Leaky...!

[grace1991]

Hello everyone...little bit of advice please..I'm 30wks pregnant first baby. So all unknown. Over the last week or so I've noticed I'm constantly "wet." I know that sounds so gross but it's the only way I can describe it. My pj trousers which I put on clean and dry at 7pm have a damp patch now. Is this normal? Yesterday morning I was also sitting on our bed and when I stood up there was almost a white clot on the bed. No pain no contractions..Also been having quite a lot of pain in my lower abdomen every now and then. Any advice would be really appreciated sorry it's such a gross topic !!! xx

No that’s not normal! It sounds like it could be your waters!! You need to phone for advice right away - seriously, do it now

@rossKemp but it isn't soaking or anything it's just a bit damp. I don't feel any different either literally just that. Very weird

This advice is copied and pasted...

If your waters break before 37 weeks

Call the unit without delay, as you may need swift treatment to protect your baby. The number for the unit should be in your maternity notes.

You'll need extra support and care from the hospital team. Your doctor or midwife will recommend that you:

Have a course of antibiotics for 10 days or until you're in active labour, whichever is sooner. This is to protect you and your baby from infection.
Have a course of steroids if you're between 24 weeks and 34 weeks pregnant, and possibly up to 36 weeks pregnant. This is to protect your baby's lungs, if he's born early.
Have blood tests and extra monitoring of your baby, to check for infection.
Meet a neonatologist and have a look around the neonatal care unit in case your baby arrives early and needs extra care.
Wait to see if labour starts on its own. You may be able to go home, if all's well after a period of monitoring in hospital. You need to contact your doctor or midwife if you have symptoms of an infection, such as high temperature, tummy pain or your baby moving less than usual.
Plan a hospital birth at 37 weeks, unless there are complications that mean that it's safer for your baby to be born sooner.
Have magnesium sulfate fed through a fine tube (drip) into your vein if you're between 24 weeks and 30 weeks pregnant and are in active labour, or are having a planned preterm birth within the next day. Having magnesium sulphate can help to reduce the risk of cerebral palsy, which may affect some babies who are born too soon.

@grace1991 if your waters break as a slow trickle or a leak it could be because the sac has a small opening where the amniotic fluid is draining. The water generally dribbles away intermittently (over hours or days) with movement from either you, your baby or with a contraction

You really do need to be assessed OP

I had this a lot with my daughter around that time. I was prone to watery discharge and it always made me worry it was my waters.

However I did go to get checked out and would recommend you do too just to be safe

@rossKemp Thankyou! I'll give them a call tomorrow xxx

Call your midwife unit (I'd do it now). The will most likely tell you to come in, examine you, and let you know if it's just excess vaginal discharge or if your waters have gone/are leaking.

NB I had similar and it was just discharge.. still glad I went in though as it could be serious and is definitely a case of better safe than sorry.

@Hannah1990x ok I'll give them a call. Thankyou very much

@KnobwithaK would I not know if my waters had gone? There would surely be a clear leak? Xx

I agree you need to do it now, not tomorrow. IF it is your waters I’m not sure you understand quite how dangerous it could be without intervention (potentially fatal for baby)

Take care OP

@grace1991 sometimes it’s a really slow leak. Not always a big gush. Deffo worth being checked out x

@grace1991 I'm no expert but my understanding is that if they are just "leaking" them you might not. Definitely worth a call in any case.

I'd call now, best to be safe, my midwife said anything I'm not sure about especially waters leaking to call no matter what time of day they would rather you call than something happen.

Thankyou all I appreciate all you're help! I'll give them a call xx

Agree to get it checked. I was very dischargey during pregnancy but that was all through. Hope all is well

You could try putting a pad on for an hour or 2 to see if it ends up wet. They will also ask if it smells of urine or not.
I've heard of people's waters breaking and it just being a slow trickle rather than the 'gush' you imagine so definitely better to get checked out if you're unsure

@sel2223 it sort of does smell like that. Is that good or bad?

You could be leaking urine, I did in both pregnancies unfortunately, just baby's potion pushing down and the hormones can lead to it later on. Have a google, you will be able to smell if it iis with a close sniff. It's not unusual, I think a lot of people just think it's discharge wetness. You can do pelvic floor exercises while pregnant too.

I would call triage just to be sure but I had a big increase in discharge around this gestation. Use pads to monitor it. Someone told me If it was amniotic fluid it would ‘pool’ if you laid down and then trickle out when stood and would do this continuously not as a one off so if each time you stand after laying for a period of time it has happened 100% get checked out.

I thought my waters were leaking a few times in later pregnancy but compared to when they did go it was literally a droplet

Could be urine, could be more discharge, or could be your waters. Agree with everyone that you should get it checked out right away.

I think that if it is a continuous trickle it is more likely to be your water. Sometimes the trickle slows when you stand as baby's head "plugs" your cervix (assuming baby's turned already).

If it smells like urine it's more likely to be a leak, and if it's thick or creamy it's more likely to be discharge. Either way, do call now and see what they say. I'd also count the kicks to check if baby seems ok for now.

Hope everything's fine !

Always call your midwife if you are unsure. With dd1 I had lots of discharge the entire pregnancy. It definitely ramped up in the last couple of months. Ah, pregnancy!

I had lots of discharge in pregnancy which I believe is very common. Pop a pad on and call the hospital though if you're worried it's your waters.

@grace1991 Hope you managed to get through to the unit and that they'll be able to examine you asap.

Based on my own experience I would suggest asking them to do a swab test for amniotic fluid. I experienced the same trickling that you are describing and I couldn't figure out if it was urine/discharge/waters (despite copious googling of symptoms!). I was examined twice over the course of a week, and both times the doctor said that everything looked intact and no sign of broken waters. But the second time they also did a swab test, which showed that there was in fact some amniotic fluid leaking. As the previous poster has outlined, the hospital then kept me in for a couple of nights of monitoring and gave me steroid injections for baby's lungs and antibiotics to prevent infection. I was so glad I went to get checked out! The hospital advised that I would be able to go home and keep going for a couple more weeks, but in my case, baby decided to make an appearance a couple of days later.

You might want to think about bringing some overnight things with you when you go to the hospital, and your phone charger etc, just in case you do need to stay in.

Hope this hasn't alarmed you but I just wanted to share my experience so that you can be prepared just in case! xx

Hey OP, what you’re describing is very much like how I am in the third trimester of all my (3) healthy pregnancies - especially when you described it as a white clot. I remember telling my husband I must have spilled some yoghurt (blush).

If it is creamy and white-coloured it is unlikely to be your waters. The advice to wear a pad if you see a midwife so they can take a look is good, and when I went to maternity triage for reduced movements recently it was really quiet there (central London) so don’t be afraid to bother anyone if you feel you need to put your mind at rest.

Thankyou all so so much for your help. The leaking isn't continuous and when I stand up nothing happens. I was just a bit damp which makes me think it could be urine or discharge. I've kept an eye on it and worn a pad overnight and nothing has really come out. I'm hoping it's just an increase in discharge and all is well. IF i leak anymore then I will 100% call. I just hate the thought of the midwives telling me it's only discharge. I'm so not a dramatic person. Thankyou all @fretnot @TealGreen4321 @lollipoplola @Badabingbadabum @Malysh @Whatelsecouldibecalled @ishouldtryabiteachday @sel2223 @ScarfLadysBag @mrsc1987