39+5 and either I have finally lost control of my bladder, or my waters are trickling every 10-15 mins - but which one?!?!

[bluebellsanddaffodils]

This is my second baby, so I feel really daft even asking this question.

Around every 10-15 mins I feel a little trickle, like there's a little bit of wee escaping (sorry TMI) - I'm wearing just a light, slim pad at the moment. I'm just pottering around the house, not doing anything strenuous. Making cups of tea, watching TV, dusting the furniture etc.

Now, I've always had full control of my bladder, and never had any leaking problems so this feels very strange.

I suppose it could be my waters trickling out bit by bit (could it be?) but how on earth would I know the difference? I drink tons of water, so my wee is always pale anyway...!

How long should I let this continue (if it does) before mentioning it to someone...?

FWIW my first baby came at 39+4, but I know that technically this means nothing. They also had to break my waters last time so this is a new feeling...

If at all relevant, I've had a couple of sweeps in the last fortnight and have been 2-3cm for most of this time. Although I have some backache and tightenings, I'm not in any pain at all...

Any opinions or advice, gratefully received. Thanks!

BTW, this has been going on since around 8am, so 4 hours

The MW always tell you to put a pad on and then sniff it.

If it smells like wee then it is, or if it doesn't then maybe your waters are going.

Waters don't always go with a rush though.
Take yourself to hospital and let them check.

I had exactly the same thing.

The waters do get heavier though especially when you move around.

I didn't go in because I was having a section the day after, but that's not the thing to do. Baby might get an infection.

I just sniffed (mortified face) - no odour.

I've put a fresh pad on, just to start again and I guess I'll check again in an hour?

I went for a little wee, sat for ages to make sure I'd emptied my bladder, leant forwards and back etc to make really sure. Fresh pad on, walking down the stairs....trickle.

Hmm. I have a really important marriage counselling session 2-4pm today, so perhaps I'll wait until after that is over and then re-assess the situation. If my waters don't gush during the session that is (God, how awful that would be!)

Thanks for the feedback, any other opinions welcome too

This happened to me also with my second child and I thought I had wet myself too but it was the waters going slowly.

Within a few hours of this happening my contractions started...

Sounds to me like your waters have broken. Suggest you get on phone to hospital and cancel marriage guidance session!

This happened the third time with me, I had the midwives out twice because of it!
I was told that it was either wee or the hindwaters leaking. If the waters had gone it would smell "wheaty". My waters actually went with a bang the night labour started so it must have been wee!
If you're worried, phone your midwife.

My waters smelled quite distinctive (probably was wheaty, as described by flobbs but didn't think of it at the time). A few days before, I'd gone in as I thought I was leaking and it had no smell, apparently it was just an increase in vaginal discharge. Took all of 10 seconds for the midwife to check good luck if it is all starting!

As well as knicker sniffing, which was really pleasant, I filled up a sample bottle and it was really cloudy and not at all wee like.

Try having a lie down for a little while (half an hour or so)

When you stand, see if there is a gush. If there is, its very likely to be your waters. If there isn't, it doesn't mean its not your waters, but its more likely increased discharge

Thanks everyone - felt I should come back to update and to confirm that yes, it was my waters. This was confirmed when I stood up at the end of the marriage counselling session and felt a big gush and the rest of the waters went. Not my finest moment.... all over the nice counsellor's cushion too (oh the shame!)

Fast forward 24 hours and still no contractions, so had to be induced (gutted) - contractions started one hour later, and baby arrived 2 hours after that.

It happened so fast that I didn't get any pain relief -- worst. pain. of. my. life.

Forget the 2 day labour with the first, because I had an epidural in there somewhere..... this was unimaginable, excruciating, lose my mind screaming pain! Even to think back to last week makes me feel sick and shakey, I genuinely thought I would pass out from the pain

BUT I have another beautiful boy to show for it, and he is perfect and snuggly and sweet and soft, and worth any pain. He's already gained back his birth weight after 5 days, and he is just so handsome (not biased at all)

He has dark hair, slightly pointed elfin ears and big feet (he sounds a bit like a hobbit, but he's not, I promise)

Happy days :) wishing all you pregnant ladies happy birth days soon

Congratulations ! Sorry to hear you had a horrible birth but hope you can recover physically soon.

Does he have a name?!

I read your OP and thought "hm, that'll be her waters then" and it was nice to be proved right!

he's Arthur :)