Amniotic fluid leaking

[arinal]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is a sign to worry. Was walking the dog yesterday and felt like a wee bit of warm water has leaked through. Phoned the maternity assessment and they advised to keep an eye on it over 24 hours. I still feel like there is a wee bit water leaking through when I walk about every couple of hours.

Was on the phone to them again this afternoon and they said it's normal and could be a watery discharge. I never had watery discharge like this before. It's usually more sticky (sorry for tmi). They said that without seeing me though just over the phone

I am 23 weeks pregnant

Please please go on and get checked straight away! I leaked amniotic fluid at 22+4 and they didn't seem bothered. Went back the next day in agony and thry said I was fully dilated and in active labour. If they had cared the day before when I first went in, there would have been several things they could have done to prevent pre-term labour.

Insist on a fibronectin test (a simple swab which tests for amniotic fluid and gives you a risk of pre-term labour as a percentage) and do NOT let them fob you off!

Hope you're okay

Your waters breaking don't always come in a rush, it can be just like this. Please insist on being seen.

Thanks ladies. Phoned again but they just don't take it seriously. The lassie on the phone said unless I have a pad that's soaked through completely it's not amniotic fluid.

Not sure what to do

I think I would ring back and say you have stomach pains as well. I know it's a lie, but if it means they check you (which wouldn't take them too long and may save yours and the baby's life) then it is worth it.

Saying that when I was pregnant with my first I did have gushes of discharge. Luckily my midwife did check it out and it definately wasn't amniotic fluid, but it soaked my pants everytime it happened. I was a lot further on than you though.

I wouldn't suggest lying but I would phone them back and say the leaking feeling is continuing and you want to be assessed. If they refuse tell them you're very worried about an amniotic fluid leak and if they won't see you you feel you will have no choice but to go to the emergency department as you're very worried about your baby. If they still refuse go to ED. ED will more than likely send you to Gynaecology anyway and you'll get assessed properly. Hope it all goes OK.

@arinal

Thanks ladies. Phoned again but they just don't take it seriously. The lassie on the phone said unless I have a pad that's soaked through completely it's not amniotic fluid.

Not sure what to do

She's talking a absolute bullshit.amniotic fluid can leak slowly, nothing like enough to soak a pad. I'm desperate for you NOT to go through what we went through. Turn up at maternity tonight and refuse to leave until a doctor has seen you. Please!

It's more than likely discharge or wee - you do get leaky as time goes on, so try not to worry. But do pop a liner on so you can check/show the midwife the colour and consistency of the leakage.

I agree with pp. mine was slowly leaking.
Although I was 39.5 weeks pregnant.
They didn't believe it was as it was a very small amount. But every time I wiped It was damp. I went in, even though they told me not to bother and they said it was infact my waters leaking. They leaked for over 27 hours before I gave birth so had to be on antibiotics for five days after birth due to them being broken for over 24 hours.

Please turn up and demand to be checked!

The woman on the phone is wrong. Mine leaked very slowly, never enough to soak a pad. I didn't go into labour but I had low fluid for the rest of the pregnancy which made it high risk and DS needed monitoring. It was spotted on a late scan (at 28 weeks).

I would insist on being seen, just for a check up.

@arinal how are you doing? Have you been checked over at the hospital?

Amniotic fluid has a very distinctive smell which I was completely unaware of until my waters broke in my 3rd pregnancy. Kind of bleachy.

I got checked out in 1st pregnancy for 'gushes' of discharge.

If your really worried go and insist on being checked. If you get the all clear you know not to worry when it keeps happening. The further along you are in pregnancy the more you'll get, discharge that is.

I would insist on being seen

Are you absolutely sure it’s not wee? You do get leaky as you progress unfortunately. If you’re sure it’s not then yeah you need to be seen whatever they say on the phone. Appreciate it’s not helpful if they the opposite.

Hi ladies! Thanks for all the replies. At the hospital just now. Phoned in this morning and insisted on getting it checked. Will keep you posted

I am glad! It's probably something and nothing but so much better to have the reassurance!

Pleased to hear

Well done for insisting! Like the others I had a slow leak and it wasn't ever enough to fill a pad. I'll keep my fingers crossed that yours is just discharge etc however. Good luck!

Fingers crossed for good news.🤞You did the right thing going to hospital.

Thanks everyone for your kind messages and support. There was no sign of amniotic fluid. Must have quite heavy discharge then 🤍

Thank God! Glad you can rest assured now OP. It's ALWAYS better to get these things checked.

Amniotic fluid has a very distinctive, sweet smell. I know op had her issue resolved but for anyone else reading this, if there's no smell (you'd smell it just wiping) chances are it's not your waters - please do still go and get checked out but just as a little reassurance.

Ps. I had pprom and it was barely enough to hit my underwear never mind soak through a pad!

Great news OP. So glad you went and got checked out!

Just wondering if anyone has any further advice on this. I've had a lot of "leaking" past couple of weeks (I'm just about 29 weeks) - definitely isn't wee, and isn't thick like discharge but I've assumed it's a normal pregnancy symptom. I'm wearing liners every day now. I have actually seen the fluid leaking (eg when I get out the shower) and it's milky white; when dried on pad looks more pale yellow. Not a hint of blood at all during whole pregnancy. I wasn't worried about it at all.

However today the midwife told me to go to MAU to get it checked in case it's slow leaking of amniotic fluid but I really don't want to waste everyone's time. I also really don't want a speculum and swab etc I just want to be left alone.. 😅 but obv will prioritise my baby. Equally being at a hospital and prodded for no reason wouldn't be good for baby. And I'm up to my eyeballs with work, and bad family news, etc etc - just bad timing and no spare time to do anything else unless seriously needed.

So I just called MAU and she seemed to agree with me, and said since pads arent soaked through (reminded me of earlier post here..) and it's milky in colour (which it is) it wouldn't be amniotic fluid and more discharge like this in pregnancy is totally normal.

Does this sound right to people who have been through amniotic fluid leak? What colour was it?

So sorry for tmi/intrusive Qs!