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

Original poster

Waters breaking but midwives say it hasn’t...?

119 replies

Birdy1991 · 03/08/2020 11:33

I felt my waters breaking this morning (or what I thought was) three gushes of clear liquid in short succession on the bathroom floor. Pretty sure it wasn’t urine as I couldn’t see where it went at first to clear it up. Phone the triage unit and they had me up there to check, as I had no contractions. After a speculum examination they think it was just discharge. But discharge has never come out like that or ran down my leg as such (sorry tmi).

Has this happened to anyone else? Is there any chance they are wrong? I felt so convinced and I feel like I know my own body but they are the professionals of course. I was so excited at the thought that contractions and then labour might be close but now I feel back to square one.

OP posts:
Original poster
Birdy1991 · 04/08/2020 07:32

@FourPlasticRings no ball; I’m so unprepared! Planning a long ish walk this morning to get things moving quicker hopefully.

OP posts:
kikibo · 04/08/2020 07:47

The fact that you felt tearful means it's starting.

Good luck and insist on that swab if nothing happens.

Starburst12 · 04/08/2020 08:23

Good luck OP!

Greenmarmalade · 04/08/2020 08:30

Never be afraid to make a fuss with the nhs! Otherwise you can end up with substandard care, particularly in maternity and postnatal. Advocate strongly for what you need and are experiencing.

OutComeTheWolves · 04/08/2020 08:41

This happened to me and also to a friend - as in we were told our waters hadn't broken but they had!

Afterwards my friend pursued a complaint due to how things planned out afterwards and was eventually told that the test to ascertain whether there's amniotic fluid present (as opposed to just discharge or urine) is fairly expensive so midwives are encouraged not to use it and to find out by examining you instead.

I should add I have no way of knowing how true this is or if this applies to all hospitals or just our specific one.

DanceWithYourBalloon · 04/08/2020 08:59

@Ohfredcomeon

Yes me. I was also swobbed and apparently nothing there. Even though I was having contractions.

So I was sat at home all day timing the contractions and when it got to a few minutes apart they said that if I was in real labour I’d be breathless but if I must come in - come in.

When I got there they still didn’t think I was telling the truth as I wasn’t panting or breathless or showing severe pain. Told me to get on the bed and they’d check. I was 8cm dilated and a surprised midwife told me get a hospital gown on Hmm

This also happened to me! I couldn't get through on the phone so I just went in and they clearly didn't believe me. I was 6cm though so they couldn't send me home.
Original poster
Birdy1991 · 04/08/2020 09:45

I rang up to report my contractions and mentioned yesterday and that I should have had a swab done not just speculum exam. The midwife on the phone was a bit snippy and said ‘well the midwife may not have found it necessary from the speculum exam’ Hmm
Anyway, as im experiencing contractions (now around every 15-20 minutes) I’m not going to worry. But still think I was right Grin

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Original poster
Birdy1991 · 04/08/2020 09:46

@OutComeTheWolves that makes sense! Bloody cost cutting!

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FlorisApple · 04/08/2020 11:16

Good luck! You will be fine! The same thing happened to me; waters broke, but at hospital they weren't convinced so sent me home. My doula (an ex-midwife) said to monitor my temperature at home, and if I saw a rise to go back in. It was another whole week until they properly broke all over the place. Went to the hospital again and they sent me home again, but told me to come back in the morning and I would be induced. I finally got my lovely daughter after three days and a c-section. I now think I was in early labour all that time, but she was stuck. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself, or get someone to do it for you. Sometimes you need to fall apart a bit to convince them! You have strength you never knew, so hang in there, you are close!

Notredamn · 04/08/2020 17:03

How is everything OP?

Original poster
Birdy1991 · 04/08/2020 17:27

@Notredamn contractions are now 5 minutes apart, for over a minute a time. I rang my hospital and they have no rooms so they’re sending me to their sister hospital miles away! So going to have to fork out for a cab as my partner doesn’t drive, but don’t want to go yet in case they send me home or even just him as it will be expensive and time consuming going backwards and forwards. Feeling pretty upset right now ☹️
I never had any more waters leak either...

OP posts:
Staplemaple · 04/08/2020 17:30

How far away is the hospital OP? Have you phoned them rather than just the hospital you were going to go do? I can't remember the advice I had specifically, but they did mention how to count the time between them and when they recommended coming in.

Notredamn · 04/08/2020 17:34

Oh gosh Birdy just focus on getting there for now as things can speed up very quickly. Once there, demand to be admitted as your waters have gone, you've not been monitored regardless of that fact, your contractions are regular and you've been referred from your original closer to home hospital. I say 'demand' because sometimes you have to be very firm. Hopefully they won't try and fob you off though. Best of luck!

Chocolate4me · 04/08/2020 17:35

Atleast you don't have to see the snipey midwife! Maybe leave it an hour and then go, you can probably have a walk around before going in if you want to kill some time and speed things up. Good luck!

Original poster
Birdy1991 · 04/08/2020 17:59

@Staplemaple spoke to a lovely midwife from there and she said she was happy to see me now and I said I don’t want to come to be turned away if I’m not dilated enough. Going to wait until they are even closer together and then get a taxi and pray that I’m ready enough to just stay... wondering whether to book a hotel for the night if I’m not? What a shitshow!

Does that sound like a good or bad plan?

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Original poster
Birdy1991 · 04/08/2020 18:00

@Staplemaple the hospital is a 40 min drive x

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Notredamn · 04/08/2020 18:03

I think you need to get there asap.

NoSquirrels · 04/08/2020 18:04

I’d say don’t stress about planning anything but the hospital right now - just book your cab, grab your bag and go. Anything that needs to be sorted afterwards can be. You’re 40+4 and think your waters went yesterday - you can make a big fuss to be kept in hospital. Don’t be backward at coming forward!

NoSquirrels · 04/08/2020 18:05

5 mins apart and a 40 min drive please don’t wait!

LaGoulueRevenue · 04/08/2020 18:09

Please don't worry about needing to book a hotel. You're in labour, you can be admitted to the maternity ward if they don't think you're dilated enough for the delivery suite. You're the patient here!

Original poster
Birdy1991 · 04/08/2020 18:13

Thanks for all your support and talking some sense into me. I’ll call back now.

OP posts:
LaGoulueRevenue · 04/08/2020 18:13

Just turn up @Birdy1991, bring your notes

Original poster
Birdy1991 · 04/08/2020 18:50

@LaGoulueRevenue I’m in a cab now and contractions seem to have slowed down! Typical!

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Chocolate4me · 04/08/2020 18:51

I doubt they'd send you home knowing you're 40 mins away and needing a cab, and that your waters might have gone. You don't want to be stuck in a cab with painful frequent contractions so I'd just go, call them on the way, hope baby is here very soon for you!

Staplemaple · 04/08/2020 18:51

I'd call back and head out on the road to be honest, and yes to remembering your notes. I forgot mine and DH had to go back for them which was a bit awkward! You've got this!