What does waters breaking feel like?

[Babyonboard101]

Might seem stupid but I'm 38+ with ds1 and I'm terrified I'm going to not know my waters break. I know some people say it feels like you've wet yourself etc but I don't want to rely on my trousers getting wet or a wet patch on my seat. So what did it feel like for you? Like you'd missed the loo or is it completely different? Tia

First they broke them when I was 2cm so it was a trickle that went on forever ( or so it seemed)

Second was when Dr was checking how dilated I was. I had polyhydramnios and it was like someone emptied a paddling pool on the bed. So glad it didn't happen at home.

First time my waters were broken by midwife as I was induced so wasn't sure what to expect second time around.

Second time I actually thought I'd pissed my pants for a split second, swear to god was laughing so hard at a MN thread when they went I really thought it was my bladder! I also heard a pop but didn't register what it was (had SPD, every time I moved something sounded like it popped!) - stood up (was laying down at the time) and the floodgates opened and felt like they were never going to stop! Contractions began after my waters went - about 30 minutes later and dd2 arrived 15 hours later.

It all gushed out when I sat on the toilet, both times!

Just to counterbalance - I never noticed mine go with my ds. They must've gone at some point during labour but there was nothing before contractions started and no popping or gushing during - that I noticed, anyway! I think they came away bit by bit.

Mine was very movie like. I woke in the night needing the loo and felt a bit damp down below. Waddled to the bathroom and as I was pulling my knickers down, woosh, a bucket of water came out! Contractions started about an hour later, thick and fast.

Both my labours started with my waters breaking. Massive gush and a big puddle...no mistaking it for anything else!

I woke up one morning with a damp feeling below. That was it. I got up and no dripping, nothing when I went to the loo, no gushes.
I spoke to triage anyway who told me to come in and they had a look and said no. Told me to lie and wait to see if it pools. While lying there I could feel trickles and they looked again, still said no! I had to say 'now! Now!' when I felt it, and they eventually agreed!
Contractions started soon after, but still had to be induced!

I was having a really good sleep, woke up running to the Loo thinking I was weeing myself. Got changed ect got back to bed then light bulb went off.

I had a big gush both times and both times it felt like the baby had kicked me and kind of burst the sac!!

Both times mine broke about 5 mins before the DC were born after hours of labour, so it didn't feel like anything really! The sensation was masked by the fact that there was a baby coming out of my vagina.

Slight cramps, went for a wee, the plug came out, then water everywhere, had to wait for the ambulance in the entrance of the apartment block with water gushing all over the floor.

I have 5 different experiences of this.

Dd1 slow trickle at 34 weeks. No contractions. Constant monitoring until 37 weeks when induced. Waters had to be broken with hook as hadn't fully gone.

Dd2 waters broke when i was already in established labour during a contraction. Pop and a gush while lying down.

Dd3 waters broke to try and get contractions going as they had no pattern.

Dd4 stood in the kitchen making a cup of tea and the popped and went everywhere. Dd3 looked at me with utter disgust.

Dd5 woke up feeling like i was wetting myself with no control over it. Jumped out of bed and it gushed out.

I definitely knew each time that they had gone!

Mine didn't break until not long before I started pushing. Audible pop, and the water of the birth pool was full of tiny pieces of the membrane.

Mine went spontaneously and before labour started. As others have said, it wasn't dramatic. I woke up one morning as usual, perhaps needing the loo, as you do, and it felt a bit damp down there, but I wasn't instantly aware that my waters had gone. It was a very hot summer and it was more like feeling damp with excessive sweating. The bed wasn't wet as it would be from bed-wetting, as far as I can recall. When I stood up, it was a bit more obvious - just too much moisture for sweat, but not a pouring stream. It continued on like that - continuous dampness, needing frequent pad changes or else huge damp patches spread all over my bottom and back! - for the 2 days it took me to go into labour proper.

I was about to get ready to go shopping at my local shopping centre (would have died if it had happened there!!), I bent down to pick something up and I felt a pop and a massive gush, it was like peeing but not actually pushing, very strange.

First time I was asleep in bed, woke up to find myself sleeping in a large wet patch. Went to straight to hospital and labour started spontaneously three hours later.

Second time I was standing in the kitchen and suddenly there was whoosh (no better word really), a puddle on the floor, waddled to loo and sat there while the rest of it came out. Went to hospital but was sent home as labour hadn't started. First contraction was 24 hours later and baby arrived in 90 mins.

Both times was very obvious that it was waters breaking.

with my 1st the midwives broke my waters, with 2nd and 3rd i had water births and they popped just before babys head came out! just felt like a pop down below and felt like id wet myself, water suddenly went warm!

Mine were broken about four hours before Ds was born (ended up with an EMCS) and honestly I didn't notice anything! I think I may have been in a puddle but I remember nowt!

Mine broke but then nothing for two days until I was induced. It was a slow leak, like peeing yourself a little every time you move. I knew instantly as it was suddenly very warm down below. I used all my maternity pads before labour even started and had to sit on a towel for two days!

mine only broke when i was in 3rd stage of labour= just before baby wa delivered. ot was a loud pop and a big gush. 2"nd time round the soaked the midwife!

Mine exploded when I was starting to push, it covered an impressive area. It was a big pop and then a huge gush of fluid. I felt bad for the cleaners, but also very pleased it hadn't happened at home as I was 7-8cn dilated by the time I went in.

Didn't feel it at all either time - First was in labour, had bath, got out and was drying and drying and drying..

Second time was in the hospital car park as DP negotiated with the attendant about leaving the car abandoned on a verge. I stood in a rose bed. Actually, that might have been what convinced the attendant that I really was in labour and DP wasn't just saying it...

Mines felt like a balloon popping in my stomach. Weird feeling!!

Pop as I turned over in bed and then some wet. I stood up and took 3 steps into our shower and just stood there as it poured out of me. Like I had turned the shower on, except I hadn't.

Mine broke, then contractions started slowly.

It didn't feel like anything really - just water coming out. No popping but the force was similar to a water balloon popping, which I suppose is kind of accurate