Labour or not?

[Ebonythoughts]

I’m 36+5 and I met with my community midwife today and told her I’ve been having regular more intense tightening and back pain as well as pressure down below for about a week now and since yesterday have been losing some fluid. She said to go home and put on a pad and check if the fluid is urine or not my smelling it. She said if it doesn’t have a smell give triage a ring because it sounds like early labour.

It’s definitely not urine but it’s trickles and not a gush and although the tightenings and back pain are uncomfortable they are not painful so I’m not sure whether to just wait it out or call them? I’ve been told early labour can last hours/days and I haven’t lost my mucus plug yet or had any other signs so I don’t know whether to call and go in now or not. I know I can’t predict it but I’d like to complete as much of early labour at home as possible.

Shall I wait and see how things progress or call and go in?

If you are experiencing anything actually trickling then you need to go in and get checked. They need to swab to check if your waters have gone and could do a vaginal examination (if you consent to one, you don't have to) to see how your cervix is looking.
The pains and tightenings you are feeling could be early labour or could be general end of 3rd trimester pains but the trickles need checking. This is how my waters went- no gush, baby's head was acting like a plug.

Wishing you all the best!

Yeah no need to do anything about the pains etc, that could be labour or not.
But you absolutely must go in if your waters possibly broke yesterday! In many cases they'll want to start induction 24 hours after the first trickle. Unless they think you are progressing well naturally.
Do NOT wait and see. Ruptured membranes allow infection in, and leaving it longer than a day really ramps up the risk.

Definitely get checked. My first my hind eaters went and it was just a trickle. Had no contractions or anything though so ended up getting induced after 24 hours and she was born almost 48 hours after they went but still ended up with an infection. It’s really not worth leaving it, go get it checked.

Hi Ladies, thank you for the advice, I called triage last night and went in, they checked the fluid and said there was some amniotic fluid there but it was small they weren’t concern. My contractions have got stronger but are still irregular so they just advised me to go home and wait it out a little. They wanted to examine me to check my cervix and dilation but I didn’t want it at this stage.

Definately appreciate the encouragement to go in, just for peace of mind, even though I’m always worried about wasting people’s time when midwives are under such immense pressure, thank you.

Did they say how long they would be happy to leave you without intervention? Usually it’s only around 24 hours but I’m assuming as you’re having some contractions they’re willing to wait and see if it happens on its own. Mine was only a small amount but still ended up with an infection so I’m really surprised they said weren’t concerned.

If you don't have clear advice as to when to phone back, I wouldn't leave it long before phoning back. Stress that you're concerned about infection. You could ask them to induce if you want to?
I'm not a midwife so in your shoes I'd be reading NICE guidelines for PROM (which is what you have) and checking they are following them. If they are, great. If not, fight your corner.

I was just relieved they said it wasn’t much to be honest and didn’t ask any other questions. I really don’t want to be induced so hoping Labour starts naturally by itself but I’ll call by tomorrow if it’s still leaking and ask about infection and see what they say.

I've just looked up the NICE guidelines for you. See screenshot below. It states that they should offer you induction no more than 24 hours after your first trickle. If they haven't done that I'd phone and ask what their reasoning is. I suspect, sadly, that they are busy and don't want to add you to the workload.
If they don't have a sound reason for waiting, insist on induction. I know you don't want one, but there is a reason for the guidelines and that is because there is a risk to the life of your baby.

I'm sorry to read you the riot act, but I know someone who waited because she wanted a natural birth. She got an infection and her baby died.

The hospital should be preventing this happening to you, but they are failing you. The only person who can now protect your baby is you. Don't be a statistic.

Sorry forgot screenshot

Thank you for the honest advice I appreciate it. I’ll call them.

Good luck OP. Let us know when you have your bundle in your arms! ❤️