How much fluid to expect when waters break?

[LizLimone]

Last time around, I had to have ARM as my waters never broke naturally during labour. I'm 33 weeks pregnant with DC2 now and hoping my labour goes more smoothly this time - so how much fluid can I expect if my waters break naturally? I know it varies of course but is it generally a flood as portrayed in movies or is it a smaller flow like a pee mishap? Would it soak clothes or just make them damp?

Mine was a flood both times. First time soaked my clothes, second time I was naked.

I felt like I was peeing slowly for a good few hours. Everytime I moved more would come out.

I was in an ambulance and the seat was raised at the front, the whole thing filled 6 inches deep. I was stunned at the amount of fluid, I was huge though.

Flood here. I felt a pop and it was just flowing out. Like a tap was on. Then when i moved, and walked down the hall it continued in short gushes (presumably because my dds head was blocking the exit a bit when i stood up) and then i stood in the bath for about 20 mins as it continued to go. It was hilarious. And my bump halved in size.

Had ARM in first labour, but in second, there was a popping sensation and a big splashy puddle on the ward floor. Lovely.

Mine seemed to keep on coming. Big gush and then more gushes when I moved. I got through most of the maternity pads I'd bought.

Oh, and it kept coming out throughout labour too. I remember asking with DC1 if there was still supposed to be stuff coming out

When mine went it soaked my denim shorts but I did a quick hop into the bathroom and I don't think any went on carpet. I then stuck a couple of pads in and sat on towels - soaked a couple of towels but it wasn't the major flooding I have heard of.

Mine was greenish by the way (on the pad) so I called the hospital and they said to come straight in.

Thanks, everyone. Mostly floods then...or floods that come out in dribs and drabs. Interesting! I am kind of nervous about it in case it happens in public

For most it isn't the first sign of labour so I wouldn't worry.

Trickled for a couple of hours them floods - glad the hospital kept me in as my bed at home would have been ruined! Even the midwife the next morning said 'f**k me' at the mess - bed, floor, everything! I had ridiculous fluid levels in pregnancy though.
I had a section & they used a Hoover sounding thingy to remove the fluid that they could.
4.5 wks on I'm still carrying a lot of fluid but it's slowly leaving my body!

Absolute flood here, then continued in dribs and drabs. My advice to you is to have some black bottoms (so you can't tell they are wet as easily!) to wear to the hospital (you will not be able to contain it with pads!)
And don't bother using the pads, just get a couple of huge bath towels and swap them as they become too wet. If it happens in public my plan always was to pretend I was having a contraction to take everyone's mind off of the great flood and get someone to call my partner to come and collect me!!

Two little dribs (had to change pants but didn't feel any worse than heavy discharge). Only knew it wasn't wee from the smell (really sweet like artificial strawberry).

They couldn't find any evidence my waters had gone/cervix was open but at a scan 3 days later I had low waters and ds2 came naturally the next morning (obv kept in for monitoring as it had been a while between waters & baby, all good)!

27wks with dc3 and no idea what to expect (1 was induced, 2 I didn't know I was 4cm dilated & he was born just over an hour later)!

Good luck x

Popped in bed but managed to get to loo before any mess (thought I was weeing myself).

At first was like little gushes of wee. When hind waters went as well, these gushes got much bigger, and came out every time I had a contraction or changed position. Very uncomfortable (like I was constantly weeing but unable to stop it) for best part of two days waiting for induction.

I also got through nearly all mat pads. Complete pain (not literally).

Don't know how much actual fluid there was but the midwife was soaked . Actually it was hilarious, they literally exploded out of me (I was in the hospital in active labour though and they went mid contraction)

My didn't break until DS crowned...