Help please waters breaking

[ChateauProvence]

Hi just looking to see if anyone has been in a similar situation. Last night I was on the sofa and all of a sudden my knickers and pjs were wet - got up and smelt it and no smell definitely not urine

came to MAU and tested positive for my waters breaking (but faint positive) but due to the doctor not seeing any fluid and then leaving the hospital as she felt ill another doctor asked to redo the test. I refused as I was in a lot of pain due to existing cervical erosion and I was bleeding and I had been told by the midwife If they did the test again while I was bleeding it could create a false positive. The same midwife has confirmed the original swab did not have any blood on it.

due to the positive test they have admitted me and I am on antibiotics but I think they will want to do the swab test again today which I am really going to struggle with. Does anyone know if I have any other options? I am also not convinced it was a false positive it was a definite gush if clear liquid and I have been having a lot
of pressure and back ache and I am concerned that if it comes back negative today I will stop getting the antibiotics which could lead to an infection for me or the baby

sorry if this reads a bit garbled

How far on are you? If you are on antibiotics you should finish the course. It’s not going to do any harm.

Hi thanks for coming back to me - I am 36 + 5 . The doctor was so awful to me last night and can’t understand why I refused another spectrum without any jelly this time. I have a history of cervical erosion and scarring so just find it so painful even with the jelly

At 36+5w i also would not want to stop getting the antibiotics so I can understand your worry. Do you know if you are Group B Strep positive by any chance? When my waters broke early with DD1 after the inital gush, basically as soon as i stood up after lying down, i would get more trickles as more water leaked out. If you have been lying down and then stand up, do you get any leakage?

Have you had an ultrasound scan to measure your water levels. That’s what I got first, it was borderline so had an internal.

If you’re waters have gone you really have to assume baby will be there sooner. I’d ask about steroid injections ( for babies lungs) and a timescale for next steps.

thank you so much for your replies I have been feeling so alone. I have no more gushes just the initial gush when I was lying down but since then my pads have damp. I did have an ultrasound but only to check the position of the baby - the midwife thought the doctor was going to check the waters also but she didn’t

I really don’t think I can face the spectrum again especially without jelly and I’m more scared of a false negative after the positive as they’ll then stop the antibiotics

What you describe is consistent with amniotic fluid. I had this, same - small amount, no smell, not pee. They refused to listen to me or do a test, with disastrous consequences. But I was much earlier on than you. At 36+5 I don’t think you need a steroid injection for baby’s lungs.

Don’t allow medical staff to prod and poke you just to satisfy themselves: let them use the evidence they already have, which is more than enough. Can you get someone to advocate for you? A private midwife or doula? Can you escalate this? There is a tendency by some doctors to patronise or bully pregnant women/women in labour. Get that doctor’s name and make a complaint. If it were me I would be insisting on a c-section on Monday or Tuesday when the real doctors are in., if you can hold out that long. Hang on in there. Be strong for both of you.

@BigBadBun thbak you! It’s so hard when it’s your first time and I just don’t know what to do for the best. But I really do think it was some of my waters. I just spoke to another midwife and she agreed I should decline another examination due to bleeding and go home with antibiotics and daily monitoring so need to wait for the consultant now but I def won’t be letting them do another examination

i am sorry you were not listened to

Still waiting for the consultant - really worried about what they are going to suggest and if I am going to be listened to!

I agree with BigBadBun. My waters broke at exactly 37 weeks. I didn't have to be prodded and poked, the midwife asked to see my pad and that was enough for her to agree it was my waters. (There was absolutely no doubt as they basically all went at once). I was sent home to see if I'd go into labour on my own (I wanted this) back the next day as nothing had happened and then I wasn't induced until about 12 hours later unfortunately but I had an antibiotic drip to prevent any infection. Baby born safely at 6lbs. Don't let them prod and poke you if you don't want them to, there's other ways. Like I say, they didn't even try to do that with me. Wishing you lots of luck.

Thanks all, my pads are slightly damp but with a lot of bloody mucus. Still haven’t seen a doctor so not sure what the plan will be yet!

Thanks for your reply. It’s the anniversary of this at the moment so my emotions are particularly heightened. In your position, and with what I know now, I would make a lot of noise and fuss and not care about it. You are not there to make friends or to tell them how amazing the NHS is and they are all saints and always right; you are there to get the best possible outcome for you and especially for your baby. Make no mistake, if the amniotic sac has ruptured even slightly (and yes it can, don’t listen to anyone who tells you it would be a big whoosh or nothing at all - it can absolutely be a small tear and a bit of a trickle) your baby is in danger. I would be demanding a c-section on Monday or Tuesday. But not today if possible to avoid. Lie down a lot. Good luck. Thinking of you. You need someone there with you if possible. If not, summon the courage to be demanding by thinking of defending your baby from the impact of bad advice and lazy practice.

My waters broke at 34 weeks, I was sent home after 2/3 days with oral antibiotics. Dc was born at 36 weeks. I had to go every other day for the baby to be monitored. I had IV antibiotics in labour as well due to being group b positive.

I still haven’t been seen - I am starting to get concerned at the lack of a plan for me tbh

They can swab your pads if they are damp and you have leaked more fluid - that’s what they did with me
they also told me I had a 24hr time period between waters breaking and contractions to start otherwise they would want to induce due to increased risk of infection

It's Sunday pm and they are probably hoping you will hold out until tomorrow when the non-emergency staff are back on, i.e. the surgeons. Keep taking the anti-bs anyway - pretty sure they will want you to now you have started - and keep movement to a minimum. Try to relax, but do not have a bath if that is an option, try not to get out of bed at all, ask for a bedpan for pee.
I have been induced twice. I do not recommend it, and you can end up with an emergency C-section, which is very different to an elective C-section.
This is already a high-risk situation. A controlled non-emergency C section would be completely appropriate and I would insist upon it. Obviously you may feel differently. However, if you do want a C-section you may have to convince the medical staff i.e. the doctors that the siutation warrants it. You need to make it clear to the doctor who sees you tomorrow morning that you understand your baby is at risk from infection, 'I believe the amniotic sac has been compromised and my baby is therefore at risk. This is obviously your position as you have kept me in and put me on antibiotics. I believe that this situation warrants a controlled C-section as soon as possible'. Whatever you decide it would be very sensible for you to stay in hospital and not return home. If you were the Queen or POW in this situation you would be kept in. Good luck, thinking of you.

Yes i was told the same as this - my plan was to be induced at 24hrs post waters breaking but my contractions did start naturally before then. Can you ask to speak to someone senior on the ward and say you are concerned about increasing risk of infection and you would like to know what the plan is? Are your antibiotics going in by IV?

Please don't panic. There's nothing they need to do.

You'll go into labour soon and have your baby.

You should finish the antibiotics. They'll probably send you home to await the onset of labour.

This is already a high-risk situation.

It really isn't. It's completely normal.

Not meaning to scare the OP, I really apologise if I did, and she is exactly where she needs to be and having the treatment she needs.
I meant that the increased risk - which there is, from even a partial rupture of the amniotic sac - would be grounds for an elective C-section. I do not agree that this is a completely normal situation. It is not normal to leak amniotic fluid, there are implications and it does heighten the risk. The OP will see the consultant tomorrow morning and IMO/IME it is better to be prepared with information to help you make the decisions she wants to make.

It is not normal to leak amniotic fluid

Yes it is, at term. It heralds the onset of labour and it's completely normal.

I'm a midwife BTW.

I meant that the increased risk - which there is, from even a partial rupture of the amniotic sac - would be grounds for an elective C-section

Not true. It just means that labour is about to start.

It was a long time ago so things may have changed but I had this. They kept me in for 24 hours to see if I would go into labour naturally - I was told that 95% of women will. I don't so I was sent home and had to go in every day for antibiotics. I was 36 weeks and they were keen that I get to 37 weeks if possible as that is no longer classed as premature. At 37 weeks I had a drip induced natural birth.

Hi op, I was like this when I was pregnant with my daughter who is now 8 weeks old. It was an emotional roller coaster for me.
Personally despite your pain I think you should allow the doctor to check again just to double check as you don't want them to do something wrong(make a plan)

I do understand how painful it is and how you must feel..

Please keep us updated x

Obviously the OP is on the cusp and agree that it could be the start of labour, but it's a first baby so this could go on for several days, plus she has described other issues with her cervix. Others here have mentioned being sent home when the sac has ruptured, then called back in every two days for monitoring, a practice I do not agree with, especially before 36 weeks. The positives are that the OP is in hospital, on anti-bs and will see the consultant tomorrow morning. I feel very strongly that it is important to be aware of the implications and the options available, especially when it is your first baby and when there is no mention of support from a doula, midwife, mother, aunt, sister.

She'd be far better at home, in familiar surroundings, and far away from the germs of the hospital, while she waits for labour to get started.