Are you wearing anything in case waters break?

[Twinkletwinklelil]

Those of us 38+ are you wearing pads? Nappies? Just in case you’re out and waters break?

I spoke to midwife today and asked what happens IF my water break while out.. she said just wear pads or nappies if worried.
how uncomfortable but i think im going to have to!

so just curious if anyone else is doing it?

My waters went with my first and it was only a very small trickle before baby's head dropped and plugged the opening. 2nd time my waters went, again very slightly, while on the toilet, then I used a tena which I promptly soaked during the next contraction (already in labour this time).

Nappies seem a bit overkill to me considering not many women get that massive gush spontaneously. (Though I think it's more likely lying down so make sure there's something waterproof on the bed.)
I think a thick pad would be reassurance enough if you're worried.

My waters broke prior to labour (in bed)

With hindsight, I would probably start sleeping on a towel and just take some maternity pads and a spare pair of knickers out with me. (In reality I did neither. But you wake up pretty quickly when you think you might be wetting the bed! My pregnancy pillow was the biggest casualty)

It's unlikely to be a "gush" so you do have time to get to the loo and change. And tbh,if it is a gush, maternity pads/nappies are unlikely to hold it all anyway, there's a lot!!

No I didn't.
Waters can break before contractions start.It happens in about 5% of pregnancies according to the midwife I consulted with 1st child.

Each time my waters broke in hospital after active labour had started.

None of them were a massive gush just gradual trickling.

You could carry some pads with you for reassurance

I felt a trickle when I was in bed then when I sat down on the loo I felt a pop and maybe 100ml of water? If your waters go in public people will rush to your aid so you shouldn't be embarrassed. I think I had like a puppy pad on the bed, useful for the car on the way to hospital too.
I think waters going like mine did is not the norm though despite what you see on tv

I would wear a maternity pad just in case. For my second my waters broke after a couple of hours of light contractions that the midwives at my scheduled appointment told me not to worry about! It was a big gush, so it wasn’t enough to catch everything but it helped.

If you’re wearing a pad you can also take it to hospital in a sandwich bag so the midwives can check it. Can’t remember what they’re looking for but they checked mine and it confirmed something or other.

They’re just checking if its amniotic fluid or urine.

No I never, with both my pregnancies waters only went right at the end. I thought it's much less common for them to be the first sign of labour 🤔 but I know can happen. Just wear a pad if your worried, it won't be like in the movies when a tidal wave comes out 😂

I had the absolutely huge gush of water like in the films a i was walking across my kitchen, it would have flooded a pad. It was like a bucket load. I did have a sensation it was going to happen about 20 seconds before so I left off the sofa. I think a bed cover would be wise

I never did! Tbh by that point I was too much of a whale to go anywhere 😂 in my case when my waters did break, a pad wouldn’t have done anything at all!! The quantity for me was like maybe two big wees??!! I was sorting out the baby’s room when it want actually and it ruined the new rug 😂😂 at first I genuinely thought I’d wet myself!!

No, with my first I got back into bed after going to the loo and had a small gush, which was the start, and put a pad in as had gushes every time I moved. Then at the hospital they went rather spectacularly on the bed when I was on all fours and just went everywhere. With my second they were broken in hospital.

My friends went fully in bed, so waterproof cover on the mattress would be a good idea.

I’m one of those women who experienced that huge gush as a sign that labour was imminent. I wouldnt wear anything just in case, it’s not that common and wasn’t that big a deal. First time I was stood in a puddle at home and second was more of an urgent trickle. I’d have some tena pants at home/handbag as if your waters do go that’s what you’ll need and they are great postpartum. But they’re also kinda hideous to wear so the thought of having them on just in case for maybe 4 weeks gives me the ick. And it’s terrible for the planet.

Dispite what Hollywood would have you believe, a sudden water breaking gush isn't that common. I think it's 5-10% of births.

Annoyingly for both my pregnancies this happened anyway. Both times in bed.

I had an absorbent waterproof sheet for the last month which saved the bed both times.

Tbh after about 36 weeks I was struggling to get around much and had bad pgp so mostly stayed at home sitting on a towel or in areas with hard floors😂

I never, with my first they started trickling at 5am in bed so I just popped a pad on. Second was trickling when I was pottering about at home in the evening so popped a pad on and they went with a gush as I walked in hospital and the pad obviously did nothing. Third they didn't burst till I was pushing.

Towel in bed which was lucky because waters did start there. I wore a diaper because mine was dripping with each contraction for a while before it was time to go in. I think I had to change it a few times.

That said, because I went in wearing David diaper and not underwear and I forgot a pair to leave in and the maternity pads need something to hold them, I ended up sending DP home for them... after he paid for parking 😅

That usually only happens in films. In the vast majority of cases, birth starts with contractions and not with waters breaking. If you're worried, wear maternity pads, but you are unlikely to need them.

I didn't wear anything but my waters didn't break spontaneously with either of my pregnancies. I started with contractions first!
But I did sleep with a puppy pad under me each night just in case 😂

I really wish I had because mine broke all over my friends sofa pretty much ruining it.

I would take a spare pair of knickers and have a maternity pad with you but wouldn't wear a pad.

My waters did go Hollywood style by nothing would have contained. My pads were all packed and inaccessible so input on a panty line which was no where near sufficient. The hospital gave me a maternity pad but I still leaked a lot and especially after walking after sitting for a while. I didn't expect this....don't wear your favourite shoes!

I never even considered it out and about.

Mine went in bed - I was thankful that I had taken the advice to put a waterproof cover on the bed. This is also good advice for having kids in general.

Thanks. Such varied and interesting responses!!

my last baby, I heard a pop… and ran to the ensuite and it was a huge gush!! Luckily it worked out that way that I was at home lol.
that’s why I’m a little worried 😅😅