Where were you when your waters broke?

[Pinkmarshmallow]

At 39+6 wks pregnant today, I have become a bit obsessed with the thought of my waters breaking. Now, I know it might happen somewhere "handy" like on the loo or even on the bathroom floor or on the labour ward but keep thinking what if it happens somewhere that it would be totally mortifying? eg. in a queue at a shop, at someone else's house on their new sofa or living room carpet or in church? Did this happen to any of you? What did you do? How did everyone react? I know that people should understand, that you can't help it, it's a normal part of pregnancy etc. etc. but I can't help worrying how embarrassing this would be!

With my first I was at my yoga class, towards the end when we were all settled down for the visualisation section of the class. Went pop and was pretty sure my waters had gone, so went to check in the loos then drove myself home (putting my yoga mat on the seat underneath me!). It was the first sign of labour apart from a bit of backache. My son was born in hospital 3 hours later. Because we were all engrossed in our own visualisation no one realised what had happened - even the yoga teacher didn't realise. At least it was on my own yoga mat.

With my second and third labours was well established prior my waters breaking, which was just before they were born in both cases.

Mine went in the toilet in Mothercare, I was 39+5. Having had a wee I stood up to wipe and then they went! I thought, 'Oh, I haven't finished' and then I realised

I found it all very exciting and got the giggles when telling my husband who was waiting outside the loo. Whenever I laughed, more fluid came out! My trousers were soaking - I was embarrassed and just wanted to get out of there, so we ditched the shopping. I was too embarrassed to get the bus or a taxi either, so we walked the 25 minutes home - I'm sure it helped labour along a treat! Wet bum got a bit cold though, as it was January!!

DS: in the bath within the hospital birthing unit...then they had to literally drag me out to wander the corridor just about naked (aside from a towel about the size of a serviette ) to give birth in a room....

DD: in our bathroom over the toilet..I was on my own & thought it would make less of a mess as I realised she was about to arrive without giving me time to ring for help...my poor Dad cleaned up the mess when him & my mum & the police arrived about 20 mins after she was born!

I did keep 2 large towels (folded numerous times) on top of a plastic bag on the drivers seat in my car so if they went whilst I was driving it wouldn't damage the material too much - I'd been told that the fluid can permanently stain/damage car seat covers & just thought the last think I want to deal with is paying for that! Pregnancy really does affect your thought processes....

I commute 65 miles to work and narrowly missed waters breaking in a late meeting/on train home - they broke a couple of hours later in a huge gush while I was in bed, then kept dribbling for ages until I was induced!

If/when I am preg again, I will definitely be packing gigantic maternity towels in my bag from at least 37 weeks and wearing a lot of black! I had nothing at all with me at the meeting/ on train at 38 weeks - was totally convinced DS would be late for some reason. I still cringe at what could have happened if waters had broken just slightly earlier.

Maternity towels would not have stopped the huge gush, by the way, but I was lying on a towel in bed just in case which proved to have been a very good idea.

In the bathroom of my room at the birthing centre. Convenient place, yes, but was absolutely convinced that I'd wet myself. Had been sitting on the loo and they went all over the floor just as I got up. Despite being in advanced labour I was very and even tried to mop it up. 'twas only much later that I realised that no-one could wee that much in one go....

At the hospital at 3cm-i climbed off the bed after telling dp i was going for a wee and they gushed all over the floor- both of us thought i'd wet myself until 5 minutes later i was still stood there with the waters running down my legs. Have to admit now at 37 weeks i am very concious of getting out of bed very carefully!

I was on the table in theatre.. with a very snotty doctor.. dressed up to the nines in a pink satin dress.. ( it was a few days before christmas) with a white plastic apron to protect her designer frock... she popped the sac.. and gallons and I kid you not.. gallons of the stuff gushed over her.. soaking her from head to foot... didn't really surprise me really since I was in a very uncomfortable position with my feet up in stirrups.. which put pressure on EVERYTHING.. so wonder it came out like a steam train! She was dripping.. her hair.. her dress.. her shoes.. the lot.. and I was just lying there giggling my head off.. so much for sisterhood... but she was dreadfully snotty.. that's my excuse.. and I am sticking to it!!

In a small, busy restaurant. They didn't charge us for the food we had just ordered, but they did charge for the drinks. Drove home on a plastic bag, squelched up the stairs. DD born 4 hours later.

mine broke on the 3pm ferry from Vancouver to Victoria after a big shopping trip to Ikea... i thought i'd just wet myself because i wasn't due for another 3 weeks and heard that it was unlikely that there would be a gush. mine was definitely a gush. after getting groceries, unpacking the truck and making dinner, i realized at 9pm that the Braxton Hicks i was experiencing was actually labour and i gave birth at 2:25am.

I was in mcDonalds with my 2 year old,just got up to go and a big pop, they gushed out.He was 3 days early.The seat was dry as my thick long wool coat soaked it up.I calmly walked out & rang my husband.Baby arrived 4 hours later.