Sleeping on a tarpaulin and sitting on a bin bag

[rachel5073]

I'm 28 weeks with my first and it's just been suggested to me that I sleep on a rubber sheet (my otehr half laughed and said he had a tarpaulin i nthe garage that would do the trick) and sit on a bin bag from now on in case my waters break. Now, I love my mattress, it's the most expensive thing I've ever bought apart from my car, and I'm quite a fan of my sofa and my car, but this strikes me as a bit extreme! Is it really time to crack out the incontinence pads?

What's it's like when your water break and do you need to go to such lengths to prepare?

Thank you :)

At 28 weeks I think it would be overkill. I started sleeping on an old towel at about 38 weeks last time I think, but my waters didn't break in bed anyway.

No you can get a nice high quality water proof matress cover. The chances of labour starting with your waters breaking is about 1 in 10. Even then the chances are that you will be standing up when your waters break if it was to happy.

I think its a good idea to get a nice mattress cover as the locia and afterbirth can be pretty messy. Locia typically lasts four to six weeks and many women leave the hospital after 6 hours.

"with your waters breaking is about 1 in 10. Even then the chances are that you will be standing up when your waters break if it was to happy."

Sorry I mean if was to happen.

My waters didn't break in either of my last 2 pregnancies but I put a waterproof protector on my mattress from about 35 weeks. It was then used on the children's beds when they went 'dry' at night.

I used a waterproof mattress cover last time, need to get it out the cellar today. At the moment I have a pampers bed mat under the sheet. I used it because we also have a very nice mattress. but I wouldn't sleep on it at 28 weeks. I'm now 37 week and I think last time I started using it at 36 weeks and then for a few weeks after. I also put a couple of bed mats in the car for the hospital trip. If we'd been 5 mins later I would have needed them. As it was, waters went at the hospital reception!

remember most women's waters don't break till in established labour, mine did :) i had a pampers mattress thing from 37 weeks shame they broke at Macdonalds, i will do the same this time (though hopefully not the maccy Ds part)

get a proper quilted mattress protector- not expensive and much comfier to lie on than a tarpaulin!! I put mine on the bed from about 36 weeks and with neither child did my waters break in bed though.

i used a shower curtain, not sure if it would have helped, had to have my waters broke by the midwife