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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

out and about in the last stages!

17 replies

ihatelego · 07/04/2015 08:55

This is just a lighthearted post I'm coming up to 38 weeks and obviously it's the easter holidays, i hate being stuck indoors and so does my DS! So we're planning to go on a little outing today and generally a few more times before he's back at school but does anyone else worry about waters going in public! I was at home last time but i keep having this image of them just going everywhere at the worst place/time and having to try and do a discrete waddle to a seat and not move

I did hear years ago though that if your waters break in a supermarket you can get a ton of vouchers anyone else keep thinking about this/have a plan if it does or god forbid has had it happen?!

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OneEyedWilly · 07/04/2015 09:01

I'm 37 weeks and have been thinking about this exact thing. Very curious to see how others have handled waters breaking in public.

Making it more likely, DP's mum decided to come and stay with us for 11 days over the holidays with her 4 kids (aged 8-14) and we are having to entertain them. No rest or peace at all, out every day.

PazRaz1975 · 07/04/2015 09:16

I didn't worry about it at all in my first and I'm not this time round either. I think if they did go, most people around would just help you as it's obvious that you're pregnant rather than peeing yourself!

Only about 10% of women's waters actually break before being in active labour, so the chances are that they won't go in public.

Elledouble · 07/04/2015 09:19

Only 10%? That's quite comforting, I'd been wondering about this too (I'm 37+4) - I'd heard recommendations to carry spare pants and maternity pads about! Although my mum says hers never broke, they always had to be broken in hospital.

Original poster

ihatelego · 07/04/2015 09:22

yeah it is pretty unlikely, and also i think some break as a trickle so a gush is probably even less likely to happen. My first pregnancy i just rolled out of bed heard a wierd noise and they gushed a bit but i think i'd been in early labour through the night so i guess you'd get some warning if you were out anywhere

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Jackiebrambles · 07/04/2015 09:24

Yeah I think its quite rare that your waters going is the first 'thing' that happens.

Mine went very early on but I had a show first, then about half an hour or so later my waters went (well some of them did, then they kept coming out bit by bit over the next few hours!).

LadyGregory · 07/04/2015 09:25

It never struck me as an issue, at least enough to keep me at home. I went considerably overdue, and went to several operas and plays after my due date, as well as spending large chunks of time working in the British Library.

PazRaz1975 · 07/04/2015 09:31

I think it's Hollywood that have given us the idea that waters are always the first sign of labour, often going in public places!

Until I did NCT with my first, I presumed that waters were the first sign, so it was good to know that it was unlikely.

I had a show the day before I went into labour and by the time I was in labour, they went about 6hours later.
Mine definitely made a popping sound, but I was already on all fours in a labour room and they went all over my midwives feet!!

Elledouble · 07/04/2015 09:32

Sorry, that's tickled me, the idea of one's waters breaking in the British Library and a load of academics howling "nooooo! The manuscripts!" in slow motion.

moomoob · 07/04/2015 09:45

Get yourself out and about you could have up to 4 weeks before labour starts you don't want to get to the end of every day thinking nothing has happened we could have gone out & it would've been fine. Do as much as you can with your ds as you may not feel up to going many places once baby is born. Regards waters breaking whilst out have the maternity unit number in your phone and either have your hospital bag & notes in the car boot or by the front door so it's easy for someone to collect.

MayfairMummy · 07/04/2015 18:57

lego, I wouldn't worry too much about your waters ... like they say, you'll most likely have other signs (and won't necessarily want to be out and about) before they break. My first ones went only when the midwife was fishing around inside.. and although for my 2nd labour, the first thing to go was actually my waters, it wasn't like i'd suddenly wet myself so much as there was an audible pop, and then a trickle. I was in bed at the time (mid-day, but having a rest); i'm sure if i'd been wearing a pad it would have been fine to get to car / taxi / whatever to get home or to hospital.

Floppypotato · 07/04/2015 19:07

I'm due today and I popped into town to the bank etc. Whilst in the queue I did think to myself it would be rather awkward if my waters "went" in the Natwest! I did think wonder if they'd give me a deposit for a child's account or something lol.

I've tried to keep busy and out and about. I too didn't realise until NCT that such a small % of womens waters break and it's not always the first sign! Like PPs say - it's the Hollywood effect!

Original poster

ihatelego · 07/04/2015 21:11

haha yeah my trip to the zoo was rather uneventful today ( hurry up baby!) will definitely be out and about as much as feet allow, i do wonder if the voucher thing is true though and i should hang around the aisles

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Christelle2207 · 07/04/2015 21:19

I don't know anyone who's waters went out and about, quite a few went in bed and many whose waters went as a trickle not a gush. Mine went last time really late on, at about 8cm in the pool!

Christelle2207 · 07/04/2015 21:21

I'm 35 weeks and have put mats out in bed, in the car and on the sofa- covered in a towel- just in case.
Think getting out and about at this stage important for your sanity though, esp if the sun is shining!

PlasticCircus · 07/04/2015 21:26

My waters went with a massive pop with no warning when I was at home with my first- I was really surprised as it is so rare and everyone told me it was just Hollywood style labour etc.

Saying that, I will still be out and about when I get to that stage with my second. It will be summer and I don't think my toddler will appreciate staying in just in case! If they go, they go. I will just make sure we're not too far from home in the last couple of weeks.

nousernamesleft · 07/04/2015 21:27

Mine went in public, to be exact, on a Day out with Thomas, while riding Thomas. That was fun.
However, it was just a constant trickle, that maternity pads kept at bay, made a quick quiet phone call to labour ward while dd1 was on the bouncy castle, and spent the day out as planned, then went into work for my evening shift. Must have been mad
It never got any more than a trickle tbh, I went through a few pads but no-one would have noticed.

lmb21010 · 08/04/2015 11:02

Mine went as I was getting out of bed with dd. Did trickle down my leg but a pad would have stopped that from happening.
I have been worried this time around about them going whilst I'm doing the school run! Currently 26w. I'm due the week the kids break up from school for the summer.
I'll definitely be wearing pads this time!
Although I'm the only one in the family that waters have gone before any other signs.

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