Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Really what are the chances of my waters breaking without warning?

201 replies

redandyellowandpinkandgreen · 19/09/2010 13:44

My mum thinks I should get a plastic sheet for my mattress but I thought you would get some sort of warning first. What are the chances of your waters going in the night with no warning? And do I need a plastic sheet?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
swallowedAfly · 21/09/2010 08:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

topsi · 21/09/2010 08:23

Yes mine went after 3 contractions, but my labour was slightly unusual. There was no build up and I went from nothing to full on within a couple of minutes. I was fully dilated within 2 hours! all over after 6 hours!

ErinH · 21/09/2010 08:52

Both times mine went when I was in full labour and not before. If you're wearing a towel (as I was when I was hugging the exercise ball in the living room first time) it was enough to help me get to the toilet without making a mess. Second time I was in the delivery suite about 5 mins from crowning so really didn't matter.
If you're worried, you can get mattress pads that will do the same job for before the birth as after.

JentlyDoesIt · 21/09/2010 09:22

DS - waters went at 36.5, first day of mat leave, hopped out of bed to make coffee and WHOOSH.... I calmly phoned my DP and said " you'd better come home again, waters gone" his response - "I've only just got to my desk and I haven't had a coffee yet!" Nothing was ready as I thought I was being induced at 38 weeks.

Fast forward 17 1/2 months later and an elective section with DD due to polyhydramious and probs with DS labour (or lack of it). Surgeon says, right Jently, we're about to break your waters, there is an audible POP and people running about for towels & splashing at the other end of the bed :o the midwife looked up and said "man the lifeboats!" tres droll... Hmm

No waring with DS so go with the sheet!

moonstorm · 21/09/2010 09:25

Have we scared off the OP?? Grin

nunnie · 21/09/2010 09:26

My first sign of labour was trots, no pain apart from trot pain, went in anyway was 5cm's, then within 20 minutes was told to push and waters went then, DD was born just over an hour later.

soccerwidow · 21/09/2010 09:52

I was induced so mine were broken in hospital both times - most of my friends waters didnt go until at the hosptital in later stages of labour. When my waters were broken it was more of a continuos dribble than a "gush" Blush

I did however buy some of those disposable pampers changing mats and slept on them.

MrsC2010 · 21/09/2010 09:59

I did have disposable bed mats from Tescos on the bed though, we have one of those memory foam matresses which I had visions of turning into a giant sponge! I put one on the car seat going into hospital as well.

Bobby99 · 21/09/2010 10:40

Mine went in the middle of the night with no warning at 38 weeks. L was glad I'd put a waterproof sheet on the bed!

ratspeaker · 21/09/2010 11:07

With my third mine went just after I had shampooed the hall carpet, hubby came in the door to see me leap from hall into vinyl covered kitchen.
I'd had no contractions or other warning.
2nd child they had to break the waters "to speed up labour"

hanbee · 21/09/2010 11:56

I had a dramatic waters breaking too. Sitting on the birth ball (only place I could get comfortable) suddenly I felt, more than heard, a pop inside, stood up and water gushed everywhere! Was gutted as I was wearing my comfiest trousers that I wanted for labour.

Aitch · 21/09/2010 12:29

no warning at all. although was straining to do a particularly tricky poo at the time so quite clean as these things go. Grin

essential1 · 21/09/2010 12:47

I am convinced that I have no 'waters' as I don't remember them breaking for any of my three births. That said, get yerself a mat, and it can be used in future for kids wetting the beds. Yes, indeed, your over-familiarity with bodily fluids starts here.

treedelivery · 21/09/2010 12:54

Get a sheet. Hell, get a sheet.

Also usefull for milk floods if you are breastfeeding, and for postpartum bleeding which can flood a bit, and make a mess of your bed.

It's all glamour!

oldraver · 21/09/2010 12:57

With DS2 I was luckily in hospital at the time. I had fallen asleep on the bed for a bit and woke up thinking I had wet myself. Quickly changed into a nightie and went to the bathroom to tidy myself up. I noticed blood so assumed it was a show and called the midwife. She told me to go and get back in bed and would come and see to me. Two midwives turned up just as I was about to get into bed and I had the most almighty gush of water which drenched both midwives shoes and trousers with my lovely waters and quite a lot of blood. It was worthy of a soap opera drama. Even they were impressed quite surprised by the amount of fluid

oldraver · 21/09/2010 13:04

I was also in hospital with my first son who was born foot first. His foot buurst the waters as a obstetrician was standing in front of me. He jumped back but got drenched and water hit the wall Grin

Jazmyn · 21/09/2010 13:10

Mine went without warning but I managed to roll out of bed just in time and most of it went on the floor (laminate floor boards wipe clean!!!).

GingaNinja · 21/09/2010 14:29

Similar to Topsi, went from nowt to full on labour bad soap opera style within 10 mins. Couldn't sit down in van on way to hospital. Staggered/dragged/carried by DH into delivery suite, hefted up on to bed to be examined and told 7 cm (after just under 2 hrs of labour) followed by immediate floodtide rushing out. DD rushed out shortly afterwards... Grin Def get the mat/plastic sheet!

rusmum · 21/09/2010 14:31

MINE went both times with no warning- once on the loo (how lucky!) AND 2nd time on the floor as i stood up to get out of bed! Get a met! lol

sparkletoes · 21/09/2010 15:02

Both mine were at 2.30am with NO warning!! Deffo get mattress protector just incase!! Grin

FindingMyMojo · 21/09/2010 15:42

Gosh I'd say mine never went but clearly they must have - maybe it was when I was in the birth pool so I never noticed?

FanjolinaJolie · 21/09/2010 16:00

I've read that waters break before the onset of labour only 15% of the time.

Both mine went during the pushing stage and I remember thinking to myself in a slightly la-la hysterical way 'I'm pissing myself but I just don't care...'

Wasn't actually pissing myself, it was the waters going but when in the middle of a contraction on all fours it was hard to differentiate.

I slept on two beack towels under the sheet but never needed to use them.

3littlebears · 21/09/2010 16:09

Huh! Mine went when I was sitting at my desk at work. Was only 30 weeks. Thought 'blimey, my pelvic floor is in a bad way' (this was no.3). Then realised it wasn't my pelvic floor.... She was fine, btw.

ledodgy · 21/09/2010 16:12

Mine went with my third without warning in bed. I freaked out and posted on here. Grin

lillylane · 21/09/2010 16:46

Well, after reading this yesterday I went to Argos to get a mattress protector(I'm 39+1).Put it in the wash last night and decided to put it on today.
Haha, guess what happened at 2am? Yup, waters went, thought at first I was going to wet myself, just made it to the toilet, seemed like a large wee, happened about 5 more times, made it to the toilet each time.
Saw the midwife this am, now I have until tomorrow am to get labour going or will have to be induced.Keeps stopping and starting at the moment. Arrgh!
So if you get a mattress protector don't bother washing it, just stick it on! :)