Have my water's broken? Is this a slow leak?

[Skarlett]

Sooooo, I'm 39+2 with my first and think my water's may have broken with a slow leak....but I'm not sure....Would appreciate your help!
Apologies in advance if TMI!

It started in the night at about 4.30am, it's definitely not sweat or urine (have never leaked urine). We did have sex 5 hours earlier but it's also not any residue from that, have also been up to the bathroom 4 times since so I doubt anything left if you know what I mean! :P

It's clear, shiny and very watery but doesn't feel like the texture of water, it has a distinctive smell but I couldn't describe what it is. Every time i went to the bathroom and lay back down in bed it came back again enough that if I weren't pregnant I would have thought my period had started...it's not running down my leg (sorry!) but it's enough to make the whole area and top of my thighs very damp!

It's been over 5 hours now and although I'm up and about and am getting some very mild twinges which I've been having for a couple weeks any way, nothing much else has started.

I live on the continent where things are done quite differently and am waiting for a call back from my doctor to find out what to do next i.e. just wait to see if things kick off (hopefully!) and importantly how long to wait before I need to go to the hospital to help things along.

What on earth does a slow leak feel like? What is amniotic fluid like? I so hope this is it!! I can't wait to meet my little boy!

Any thoughts, opinions, experiences greatly appreciated! :)

Both my labours started with a gush and then a slow leak.

How to describe? Well I suspect it's different for everyone but in both cases...

If I decided to lie down for a little while then stood up the fluid leak increased (due to it pooling whilst lying down).

Wiping whilst on the loo feels very slippery, a bit like when you wipe during ovulation.

The fluid was v shiny, clear and had a smell a bit like a cross between almonds and pear drops.

The leaking of fluid was absolutely involuntary and not dependent on what I was doing.

It feels a lot like a heavy period, a gradual seeping of fluid and a constant damp feeling.

My bump slowly decreased in size and movements felt different.

Keep any pads you have as they can test them to see if it is amniotic fluid.

Good luck to you! No sex or baths btw.

I had a very slow leak. Started at 5.30am with a tiny gush (but really tiny just about dirtied my underwear) and continued with a leak that was so slow it was not wetting my underwear enough. The very first liquid had a tiny, tiny bit of blood in it, the rest was clear.

I only went into hospital because MW said it's best to check it out but they did a test and it was amniotic fluid, so off I went for the c-section. Baby came at 10.50am by which time apparently all my fluid had leaked out.

Best of luck!!!

Thanks so much for your responses! Very helpful! Hands your description of the fluid and what it felt like is EXACTLY the same. Boo great to hear your experience too!

Just spoke to my doctor and they do things differently here..... I have to go into hospital straight away and stay and they will be inducing me!!!!!!

I explained that in some countries they wait 24-48hours and you can stay at home but no, not here! They're super paranoid about infection so as soon as your waters break its straight to hospital and they want baby out asap

I've gone from being totally relaxed and excited to disbelief and freaking out a bit! I'm super excited to finally have my baby here but can't I bury my head in the sand a bit longer lol!!!! eeekkkkkk!!!!

I had 31hrs and 38hrs between waters going and baby each time. Both emcs though (unrelated to waters going first btw, I have a wonky pelvis which was undiagnosed at the time).

It's very strange knowing that it's going to happen and SOON but not being in established labour. Okay to freak out. Have something to eat and drink before you go as I suspect from their stance you'll be nil by mouth too.

I'm excited for you. You'll be cradling a newborn very soon. Nowt like it.

Thanks Hands! Good advice re food. Had lunch, finished packing last minute things into hospital bag. Dilly dallied as much as I could and DH and I are now off to hospital!! Probably going to be told off for taking too long when I get there lol!

I'm dragging my feet just want to stay home!

Been having regularish, mild contractions so we'll see what's been happening!

I'm excited and terrified at the same time lol! Thanks for your advise! :)

Good luck!!!! Next time you post it will be with your baby!

skarlett any news?

Sorry to hyjack thread, I've been having an eggy white substance in my knickers and on wiping on and off for 2 weeks now. It's been more regular the past few days (Maybe 4 occassions a day) and also my knickers / pad are regularly damp. I've just woken up and been to the loo, wiped dry and before I could get back in bed felt something dribble-sorry tmi! Wiped and it's a mix of a small watery puddle in my knickers and a bit eggy on wiping.

I've been having BH all night, just timing them and they're about 40 sec 5-6 mins apart, BUT they're not very painful and I've been having LOTs of BH episodes for 2 weeks!

Any views anyone??) Im soooo tired of thinking 'oh is this it?' and then nothing, but on the other hand I've arranged to meet a friend tomorrow 45mins drive away as I missed her sons birthday due to our cat dying and don't know whether to go?!!!