How do I know if my waters have gone/are leaking?

[Slh122]

I'm 36+1 and this afternoon at work I suddenly felt a damp patch in my underwear. I've had fairly heavy discharge all throughout my pregnancy, but this was thin like water. My discharge is normally white - sorry for the TMI!

It doesn't seem to have gotten worse but am sat in my pyjamas and still feels fairly moist IYSWIM

Have been getting BH for the last couple of weeks and crampy pains on and off over the last couple of days. Last night when I was in bed lying down my bump also felt like it went soft when it's normally hard. Is it just my body preparing me for labour? How do I know if I'm leaking fluid?

My bump is still high and baby still feels high apart from the odd moment of pressure I get now and then.

Hello

Can only tell you my own experience - my waters broke at 37 weeks and were gushing down my legs. When I phoned the hospital they said to put a pad on and to come in to get it checked - they then confirmed it was waters.

I'd probably phone the hospital / midwife and get it checked, particularly if it doesn't smell of urine but has a kind if 'sweet' smell (tmi).

Good luck!

DP doesn't want me to ring midwife because he says it's probably 'just another false alarm and another pointless drive to the hospital' (in reference to my 3 episodes of reduced movement that have all turned out fine)

Very sensible to phone up, describe the situation and get some advice I think. I'm sure they'll be happy to help and best to be safe!

Drive yourself to the hospital and tell your useless DP he needn't inconvenience himself

Have told him to fuck off and that if I think it warrants a call to the midwife/trip to triage, then that's what I'll do.
Am lying down with a pad on for a bit cos I remember reading advice that if you lie down then stand up something will come out if it's your waters.

Good luck!

I've been in twice when i thought my waters had gone, turns out just discharge. But both times the midwives said they would rather me come in then not.

Your DP is being a wally! Glad you told him to feck off.

Have you had a sniff of the pad? Amniotic fluid does not smell acidic, like urine. The smell is somewhat odourless, or has an almond-like or alkaline/chlorine aroma.

You are concerned therefore call the hospital. My friends waters went at 36wks. It does happen.

Better to get checked out. The midwives would rather you went in than not. Once your waters have gone, there's a risk of infection to the baby if labour doesn't start soon, so best to get it checked out, even if it is a false alarm.

My waters broke early in both pregnancies - with DS1, at 33 weeks, they were unmistakably gushing down my legs.

With DS2, at 37 weeks, my hindwaters broke, so much less fluid, but definitely enough to soak a pad through.

Also, if fluid does come out and you need to change your pad, take the used wet one into the hospital so the midwives can look at it.
I got told off for not doing this when I went in after my waters had gone with DS1.

I happened to me but because there was no gush and the amount of what I thought was sweat so small, I ignored it. When I gave birth the air in the room smelt like fish apparently as I had an infection caused by my 'leak'. I was told I was lucky baby was okay( although he did need antibiotics as soon as he was born), doctor said out one could have been much worse as I was leaking for weeks! I wouldn't risk my baby again.

Mine went at 34 weeks, I felt a pop when I sat down on the sofa! It was just a trickle though, I suspected it was waters when I sat on the loo and the stream didn't stop as a wee would iyswim. I rang the labour ward who told me to come in, was checked, told it was only hindwaters and they'd keep me in for observation and DD was born about half an hour later. Definitely get it checked if you are not sure.

Any update OP?

I think you just know. Mine went and it wasn't a big gush more like enough to wet my knickers. It felt like when you come on your period and I was worried I was bleeding. Whenn i went to investigate, I could immediatley tell it was amniotic fluid when I smelt it and it smelt like sweet straw and little trickles kept coming which I had no control over.