How do I know, it's only watery discharge not amniotic fluid leaking?

[RoiseS]

Im nearly 35 weeks pregnant now, I know discharge is normal in pregnancy. I don't have any smelly weird looking one, just like the whiteish normal, but sometimes I have like watery one too. Not a lot but I just started worrying what if the amniotic fluid started leaking? How do I know it is only discharge and not the amniotic fluid? This morning I had some, and then now again, also know the watery one is normal too but because Im a first time mommy to be just worryinh on things like this..😅

When I was pregnant with DD I had leaking waters at 36 weeks. It was nothing like discharge, more like wetting myself a little at regular intervals. I could feel a little gush and would need a change of clothes after each one. I soaked through a maternity pad on my way to the hospital to get checked and was fairly certain I was having some kind of bladder failure until they tested the liquid to confirm it was my waters.
Yours doesn't sound like it's quite as 'gushy' but if it's not usual for you, you're best to get checked out. Can you contact your midwife? Or call the delivery ward at your local hospital? They will be able to advise and can get you in for testing and monitoring needed.

Meant to say good luck OP

You need to call triage and they will call you in to do a test to make sure as they will need to keep an eye on you if it's fluid. I had the same, and had to go in during my pregnancies but it was always just discharge! But mw always wanted me to get checked anyway.

All the best

@RoiseS I'm 33 weeks and I seem to have a combination of watery discharge (often have a damp patch in my underwear) and thicker stuff at the same time! This has been happening to me probably from around 16 weeks and just seem to have more of it now in my third trimester. I've told the midwife a few times and also did a swab last week to check it wasn't BV and came back normal, so think it's just one of those pregnancy things. If you're worried call triage or ask your midwife x

@seaduck funny how everyone's experience is different. I've mentioned this multiple times to various midwives and my consultant and never been checked for waters leaking!

Sniff it. I know, I know. But if it smells like semen, it's probably amniotic fluid. I believe it's also a straw colour, if that helps any

I was monitored for fluid loss as my fluid levels were low with DC1, I was given additional scans to monitor them.

Wear a pad, give it an hour or so and have a sniff. Good luck OP 👍🏼

Thank you all to share ur experience with me 🥰 it's never a big damp patch, I had the same before but not like everyday or 2x a day. Today was the first when I had 2x, but 2 small patch only. I use the tena light liners, I never had to replace it because of the dampness. I keep sniffing it (😂) but for me it's smell like the "discharge" what dosen't really smell but it does a little bit. Nothing bad I mean I had the same "smell" before pregnancy. I keep my eye on it, probably Im just paranoid 😅 if it's gets worse I call the maternity unit (my midwife is on annual leave now 😔) but next week I have to visit her, so I can speak about my concers with her. I'll ask for this test just in case, so I'd be more calm 😊 thank you all again 😍

I had this a few weeks ago! So my midwife told me to put a fresh pad on and lie down for 30 mins then when you stand up if you can feel it come out and your pad is wet then ring triage and they will test it. Good luck xx

When your waters go it's much more persistent and very very wet. Discharge can be contained by a panty liner, waters are more in volume and would soak through one very quickly.

Sorry this is grim, but have you ever vomited so much you were only bringing up water? It feels exactly like that liquid vomit sensation, but from your vagina.

My waters leaked all day from 10am, when I got to hospital at 6pm they put two maternity pads on me at once to contain it. I still had to change them regularly.

@Mylasmummy2102 good advice.
I found with leaking waters that there was definitely a bit of a gush when I got up off the bed.

I sprang a leak at 35 weeks. Mine wasn’t loads and mostly when I stood up. After 24 hours my DH persuaded me to go and get checked, I didn’t even take my bag as I was sure it was pee. Got to hospital, confirmed amniotic fluid as it had been ongoing they induced me due to risk of infection (not in UK) and 12 hours later DS1 was born.

Always worth getting checked.