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Original poster

Did waters breaking ruin your mattress?

106 replies

gratefulmamatobe · 07/09/2022 13:01

MIL is suggesting I should buy some kind of protector.. but others saying it's literally just water and doesn't smell etc.

Experiences and advice please!!

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Caspianberg · 07/09/2022 13:05

Mine didn’t break at all. They broken them at the hospital about 4hrs into labour and Ds was born a few minutes later.

PeekAtYou · 07/09/2022 13:07

I've had 3 kids and mine have never broken on their own either. (They were manually broken when it was time to push)

abovedecknotbelow · 07/09/2022 13:08

IME the waters breaking thing is a movie moment not rl:) mine didn't break, had to be broken same with several friends and of this that did break it more of a trickle than a gush.

Username1234321 · 07/09/2022 13:09

Mine broke whilst I was sat on the sofa, we just put the cover in the wash and it was fine.

Dogtooth · 07/09/2022 13:10

I think TV and films have really entrenched this idea that labour = waters pop, a bit of puffing, straight to hospital then a shouty bit then a nice gooey cosy baby shot.

Maybe it works for some people like that, but it's more likely a slow build up of period-like pain, waters go one way or another mid labour. I had two labours, one I had hindwaters leaking so they didn't pop but a bit dribbled out with each contraction, then they broke the rest of the sac to get the other bit out. Second time there was a pop and a load of liquid gushed out and labour speeded up a lot.

I'd sleep with a towel under your bedsheet but not worry too much!

AdriannaP · 07/09/2022 13:10

I definitely would buy a protector - a pack is £5 from Boots and cheaper than a new mattress. Mine broke in the middle of the night with DC2. It’s not just water, there was also blood and yellow stuff. A lot of water kept leaking out, I would have not wanted this on my mattress. I was told to stay home as I wasn’t in labour and it was 3am so obviously I stayed in bed. Was so so glad I bought the protector. I also needed one for the car on the way to hospital.

CallMeBubbleDarling · 07/09/2022 13:11

I had excess water and they went in bed. Mammoth gush and it was absolutely drenched. Mattress Was fine with a bit of upholstery spray and once it had dried.

AllThatAndMore · 07/09/2022 13:12

Mine gushed into my mattress with both my kids. It just dried, no stain or smell .

AdriannaP · 07/09/2022 13:13

@Dogtooth I had no contractions with DC2 when my waters broke, they started a few hours later.

Hugasauras · 07/09/2022 13:13

Mine went all over the sofa. I'd recommend a waterproof protector anyway as if you have baby in bed with you at any point guaranteed they will spew or you will spill milk or something will happen!

TheOnlyBeeInYourBonnet · 07/09/2022 13:14

2 babies here, no spectacular breaking of waters in bed. Popped by the midwife during induction the first time, second I sprung a minor leak a few hours before labour started.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 07/09/2022 13:15

Mine broke while I was sat on a hospital bed. I'm so glad it wasn't my own bed as it would have been ruined. I'd never have thought there'd be that much - my clothes actually inflated. I'd already lost a good amount down the toilet a few minutes earlier. No one told me about hindwaters!

I did buy the protectors for my own mattress but never actually used them with either pregnancy.

EverydayIsPJday · 07/09/2022 13:15

My waters went with ds1 in the night but fortunately I jumped up in time for it not to hit the mattress. I had been sleeping on those dry nights things (for kids, bed wetting) and sat on one on the way to the hospital. Honestly if you are worried, buy them. The waters did not stop... unbelievable how much is in there!

MargorieJean · 07/09/2022 13:17

At our birth prep course they recommended a waterproof mattress protector not only in case of waters breaking, but also for inevitable accidents that can happen once baby is here. Incidentally, my waters broke in hospital but that mattress protector came in handy for night feeds with a baby who loved to projectile vomit Wink I think from memory I got one in Dunelm

TinaTotal · 07/09/2022 13:17

I'm jealous of these water breakages 😂 5 babies and my waters have never once broke on their own 😪

Mumofnowgrownkids · 07/09/2022 13:21

A mattress protector is a very good idea. We have the breathable ones on all the beds. It will come in very useful after the baby is born as they have a habit of coming into your bed and throwing up/having a nappy explosion/demanding a drink and spilling it etc., well into childhood......

lurchermummy · 07/09/2022 13:21

Mine broke all over the floor when I got out of bed. I don't think they'd ruin a mattress tbf

SeaToSki · 07/09/2022 13:21

Mine broke while I was walking over to the bed in my jammies. Was a lot of liquid, ruined the carpet. I would get a mattress protector because even if it doesnt ruin it, the last thing you want to be dealing with when in labour, is drying out a soaked mattress/not having a bed to rest in.

SeaToSki · 07/09/2022 13:22

And I also had a plastic bag on my car seat and one on the sofa where I usually sat, I just threw a blanket on top of the bag so it was more comfy

Ladywiddithethird · 07/09/2022 13:23

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Waitwhat23 · 07/09/2022 13:24

I kept being told that waters breaking dramatically was very unusual and just in the movies so didn't think it about it too much.

I was in bed, felt something kind of 'go' and the heavens bloody opened. What seemed like gallons of water flowed out. I managed to get most of it on the floor y jumping quickly out of bed but yes, some got on the mattress. Luckily we had a mattress protector anyway.

Triage kept saying 'are you sure it's not just pee?' but at this point, I'd gone through the sanitary towel they suggested(!), two pairs of pants, a pair of trousers and two massive bath towels.

I would recommend a protector just in case!

Mumofnowgrownkids · 07/09/2022 13:25

Oh, and while not everyone finds they needed a protector for the mattress, it would be just your luck to find you should have got one and the mattress gets soaked. As has been said, the last thing you need with a newborn is to be trying to dry out a mattress. Waters went when I had just got up with my first and yes, there was a lot of fluid. Had to sit on a waterproof pad on the way to the hospital!

MsSquiz · 07/09/2022 13:32

With both of my children, I had my waters broken once in hospital.
But I did buy a mat to go under the sheet "just in case"

Puppy pads do the same job and you get a lot more for less money. Plus I also use them as a changing mat when changing the baby in public changing rooms or toilets so they're handy to have

jumpingwithjoy · 07/09/2022 13:40

Mine broke while I was standing at the top of the stairs. I was in total shock at the amount of "liquid" that came pouring out!
No idea who cleaned the stair carpet or even if it ever did get cleaned because from that point on I went into full on "THE BABY IS COMING!" mode and didn't get back to the house for a week as ended up staying in hospital.

I presume it soaked into the carpet as husband would have just walked right over it without noticing a thing anyway (he is bloody useless at cleaning/noticing a mess but very good at diy so I forgive him haaaaaa)

I never noticed a stain or a smell (tbh this is the first time I've even thought about it again in 18 years!!) - we moved about 3 months later so presume the new owners must have enjoyed removing that underlay Envy
Oops Blush

ChloeHel · 07/09/2022 13:41

Mine were all over the car seat, didn’t smell at all, DH just soaked it up with a towel after. Still have the car haha.

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