Waters breaking

[Sleepyquest]

Hi all,
I'm 37+4 with my first baby and I have this big fear that my waters will break when I'm out and about in the supermarket, or costa or somewhere. Has this happened to you and is it really embarrassing or just one of those things?
Thanks

I've had 3 children. My waters only went before with DC1 and it was first thing in the morning as I got up out of bed. Even then it was apparently the hind waters and I had an initial gush then slow leakage until she was born 36 hours later.

With the other two I was already in full labour and in the delivery room before my waters broke. I had water births with the other two and my waters did not break until I was already in the birthing pool. They went just before the final pushes.

Both my labours started with my waters breaking. First was a trickle, so not embarrassing. Second was a full on gush. Like someone had emptied litres of water bottles (baby was sideways so his head wasn't plugging the exit!) That happened at home but even if I had been out, I wouldn't have been embarrassed. I was clearly heavily pregnant and in such shock that I imagine anyone witnessing would be nothing but helpful. Embarrassment wouldn't have made it through the shock

No one witnessing would find it funny or something you should be embarrassed about. It's just something that happens and people would want to help a pregnant woman in that position

Thank you 😊

I'm not a midwife/OB but have heard that waters breaking as a first sign of labour isn't actually super common...

In my first labour, waters didn't break until just before I transitioned. In my second, I had to have waters broken by a Dr as despite being fully dilated, they just wouldn't break in their own and contractions were slowing down.

Regardless, it's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's something you have literally no control over.