Query about damage control for waters breaking

[Valbonne09]

Okay I know more often that not they go in hospital or in a slow trickle etc etc but, let's just say there were to go in a bit of a gush, is there any chance wearing a maternity pad or tena lady would help? I'm going to be staying with super close family friends for the birth the mother of which is going to be with me as well as, fingers crossed (pilot roster dilemma), my dh, for the birth. However, the only thing I am feeling really worried about it my waters going when I'm sitting on their sofa or something?! I will have our own bedding and a plastic sheet on to protect mattress but would it help wearing maternity pads during the day, just in case? I was thinking that if we are sitting on the sofa I could also put the baby's travel changing mat under me too!
Anyway, really playing on my mind and I know it is stupid so please don't laugh at me. Just wanted to get some honest feedback or see if anyone else is concerned. I don't think I'd worry if they broke when I was out and I know that my friend would be totally wonderful about it but I would feel obliged to buy a new sofa I think out of guilt and mortification if this happened!! 26+4

You can buy mattress pads in boots for your bed, sofa etc if you are worrying. It probably would help to wear a sanitary towel. They tell you to put one on anyway so they can check that it;s your waters that have gone.
My went all over our new landing carpet after I had been in the bath having contractions. Typical

My waters went in one big gush with no warning at all before contractions started! I heard/felt them break when I was in bed but nothing came out until I sat on the toilet.
Try not to worry about it too much, if they go a pad won't be much use unless its just a trickle or you may make it to the toilet like I did

Big explosion style gush here as well. My only advice is getting to the toilet asap, a pad would have done anything for me...

What about one of those disposable change/bed mats for the sofa (think Pampers do them) - it's what they put under you in hospital anyway!

My waters went in v smart cafe - rather embarrassing having to waddle home in soggy jeans. Only had panty liner to hand, which was clearly of no use at all - think big pad would be better than nothing

Oh the dignity of sitting on a birth ball with a pampers mattress pad underneath me!

I would recommend a couple of old towels to sit on in the car, too.

Mine went in a gush the second time round - I was wearing a pad at the time (had been having a few twinges) and it was useless! I had some maternity towel things (like disposable change mats) for my bedding and basically just sat on those on birth ball for 10 minutes till the deluge went down to a trickle and stopped. Thank god I was in the tiled kitchen next to the washing machine at the time..

Oh I am starting to panic about this. Waters didn't go until delivery last time. Think I might just need an exclusion zone around me for the next 5 weeks (will also help with the grumpiness due to lack of sleep!).

Believe me, Tena Lady won't touch it if they go in a gush!

Honestly Bumperlicious dont worry about it - chances are waters will go in delivery again. Just get some of those maternity mat things for you to sit on if they go beforehand and try not to wear clothes that would go see through if they go while out and about...

Mine went without warning in the car as we went over a speed bump. Thank god for leather seats although the mat and my shoes were ruined.Sat on a bath towel on the way to maternity later.

Ok, naive question here: will the fluid wash out of things? All this talk of wrecked jeans and shoes has got me wondering.

I've been wondering this too!! I'm currently 33 weeks.

If my waters break on the carpet how/can you clean it?I presume you clean it and then go to the hospital? I have GBS so once my waters go I will be going straight to the hospital no hanging around at home..... Obviously my husband can clean the carpet but will it be ruined?

Yes it washes out. Its pretty much clear with tiny bits of baby hair in if you look v closely (I did).

my waters have been the first thing to go with all 4 of my children, NO warning whatsoever, not so much as a braxton hicks.

A pad would not have touched it.

I bought bed mats (or something like that) from Tesco's. They were not expensive at all. So far as I remember there were 10 in a pack and I had them pretty much everywhere.

My waters popped in bed and the mat did a very good job keeping the mattress dry. I had a pad on the way to the hospital but now cannot remember whether it was a normal one or a maternity one (12 weeks is such a long time!!!!).

I would not have thought a pad would be overly helpful if your waters gush out but at least may delay things until you get to the loo...

These are fantastic if you want something that's not disposable. I sat on one in the taxi on the way to birth centre with DS, and am sure it saved me the £50 clean-up fee! Not as crinkly or crackly as a papery one, it just feels like cottony felt to the touch.
Washes really well, and has done sterling service as a fold-up change mat and general waterproof protector for a couple of years now.

what about a towel? Will that not at least absorb some of the water before it hits your mattress/sofa?

Mine went in 2 goes - the first time was a smallish amount of fluid and a pad did the job - second batch was a massive gush on front step and a pad would not have touched it. The advice about sitting on towels etx is very good and is all you can do, I'm sure your friends will understand if the worst happens - best of luck x

Oh yes - the fluid washed out of all my clothes just fine.

Mine went in a gush - agree sanitary towel/Tena would have been a waste of time.

The fluid was just like water - odourless and colourless. Washed out no problem. It didn't even stain the rug or damage the parquet!