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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Would I definitely know if my waters had broken?

15 replies

El2El · 04/12/2019 04:48

I'm 37+6 and a few hours ago I felt a twang - like a guitar string being played or something. I was half asleep and now I'm not sure if I dreamt it! I've not got a pad in but my knickers are very damp, not drenched and it doesn't smell like pee. I've had no gush or anything like that. Fell asleep with very mild period pains last night. Nothing now though.

I've got a midwife appointment in the afternoon. I'm happy to wait to speak to her about it but will call MAU in the morning to be on the safe side. Just wondering, as I like here awake, whether it could be my waters? I've never heard of them going but the women not knowing!

It's DC2 but the midwife had to rupture the membrane around DC1 - she was nearly born inside the sack - so I've no experience of waters going!

OP posts:
hauntedvagina · 04/12/2019 04:58

It could be! Some do go with a trickle. Good luck x

Erismorn · 04/12/2019 05:02

Nope. I had DD2 five weeks ago and I still have no idea when/where my waters went.

I had a sweep in the morning and the midwife could feel that my waters were still intact. Had my first contraction at 00:30 that night, went to the loo a few times in the first hour of labour and gave birth at 03:12. At no point was I aware of my waters going, they didn't go during the 27 minutes I was in hospital before DD was born, ambulance crew didn't mention them having gone.

We had to stay in for 12 hours for OBS on DD as they couldn't pinpoint when they had gone. She was fine. Got home that evening, didn't find any missed wet patches anywhere!

stitchwitch85 · 04/12/2019 05:08

Something very similar happened to me last Friday when I was 35+6. Turns out not to have been my waters, but nobody explained what it might have been!

Newbie1981 · 04/12/2019 05:20

I had a tiny bit, nearly didn't go as assumed it was pee. Make sure you go because of infection risk. I was induced 20 hours later because of that

Horehound · 04/12/2019 05:24

You need to be careful if they have fine to reduce infection risk. I'd call the midwife although I would wait until 8am lol

Good luck!

coffeeforone · 04/12/2019 08:34

You wouldn't necessarily know. With DS1 I thought they had but wasn't sure - went to hospital who checked and they had. Was induced 24 hours later due to infection risk.

With DS2 I went to hospital in early labour and they tested again as I said I was a bit 'damp'. Same thing though I was already in labour baby had to stay in for obs for 24 hours as I didn't know when they went.

If you wear a pad before you go they can test the pad to check if any fluid leaks are your waters. Of if it's not damp they can test using a swab

Booboostwo · 04/12/2019 08:41

I had the same with DD minus the twang. At 5am I had a tiny amount of liquid, I assumed it was nothing. At 7am DH said I should call the MW just to be safe...the MW sent me straight to hospital, DD was out by CS by 10am (she was transverse). Apparently there was very little fluid left by the time they got her out which I find odd to this day!

Good luck!

Original poster
El2El · 04/12/2019 09:39

Thanks so much everyone. I was anticipating no replies given the time I posted! I spoke to the midwife over the phone and she's said to lie on my left side for an hour and call MAU if the pad is wet after. I'll keep you posted.

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Original poster
El2El · 04/12/2019 15:57

Final update if anyone is wondering. I went to MAU for a speculum exam and it was fairly inconclusive. The midwife was fairly sure it's not my waters but wants me to keep and eye and come back asap if pad keeps being damp. Thanks again.

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strawbmilk · 04/12/2019 16:12

I wasn't sure with mine as was just a trickle but the assessment centre was able to perform a test which confirmed it was my waters. I think they took a swab and then put it in a solution that took 10 minutes to work. My internal examination was inconclusive as well. It took another 36 hours for my waters to go properly.
Good luck hope all is well

Original poster
El2El · 04/12/2019 16:29

Thanks @strawbmilk that just reminded me that they said they would have swabbed but didn't have any.

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Pipandmum · 04/12/2019 16:31

No mistaking mine - a gush and then it just didn't stop! But I guess you can have a slow puncture as opposed to a blowout 😉

baldisbeautiful · 04/12/2019 16:34

My hind waters broke with DD2, was just a trickle and I thought it was just my weak bladder! Went to the gp a couple of days later where They swabbed and confirmed it was indeed my waters. I also got an infection because of it. I was induced that day and DD arrived safely (this was 18 years ago now!)

Mermaidtissues · 04/12/2019 16:40

Waters smell like spermicide, I thought it smelled like a condom when mine went.

Original poster
El2El · 04/12/2019 16:51

It definitely didn't smell like urine but I've not had any more leaking so maybe it was discharge. If there is more I'll go back in.

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