So....Plastic Sheets

[NickyEds]

Saying this in the cheeriest voice i can muster but...Is anyone else sleeping on plastic sheets? Or some sort of bed protector?

With ds i refused on the grounds of dignity. My waters broke before I went into labour, like in the films, with a whoosh. Fortunately the only "damage" was a rug and a pair of socks which had to be binned but I'd be a bit more pissed off with a mattress having to go so think maybe we should get something. One of those Dry nites things?

I hadn't even thought of this! We have recently treated ourselves to a new expensive mattress and I don't want to ruin it

You can get pretty good ones in Dunelm, they sell them for preventing allergy flare-ups as they stop dust mites. We got one when we bought our new mattress as I have problems with dust. They're terry towelled on top and plastic underneath but not sticky or crinkly - you can't tell there's anything on.

I never did with any of my DS. However when DS2 went through a phase of bed wetting we used Asda's own brand bed mats under his sheet and they were fine so might do the job? I have a friend whose waters broke on the seat of her DH's lovely new car so that's something to think about too...

Puppy pads from the £ shop will do exactly the same job and be loads cheaper.

Boots sell a washable bed protector - it is not full single bed size but goes under the sheet at bum level. We had a couple, when ds1 had a bedwetting problem, and they are great - wash and dry really easily.

Puppy pads would be just as good, but you could bung the washable one at the back of the cupboard, and bring it out again during the night time potty training months.

All that said, with ds3, my waters went in bed - a real woosh, 'surf's up' moment - and the mattress was completely fine - we turned it over, and it dried out without any stain or smell.

Ask your midwife if she'll give you an inco pad?

I'm using a toddler bed mat, think probably cheapest option?

I'm planning on putting a few puppy pads underneath me (I should probably pull my finger out as 36+5) as they are cheap and know people i can give them too afterwards.

We had a similar waterproof sheet from Dunelm as a PP. Didn't for DC1 & regretted it not so much for my waters as leaky boobs & night sweats in the early weeks. With DC2 (and a new bed & mattress) we kept it on for 6mths or so as he had reflux.

The leftover pads that is not the used ones!!!

Luna

I used the leftover ones for the moses basket/pram because of those inevitable leaks from babies. And kept some for the older children. I've found they're pretty good for lining the floor when children throw up as well.

Good idea Fern, maybe I'll keep hold of them!

Definitely worth it mainly for the sweats in the weeks after birth, and if the baby is sicky in bed with you after. We still use our washable towelling top ones in case any problems with DS (13mo)

I got some maternity bed mats from mothercare.
One on the bed, one in the car and one on the sofa.
Also very useful to put under cot sheets etc and under you postnatally in case of blood leaks (sorry)

I got a waterproof mattress protector from primark I think. Wasn't expensive and so worth it as my waters broke in bed. I wish I'd thought of puppy pads/ incopads too though. As a naive first time mum thought about waters going but hadn't realised that even once they've got they dribble put for ages more at a quicker rate than maternity pads can handle haha so the car seat got wet on the way to the hospital ...

We got one of the plastic sheets that goes under your sheet - mostly made for kids who are in danger of wetting the bed, but figured it would do as well for me :). In the end, they had to break my waters in the hospital so wasn't needed!

I'm sure your waters aren't going to damage your mattress badly!

Strip off your sheets ready to wash (if you have time). Wipe down your mattress or spray with some febreeze or something and let it dry!

My mattresses have been wee'd on and puked on (children!) and I just clean them

Thanks everyone! I'll sort something out-never even heard of puppy pads/incopads!

I just used the waterproof sheet I'd bought for the cot (from ikea) I put it on my side of the mattress, with a bath towel over the top and the sheet over that. Why buy twice? (obvs if your waters do actually go on it you might want to discard and get a new one for baby, but if they don't, you haven't bought anything unnecessarily)

I have used the dry-nites mats, not sure if they will do the job but got to be better than nothing...

My waters went when I was on the loo and I wasn't sure at first if I was still peeing or not. In the car on way to hospital I sat on puppy pads left from our dog when she was a pup 2 and a half years ago (never used as puppy just shredded them)

Oh definitely just buy a waterproof mattress protector, you can get good breathable ones from Amazon, Homebase, Argos etc. It's not just your waters breaking, it'll see you through the baby pukey/nappy leak years, the toddler pukey/bedwetting years... Even if you don't co-sleep chances are they'll end up in with you from time to time (esp when poorly).

I used maternity mats from boots, tesco do them as well

I've got a waterproof mattress protector from Poundstretcher that I'm planning to use under my regular mattress protector and sheet. only cost around £20.

I'd not considered this before the thread. Just bought some Tena bed mats!