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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

leaking waters???

28 replies

azkat · 24/04/2008 20:33

I am 38+5 wks pg and think my waters are leaking. It started last night and has been trickling ever since. Called the hosp and they asked me to go in. Was examined and the mw said she wasn't sure!!! Went to ask for some advice and then came back to say that they think it is just "heavy vaginal discharge!" I'm still not sure about this as i tend to leak when i move, bend down or go up the stairs and seem ok when lying down. Also she thought it was too thick to be my waters but it is actually dripping out of me and seems just like water to me. Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry if TMI!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ImightbeLulumama · 24/04/2008 20:35

put on a pad, leave for 30 - 60 minutes, and see how wet it gets. amniotic fluid is watery, clear or straw coloured and smells sweet , very different to urine or discharge.

if you cannot stop the flow by tensing your pelvic floor it is not urine

it might be a hind water leak, which will reseal and replensih, but you should call back if you are still leaking and still unsure

did you have a speculum examination last night?

avenanap · 24/04/2008 20:35

They can do a swab test to see if it's amniotic fluid. Don't leave it though. Give them a ring again and see what they say.

Tinasan · 24/04/2008 20:41

It sounds very much like when my waters broke (also at 38+5!) - I wasn't sure either, but had a midwife appointment that day and she confirmed that there was 'liqor' and that they'd gone. I wouldn't worry that it hasn't been confirmed - I was offered the option of being induced but the obstetrician advised waiting 2 days: he said that there was a 95% chance I'd go into labour within 48 hours. And I did indeed go into labour the next day. So perhaps give it until the end of tomorrow and if nothing seems to be happening, get them to examine you again, in case they have gone and you decide that you do want to be induced at some point (I know there is a risk of infection if you leave it beyond a certain point)? Best of luck anyway, sounds like you will be seeing your new baby very soon!

Original poster

azkat · 24/04/2008 20:42

Its def not urine (does smell sweet! - the things you have to do!) and is def clear. Yes she did a speculum, but no swab test. From what i can remember from ds birth, i thought that they had something that changed colour if it was amniotic fluid, a bit hazy though! If they are leaking and go undetected are there any risks?

OP posts:

ImightbeLulumama · 24/04/2008 20:45

there is a swab test that changes colour when it detects the amniotic fluid

the speculum exam is to see if there is waters pooling in teh upper part of the vagina

if it is not a full rupture, i don;t beleive the risk of infection is the same, IIRC

definitely call them again if you are worried

lisad123 · 24/04/2008 20:47

TMI but my midwife asked me to lay flat for a bit and then checked to see if anything had pooled

chunkychips · 24/04/2008 20:52

if it's just continously trickling prob isn't urine unless you've got a pelvic floor like mine. Urine can be pretty odoourless though if you've had lots of fluids. I would call again and go in for a check up. If you don't feel right, don't take no for an answer.

LittleMissBliss · 24/04/2008 20:58

This happened to me too at 38+4 and it felt like i was weeing myself for two days.

I went in and they said that if i hadn't gone into labour in 2 days they'd induce me on the third. I did go into natural slow labour that tailed off and was later induced in the eveing. They had done an inturnal and didn't want to risk infection.

Original poster

azkat · 24/04/2008 20:59

Thanks. At day bed unit in the mornong to have blood pressure monitored so will ask again there. why do you feel like such an idiot when it comes to detecting late pregnancy issues, or is it just me!!

OP posts:

LittleMissBliss · 24/04/2008 21:00

internal even (sp)

LittleMissBliss · 24/04/2008 21:00

internal even (sp)

allgonebellyup · 24/04/2008 21:03

This trickling was the start of labour for me, both times.

It had been trickling all day with my first dc, and she was born that night!
Same with my ds!

Good luck if it all happens tonight!!!

PotPourri · 24/04/2008 21:03

I was overdue last time and was skipping (yes - with a rope - looking ridiculous) and thought my waters had gone. I was really put out when the midwife checked and said that it wasn't. I was really really sure it wasn't wee. But this time, I just tried today and same thing happened. But I am pretty sure it is wee this time - oh my poor pelvic floor (sob sob).

It sounds like it is waters leaking for you though...

PictureThis · 24/04/2008 21:06

Sounds to me like your waters have gone. If your pad is soaking and it doesn't smell like urine then the likelihood is that it is liquor....very convincing history and the midwife didn't say that it wasn't just that she wasn't sure. I would telephone delivery suite again. Whether a hind or forewater rupture, there is a small risk of infection so get back on that phone

willdaisymummy · 24/04/2008 21:07

I'm probably paranoid but I always felt I wasn't believed with both mine!!
At 36 weeks with DD I was stood in a pool of amniotic fluid with it running visably down my legs (I'm in a summer skirt!) saying "look I promise I'm not weeing" to the MW. She then had to use a pad and give me an internal to confirm it!

slinkiemalinki · 24/04/2008 21:09

Sounds like my waters (also same time... 38+3... must be something about it hey). They refused to do an internal exam on me because of the infection risk if the waters had gone - muttered a lot about hind waters. In the end the consultant gave me a scan at 38+5, no waters left whatsoever; I was induced and had her that evening.

I think they can unfortunately be very unhelpful in this situation and very keen to suggest you have weak PF and you are wetting yourself. That's what happened to me - and they were wrong!

Unfortunately a ton of monitoring came along with all this which was a PITA. Them's the breaks - hope you do go into labour naturally, I reckon I would have given a couple more days (as all was favourable) but because of "infection risk" was told induction was best - who knows!

Original poster

azkat · 24/04/2008 21:11

Thanks everyone. I am def staying away from the skipping ropes, would prob have had that effect when i wasn't heavily pg! Hoping things start soon, getting really fed up!

OP posts:

slim22 · 24/04/2008 21:12

protocol is to swab, simple test, takes 5 seconds to read the result. Ask for it.

But it's not overly worrisome unless you have GBS . Keep scrupulously clean and avoid sex to keep infection at bay.

PictureThis · 24/04/2008 21:13

I have to say if a lady presents with an obvious rupture of membranes then I don't do a speculum exam, instead, our policy is that swabs are taken (with consent of course) to check for any infection including chlamydia and Group B strep. Did she take any swabs from you?

PictureThis · 24/04/2008 21:15

sorry just re read thread, noted she didn't (blush)

slinkiemalinki · 24/04/2008 21:15

Ooh I had swabs should have mentioned... told to take temp regularly (to watch for infection), no sex or swimming. Try to relax and hope labour comes!

eandz · 24/04/2008 21:17

you guys are soo lucky! i can't wait to be this far along.

Original poster

azkat · 24/04/2008 21:21

thanks, thats one thing off my daily list of chores to encourage this baby to come if waters are leaking! Dh will be glad the burden is lifted off him! Would my comm midwife be able to do swab test? She is a bit more inviting than some stranger who makes me feel stupid!

OP posts:

slinkiemalinki · 24/04/2008 21:23

Believe me when you are in the hospital with someone swabbing around down there, attached to a heartrate monitor with wires and a MW muttering about the baby either being in trouble or asleep, she can't tell which, they may have to call the doctor, and making late night dashes with a soggy sanitary towel, the last thing you feel is lucky

slinkiemalinki · 24/04/2008 21:23

Bet she would azkat - try asking at least

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