Test for fluid leak TMI

[Dreamhex]

Hey everyone,

Please just humour me and answer my stupid questions 🙈 so I’ve been getting what I think (hope) is increased discharge over the last 2 days. It’s mostly milky white but very thin like milk rather than creamy. I’m wearing a panty liner and not having to change it at work (so basically wear it for 8plus hours) but there is discharge on there by the end of the day which dries slightly pale yellow. Over the last 2 days I’ve noticed and bigger stain on my panty liner but it still doesn’t feel heavy or wet so hoping it’s just discharge. I’m worried because sometimes I do feel the discharge come out and I go and check and it’s all white milky stuff still but alot of it!

I've called the triage team and they don’t think it’s my waters due to not filling a panty liner etc getting fluid down my legs etc but she said I could come and have a speculum exam just to put my mind at rest. I was happy with this BUT please tell me the speculum exam is safe in pregnancy? Does it go as high as my cervix? Sorry if this sounds stupid but I have so much anxiety about causing issues for my self. I obviously want to check myself over because it’s really worrying me but I’m worried it will cause issues for baby too. I’m being ridiculous right?

I went into the pregnancy assessment unit last week for the same thing, increased and change in discharge to a more watery consistency. The concern was obviously whether I was starting to leak amniotic fluid so I have to admit any risks from the consultant using the speculum didn't even cross my mind (as the other option was far worse if it had been fluid leaking). The triage team will be best placed to answer your worries but from my own experience, it was completely safe.

You need to ask the medical professionals. It is really not a good idea to trust strangers on the internet with situations like this, we could literally be anyone saying anything! Any doubts in your pregnancy call your midwife or go in and get seen.

@Minnesota38 thank you I had to have 1 5 weeks ago due to cramps (turns out I had a bad UTI) and it didn’t cross my mind but I’ve read something recently to say they can actually increase the risk of PROM and considering that’s what I’m worried about I don’t want to increase my risk 🙈 I will go anyway and explain my worries to them though.

@bakewellbride i wasn’t asking whether the discharge was normal etc I was basically asking whether the test itself is safe and whether any one has had any I’ll effects from it. Also like I said in my post I have spoke already to professionals and they don’t think I need to worry but I will be going in anyway and getting checked and explain my issues

I understood what you were saying perfectly and my point still stands - if you 'don't think a test is safe' then ask the professionals and not Mumsnet.

That's good you're going in!

@bakewellbride i will ask them later when I go and get checked. I was asking a question though like 100’s of others ask a day. I was after real experiences from others as well as professional opinions which I will get later on

But you don't know if it's a 'real life experience', it could be anybody saying anything, even something dangerous. What if you'd had loads of replies saying speculums aren't safe etc etc, then you'd be needlessly stressed out and worried.

When a speculum goes it, it just goes into the vagina. When they open it, it is essentially pushing open your vaginal walls so they can see the cervix. But the speculum doesn't actually touch / or go into the cervix itself, it just opens the vagina so they can visualise it.

I'm not saying do / don't do it, I'm just explaining what it actually entails. What they will be wanting to look at is the os of the cervix (the opening) to check it is still closed.