How do you know when your waters have gone?

[starshaker]

Not sure if mine have or if its just excess water from the bath. Dont want to call the hospital yet cos they will want me to go up (im 33 weeks preg with twins) and it would mean finding a way to get up there and finding somebody to look after dd. Basically a lot of hassle if they haven't

Mine woke me up thinking I was a bit sweaty or had had an accident. When I stood up it was like a huge wee - I definitely knew they had gone! i needed a big towel to mop up the mess but iI don't think it is like this for everyone.

with my dd my waters were broken and the contractions started instantly which is why im confused. I know its different every time but dont really want to waste anybodys time with a false alarm

For me it was a distinct and to my mind audible 'pop'. First pregnancy it was a big pop and an enormous gush as i was sitting on the sofa.

Second time (third pregnancy) it happened i knew it wasn't a wee as i'd just gone and was just getting back into bed at 5.30 in the morning...but that was more a little dribble

Same as *creequealley8, definite audible pop and then massive gush. But was in hosp by then, so no great shakes. Sometimes it can just be a little dribble though i think?

put in a pad and see whether it is still wet later. waters renew themselves so you will keep on leaking.

twins soon...

ds1 - gush mid contraction.

ds2 - gush midway across the landing for a middle of the night wee (3am). I didn't bother waking dh, and we didn't go to the hospital until the next morning, nothing started happening until about 1pm that day.

They weren't going to intervene until the morning after if nothing had started happening by then, so if you're ok and there's no other sign of anything happening you could hold on for now.

Good luck

Waters smell different - slightly sweetish. Put a pad into your pants, see if you still 'leak' and have a sniff... and also check the colour as that can be important. But if in doubt would be best to ring hospital. My waters went with gentle leak each time and no proper contractions, so doesn't have to be a gush. This time I did feel a pop though, just not the gush (luckily for our bed).

Good luck!

Just as an asie, I know my MW said that if i thought they'd gone, i was to ring the hospital, and as NumptyMum said, check for meconium in waters too.

Oh - meant to say with my waters I thought they were yellow (clear or yellow is OK I think) but when I got to hospital they said they were green ie had meconium in, so if you are checking colour, a greeny yellow would mean you should call hospital. I had 'grade 1' meconium ie not from distress but because DD had opened her bowels as at/near term. Hosp wanted to get my labour going anyway but this time I managed to get them to give me a pessary rather than straight onto the drip, made all the difference.

ok not had anything for about half an hour so think its nothing. Keep needing to pee though lol