Amniotic fluid or urine ...

[staycalmmama]

Had a trickle this morning whilst going toilet but not sure whether this was urine or amniotic fluid, it was early hours and didn't have bathroom light on. Have never had continence issues. Im 38+5 today so not long to go.

No contractions yet just period like cramps and lower back pain. Anyone had similar experience?

It might be too late now, but amniotic fluid has a very distinctive smell, nothing like wee.

It's not common to have a very small trickle of amniotic fluid that then stops completely, but it's not unheard of.

This happened to me and duty midwife ignored me, wouldn't examine me and said it must have been urine (I said it definitely wasn't) then 48 hours later I went into hospital with reduced movements and I had to have an induction and a ton of anitbiotics because they released it was fluid and it had been too long. Baby came out ok but it didn't need to go down like that. Go and get checked.

@Carbiesdreamhouse

Hate when they make assumptions without thoroughly checking. Did you start with contractions soon after?

Might give triage a ring later if the pain continues. Really don't want an induction so hoping things start naturally in the next 24 hours if it was amniotic fluid.

@DoobryWhatsit

It stopped within a few seconds. Have had 2 previous babies but midwives broke the waters both times so was expecting same thing again... I guess it's just a case of waiting now to see what happens today.

Put a pad in your knickers and check if you have any more leaking. One sure sign is if you lie down for 30mins to 1hr, when you stand up, you will feel them leak out. Then phone triage. The MW will be able to check the pad and confirm whether waters or urine.

If your waters are leaking, but contractions haven't started, its a big infection risk and you may need to be induced. This happened to me and my DD had sepsis.

@AnotherNC22

Been totally dry since. How long from your water's breaking to baby arriving? Poor dc 🥺

Was hoping for a water birth but labour is just so unpredictable. I just worry the intensity of induction but if needs be.

@staycalmmama Waters broke around 5.30am, went back to bed for a bit then woke DH. Seen by triage at 9am. I was told i would be induced if contractions hadn't started by the following morning but my BP had gone very high so i was admitted to wait for the induction. As it was, first contraction came about 10.30pm and then DD born at lunchtime the following day.

I also wanted a water birth but in the end DD was small for gestational age so they recommended continuous monitoring, which ruled it out. In the end, it all was quite fast really so i didnt feel like i missed out.

@AnotherNC22

How did they establish it was definitely your waters that broke? That's what's causing me confusion.

Mine is measuring on the bigger side so preferably should be hoping for it to come earlier... not looking forward to whats to come but then again feels I've been pregnant forever.

@staycalmmama i had an exam at triage and they could tell straight away (i basically leaked all over the poor midwife examining me). But if you've had a pad in, then they can look at the pad under a microscope and waters look different to urine.