waters leaking-no big deal?

[Hanifah]

Hi im 40 wks 2moro and have been to hosp twice bcos of leaking waters, once when I was 34 wks - the babys head had jsut engaged and I ignored the dampness until I was told I had to go labor ward2get it checkd out,luckily it was in the evening so the foetal assessment unit was closed and they sent me to labor ward where a doctor checked me,took a swab and said it was ok,maybe there had been a tiny tear...so dat was fine, then yesterday I literally wet myself(after going toilet and finishing)all down pants,legs and bathmat,it wasnt a gush but it wasnt a trickle either and definitely wasnt urine! I had app with midwife a couple of hrs later so rather than panic I went and told her2see what shed say,without examining me at all she sent me to foetal assessment where I was rudely monitored on belt and then a midwife took another swab,said she couldnt tell if any of my waters had gone but there was none there at that particular time, took sample of my mucous and said theyd have results back in 2 weeks!Im due 2moro!!!I just decided not to worry as Ive read about hind waters and forewaters and know I havent lost much anyway so not much chance of infection...but now im leaking in pants again!!!I cnt go back 2 hosp as they leave me waiting hours and treat me like a timewaster...then dont even examine my cervix2see if its dilated or even effaced...has anyone else had leaking waters,is it normal and is it ok???Everything tells u to go asap2sort it out but when u do they act like its no big deal

if you are leaking fluid, and it is not wee,, then you should call the labour ward and insist that you are examined internally...as you are concerned, especially as you have had a big leak and are now leaking continously.....if your forewaters have gone, then you need to be looked at, and labour induced within 96 hours .....if it is forewaters, then it is not an issue..

it is likely, when you were examined , and there was no fluid there, or pooling in the cervix, that it was not your forwaters,

if you are worried, then call

the fluid smells sweet, much different to wee

Well I would suggest not doing a VE due to risk of introducing infection but to wait to see if labour starts in next 96 hours.

In the meantime, if you want to encourage labour to start you can try nipple stimulation as that will release Oxytocin which stimulates the uterus to contract and/or oral protoglandins, yep, DH can produce the goods and if taken orally is quicker acting than vaginally, and you can't take it vaginally just now anyway as waters are compromised. Waters do regenerate to some extent I believe and baby might be plugging the hole a bit. so not to worry too much. But if you sense a rise in your temp then get in quick as that is a sign of infection.

Try not to panic but to chill, relax and look forward to meeting your baby, speak to it and tell it how much you're looking forward to meeting it, try finding ways to laugh as that will help you to 'open'.

HTH, let us know how you get on!

thanks a mil, yeah the babys gone very quiet, im still getting enuf movements but i have to kinda prod him and hes been SO active up til now, the labor ward wont see me they sent me to foetal assessment, yeah ur right didnt do cervical exam(but wudnt they do that during labor after waters are gone to check dilation?)but took swab. I cnt believe they never checked my temp,pulse,blood pressure etc...and the mucous they sent away2examine for infection wont have results til 2 weeks! Anyway hopefully ur right and babys on his way, Im avoiding sex and putting anything in bath just incase...feel really weird down there like loose its bizarre...going for a walk hopefully something'l happen soon, thanks for the advice

as doulaklaw has said, keep an eye on your temperature and how you are feeling, and if you feel ill or under the weather, see gp urgently if labour ward are not interested

if baby is moving less than you are happy with, ask to be seen at the foetal assesment unit

you will be examined vaginally in labour, but as doulaklaw has said, each time it is done, there is a potential risk of introducing bacteria, so best to be kept to the bare minimum

if no leaking today, it is probably your hindwaters.

i had a leak the day before labour started !

good luck and keep us posted ! x

thanks ive been out all day,still a bit damp,iknw its not urine cos no i can control my bladder...i feel so sore down there like pushing but even when i do release i dont wee myself dats how i know im not weeing myself...when im going loo it hurts so bad,like pain as if babys nearly coming out...and i had to rush home cos when i walk it pains so bad,like this really bad pain coming down and in my vagina/pubic bone...it feels like somethings gona come out...im not worried abt the pain but im gettin scared if the babys goin down birth canal and stuck hel suffocate!?everyones telling me 2go the labor ward2nite i dnt want to i feel such a fool but i dont want anything to happen the baby either

sweetheart

you sound really worried

firstly, your baby is not coming down the birth canal , your cervix has to dilate fully for that to happen, and you would more than likely had some intense contractions to get to that stage

as long as the baby is attached to the placenta, the baby cannot suffocate, the umbilical cord provides oxygen until the baby is born and has taken his/her first breath...

secondly, the pains you are having sounds like the baby is settling down and getting into the pelvis ready for birth, hence the pain ...does it feel like pressure, like you want to go to the toilet?

is there a community midwife who can come and see you at home?

can your DH go with you or call labour ward and tell them just how concerned you are?

thanks lulumama dats a big relief! my mums here with me,shes more worried than me as i was face & brow position and she was in similar pain for 2 weeks but no1 wud listen to her until eventually they realised and delivered me by ceserean. Dh can take us to labor ward, do u think i shud go 2nite? foetal assesment closes after 5/5.30 so theyd have to see me there?do u think its just cervix effacing/starting to dilate?It feels like need to go loo all time but dont really just feel like pushing,sorry i just dont have a clue whats going on im sure i sound really silly. no,no community midwife

4got to mention consultant said babys fully engaged, ive had mad pressure4more than 6weeks but this is REALLY painful,not to bad when i sit down but when i get up OUCH!

ive had really intense contractions but theres never a pattern so not "Labor" and as u know ive been moaning for weeks about back pains etc

ok, i think you should call labour ward,tell them you are having intense but irregular contractions, and pain and pressure and think you are leaking fluid..in the mean time, you might find that leaning over a birth ball, or being on all fours relieves some pressure, or getting in the bath....i would rather the midwives though i was a pain than be sat at home worried....the midwives should be there for reassurance, not to leave you feeling bewildered and alone...

thanks,im gona try and relax for a bit like u said and if im still in agony 2nite ill go in,if not ill give it a day r 2,im due2day so PLS GOD its just something starting

take care, and keep us posted x

Hanifah,

It sounds like your baby will be here soon!

As Lulumama says you might like to go in to be checked. There's no problem with that, the mw do it all the time, do not be embarrassed!

Happy labouring!

hi guys well i got a good enuf nite sleep blv r not but woke up with AMAZING back pain(pls God...)and leaked again on bedroom floor - NICE! it still hurts wen i go loo and wee is really dark yellow almost brown,TMI!My mum thinks im about 2 have a show...we'll see

Hanifah, your wee should not be that colour...you sound dehydrated.....get drinking! also, have you had trouble weeing? any puffiness? any headaches?

hey!quick response!no hun no headaches r anything, i am drinking a lot,always thirsty but not hungry anymore...ill drink more fluids,i can wee whenever i want ALL D TIME but it hurts a bit i feel like i wana push sumtn out but i always check and its just wee...very different color from whats drippin into my pants on its on

when was your urine last checked? if you are drinking enough , your wee should be pale....i would get your wee tested , maybe speak to labour ward, that is not a normal wee ! especially if you are drinking enough...

and you are still experiencing pressure?

ye very bad pressure,sitting on the ball relieves it,funny yestrday was hard2walk,easy2sit,2day its hard2sit...when i look at the wee next to white toilet paper its so yellow its mad,i just keep hoping itll hav a streak of blood in it. wee was checked on monday.i'll giv it a few hrs,hav shower2ease backpain and get on2them,thanks

your wee will not and should not have blood in it, the show is from your cervix , not urethra !!

i would give labour ward a call now, as your wee might need checking, or maybe the doctors can do it for you? i would not leave it , personally.

oh ok...so it shud just come out on its on...im weeing every second and when im not i can feel myself leaking as i bounce on the ball

go to labour ward, please ! if only to stop me worrying ! you are possibly leaking amniotic fluid, which should be clear or light coloured, if it is dark, then you need to be checked out

if it is dark wee, you still need to be checked...please go there now !!

ok wil ph dh and lab ward thanks wil let u knw how i get on

thanks x hope all is well xxx

Just go and get yourself looked at. Who cares what they think of you. You need piece of mind. Take care.

you should get it checked out.

I am 38 weeks today and went in to be checked out yesterday as I thought I many have had leaking fluid. I told them I felt like I was fussing BUT the midwife and the doc said it was important to get it checked out. It turned out to be nothing.

BUT there is a risk of infection that can cause all sorts of problems. Better to be safe than sorry.