OK slightly embarrassing but 39+5 and knickers smell sickly sweet!!

[DrSkidaddle]

Had a sweep this afternoon, just went for a wee and could smell a very very sweet smell which a quick sniff confirmed was coming from my knickers! Hindwaters? Waters? Beginning of a show (also some discharge but doesn't look like a proper show) Or do I just smell wierd? Any ideas most appreciated!

possibly hindwaters,does it gush a little bit if you cough?

just tried coughing and no, don't seem to...would I expect quite a lot of water if it is hindwaters?

Agree it sounds like hindwaters - I remember mine smelling like that. Time to start boiling the water maybe?!

so do I need to let MW know if it is hindwaters? Head is engaged btw so that might explain why not much is coming out?

Oh, DrS, how exciting!!

Would agree, sweet smelling suggests waters, hind or fore !
Hindwaters more likely if there is not a lot, and yes, baby's head may act like a seal.

Phone MW for advice and to let them know. AFAIK, they will not suggest you come in unless you have regular painful contractions or you have leaked without contractions for more than a day or 2 - I am not sure about the time frame.

@ 'boiling the water'.

V best of luck! Gosh, it is all kicking off in the March Club

eek pacific - should I ring them now? Or can I wait until tomorrow morning?

Did it smell like sugar puffs? Have you eaten a lot of sugar today? Are you drinking plenty of water?

I only ask as I had a similar thing when pregnant and what I could actually smell was my urine!

Either way, if I were you I would stick a pad on until morning and assess the situation from there providing you don't start contracting first. They can then test liquid on the pad at maternity unit tomorrow.

Just in case it is all happening, get to bed and sleep, sleep, sleep!

See, I am not sure

TBH, I'd ring, they are there anyway 24/7 and just ask to speak to duty MW or triage.

I do not think that they would want to see you, and if they do I'd ask why? But it does get you on their radar, IYKWIM.

I am off to bed before I have to face major marital disharmony over excessive MNing, sorry!

Will check back in first thing in the morning.

Hope you have a good night.

Actually, I would call the midwife unit at the hospital and ask their advice. I expect they'll tell you to stay at home until tomorrow, but at least you'll be on their radar.

How exciting! Good luck!

Not copying Pacific there - just a slow typer!

OK thanks all - can't sleep with DH snoring anyway so might as well get up... how exciting!

ewe - I have been avoiding sugar this pregnancy after getting thrush so don;t think it is urine - also it is so overpowering - more sweet vanilla than sugar puffs I would say (can't believe I am providing such a graphic account of what my knickers smell like

DrSkid sounding exciting. I'm no expert but it does sound like waters. Let us know what the maternity unit says.

Best of luck with it all!

Update, please

Dr Skid, how was your night?

Thinking of you today...

Sounds like when my waters broke with DD1, had a really really really slow leak.

Definitely get in touch with them. There's a (small) risk of infection if your waters stay broken for too long without labour starting. They gave me 48 hours after waters starting to leak and then wanted to induce because of this. So you really do need to let them know. They were able to do some kind of test to check it really was waters, btw. If you're wearing a pad of some kind then take that in.

I ended up needing induction as I was having regular but not very productive contractions for 2 days but turns out that baby's head was making a seal, exactly as you said, so she was basically bouncing on a water cushion with each contraction.

GL DrSkid hope there is a bit more action this morning.

How exciting! Hope you had a restful night and that things are progressing nicely

Hi all,

well had a pad on overnight but really nothing there - no more than the increased discharge I have had over the last couple of weeks. Phoned MLU just now and they said no rush but to come and in get it checked out so will keep you posted...

Is the risk of infection the same with hindwaters as (front?) waters, does anyone know? I just think it must be hindwaters as there is virtually nothing there

thanks March10antenatal for checking up on me - will update later!

Mine was hindwaters. They didn't really think the waters had gone but tested since I'd gone in and were most surprised to see they had.

At that point they told me the whole 48 hours thing and I was booked in for induction so I don't think it matters where the leak is from, but obviously am no medical expert.

Worth getting it checked anyway. Good luck!

lol IWCAS

well back from MLU - she examined me and said it was 'inconclusive as to whether my hindwaters were leaking or not... so sent me back home and have to phone/go in if I get any more leakage or if there are any signs of infection.

Good news is I'm not on a 24hr countdown for induction (main membrane is intact), but it does worry me slightly that if they are my hindwaters, then I am putting the baby at risk of infection... best case scenario is that he comes soonof his own accord I suppose, c'mon baby - show your face!!

She also said I was 1cm dilated and she could feel his hair

That's great news - hopefully not too much longer before he arrives

"She also said I was 1cm dilated and she could feel his hair "

I just welled up at that

Good luck DrSkidaddle.