Have my waters gone?!! (TMI sorry!)

[jellyhead188]

I am due today (1st May!), this is my 3rd baby and last night I was in a lot of pain down below, felt the baby was pinging my cervix if that makes sense. I went to the loo and felt like I couldn't stop my wee- but I think it was just poor bladder control as did eventually manage to stop it! then I stood to brush my teeth and felt hot and squishy down there and when I looked there was a small puddle on the floor - like the size of an apple maybe. I had a few painful contractions but went to bed and nothing else happened, no more water no more contractions. I really don't want to be induced, as was with my first and it was awful but I know that there is a risk of infection if my water has gone - is there any way to know for sure - when they went with my daughter, I got up, had a few drips and then they properly went woosh so I knew, she was born six hours later. With this one I feel like I've been in early labour since thursday as had lots of mildly painful contractions, bad back, think some of my show has come away but nothing regular or definititve!

Any advice welcome! x

My waters went slowly when I was doing a pee. I couldn't believe how much I was peeing and kept on going back to do more. I then realised it was still trickling. My contractions started almost immediately and I gave birth 18 hours later.

I think you've got about 48 hours until they would want to induce you. This does differ depending on the hospital. My hospital insisted on giving my ds an antibiotic drip because i had 18 hours between waters going and giving birth. Have you phoned the labour ward to see what they say?

Hi - thanks for replying, I haven't rung them yet, they told me their policy is 24 hours till they induce, so I want to be absolutely sure before I let them induce me! I have a lovely midwife so I'm gonna go off to church this am then text her and ask her what she thinks - I'm hoping she might offer to examine me to check. I just hate the not knowing! I am booked to go on the birthing centre and really want to have the baby there if at all possible but def won't be able to if they induce me.

It's worth knowing that a hospital's 'policy' is not the law! If you don't want to be induced, say so, and they have to respect your wishes. It's your body and your baby. My boss at work says her waters broke at least a week before her due date, both times, and although hospital were keen to induce her, she insisted she'd rather wait. So she was looked after, monitored, and both times gave birth naturally a week or so later. Don't be pressured into anything you don't want.

And for what it's worth, it does sound like waters breaking to me (though I've no direct experience quite yet...!)

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

It sounds like your waters beginning to break! But I think (and I can't find the stats/source) that 90%+ women go into labour within 24hours of them breaking anyway. Good luck

Hi - thanks for the replies, your right BP me and my hubby were thinking the same that I would refuse to be induced unless they are 100% sure my waters had gone! I rang them earlier they said that I should put a pad on and see what happened, as the labour ward was closed (!!!) so far nothing else has come out has but I wonder if it might have been my hind waters going as know they can go before your main waters break and apparently its unlikely you get a big gush if you're engaged and this one has been 3/5s for the last 4 weeks! so we're back to just waiting and seeing!!! will keep you posted!

And even then Jelly, even if your waters HAVE broken, there's no reason you have to be induced straightaway, as long as they're keeping an eye on you. A natural labour is usually preferable (and, as you know, less painful).

Keep us posted, and good luck!