woken up literally a split second beforehand, as if the sensation has woken me IYSWIM (or maybe they audibly popped and that's what woke me ). Maybe you'll get a feeling or sensation (other than that of wetting yourself!)?

However the leaking continued everytime I moved/coughed/laughed from then until birth ( 2 days in one case, 8 hours in the other case) so it wasn't as though I lost the fluid in one go and then that was it.

[fernie3]

My waters broke in the bath last time, I knew straight away because I felt this loud POP. By then she was so low down there was hardly anything came out but when I stood up (lept up!) a dribble of blood ran down my leg - that was it but I was sure they had gone. I also started to get very strong contractions straight away (they had been much weaker before).

[rubyslippers]

i knew with DD as altho' it was a water birth i still felt a gush and my tummy went visibly smaller

she was born about 10 mins later!

my waters didn't go with DS - thy had to pop them for me and he still took a while to emerge

[FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010]

With dd I knew they had gone but not that that was what it was. With ds2 I definitely knew.

My advice would be to not go if it is imperative that you know they have gone.

[BikeRunSki]

I was worried about this too as I was swimming a lot when I was PG (my DS was footling breech too, but didn't know this until I was 8 cm dilated). Anyway, when my water went (as, there was a big gush, whoosh, pop and I felt my tummy "implode". I think I would have known if I was swimmimg

[jules2906]

Amniotic fluids continue to 'top up' so although you might not notice an intial 'gush' they will continue to trickle slowly as you move about, cough, sneeze etc, so you would become aware of it at some point after leaving the pool. Use maternity pads to absorb the fluid.

[MumNWLondon]

my sister asked midwife if she could swim after her "show" and was told it was fine. she swam 50 lengths and baby was born a few hours later....

i think you'd know though, my stomach deflated a bit..... and you'd def be aware when you got out the pool.

[QTPie]

I did go today... everything seems fine (didn't notice any gushing/leakage and stomach no smaller or different when I got out...).

Used a hotel pool and husband stayed at the hotel (had a business meeting there) whilst I swam - so any problems, he could have taken me straight to the hospital (only 5 minutes drive away).

Swimming has been really great during pregnancy - didn't do much before 22 weeks (did a lot of gym stuff before that, but had to give up cardio at the gym because of some odd vascular/fatigue thing affecting my legs... swimming is fine, but anything "weight baring" - even walking more than 300 yards - has been very difficult), but it has kept me feeling "alive" ever since

Fingers crossed that my waters stay intact until Monday - would like to avoid a dash to the hospital even if I am not swimming...

QT