Should I be investing in some kind of mattress cover?

[bumperlicious]

Should I get something to protect my mattress in case my waters break at night? And is it a bit of an exaggeration that whole waters gushing out that you see on TV? Sorry if that is a bit of a naive question!

Thanks all! Got one off ebay for under a pound! Kingsize too!

Anyone know where you can buy the Pampers bed mats from, or similar? I have seen some change mats like this but they are too small.
I want to have a small stock for my home birth plus b feeding leakage post birth...
Thanks

Watch it though Bumper, make sure it really is waterproof and not just 'resistant' - I got one from La Redoute, and lo and behold whn DS wet the bed, it was coming through underneath! That was supposed to be waterproof...
Shower curtains are great, I've got an old Ikea one which I intend to use, that was dead cheap, my first DS it was a sort of big trickle and I got through about 4 super-sized bath towels within half an hour's drive to the hospital!
£1 is a bargain though! Good old ebay...

BTW you can buy a complete bed protection set from Argos, about £15 for double - includes a duvet protector, 2 pillow covers etc. and it all zips up. That's for serious incontinence I believe and it is all PVC so totally rustly!! But I have got one and will probably use it anyway when I'm actually giving birth...

My waters broke in bed at 5am and we just cleaned the mattress and turned it over (obviously not at the time!!!). Maybe that just makes me manky but it seems to have survived ok! Did think about getting a mattress cover but just never got round to it before my son arrived a week early. Also didn't like the idea of sleeping on rustly plastic! Just to let you know though that your mattress will recover!

Ok, put the mattress cover on the bed, and not too rustly but v slippery so sheet comes off in the night

Fortunately due to agonising back pain I am sleeping on an old folded duvet which can easily be cleaned which will do for now. Not trying to be precious but our mattress was new last year and bloody expensive so would like to avoid spillage if I can!

Bumper, that's a common problem...I know what you mean about the mattress, and with a really good cover you will still have the lovely new mattress you invested in when it's all over!
I don't know if I'd splash out if it was just in case of breaking waters, but I breastfed DS for 16 months in the bed with me, and after that he still crept in with bottle, and the number of times one of us would fall asleep on the teat so it seeped out everywhere was shocking! I always had a protector on for that reason alone (not mentioning the wee, nappy leaks etc )!

So it's really worth buying a decent one, they are usually under £15, try a high street dept store, or there are some on ebay if you want to take the risk! (probably fine) at about that price.

Just to report back on our Wilko £2 job...last night DS weed and it went through to the mattress, not bothered as it's an old one but just so you know, it's useless!!! That's supposed to be waterproof too. (The rustly type).
I think the best ones are PVC with a towelling side on top. No rustling. And use a fitted sheet if you can, it stops them falling off.
xx

My waters went with a great big gush, luckily over our wipe clean kitchen floor! Definitely glad that didn't happen in bed, after all, who would want to be dashing out buying a new mattress on their first day home from hospital? I sat on a towel for the car journey though, that was fine.

Hi, I did and it was a horrible sweaty undersheet which I used for weeks as the baby was 2wks late. yuk. My waters broke in a gush in the hospital canteen whilst waiting to be induced! v.embarrassing!

I would suggest putting a towel below your sheet but dont get a waterproof mattress cover!