how do you know that your waters ahve broken???

[MyL&S]

With my first child i was induced and they broke my waters, so i know how this feels but with baby no. 2 due in 9 days, i thought id ask??

When your waters breaks naturally does it all gush out?, or is it a slow thing?? just dont want to be in the middle of a shopping centre and i end up with a puddle at my feet!! and is it clear,

I feel really silly for asking...

[mumofethan]

it can be a variety of things...

mine gushed in small amounts...

the liquid should be clear... and you wont be able to stop it not matter how tight u hold your pelvic floor...

if it happens to break in public i am sure ppl will understand...

:D

Michelle

[wattle]

My waters broke at 2.30am. I was half awake/half asleep. I felt a funny sensation, not painful, not uncomfortable, just a light twinge. I wasn't sure what it was. It didn't feel like the baby kicking though. I got up to go to the toilet and there was a slight discharge. There wasn't much so I just went back to bed.

As soon as I lay down I leaked quite a lot. Then I knew what was happening - it was very exciting. Every time I got up though, the flow stopped.

I think the baby's head moves down over the cervix when you're standing which stops the flow. When I lay down again more fluid came out. I thought I could get a bit of sleep (silly idea - I was too excited/nervous) and laid down on some towels but I soaked through them within 10 minutes or so. (sorry if a bit graphic)

I rang the hospital, had a shower, finished packing toiletries etc & we drove (carefully) into the hospital. I waited for contractions, but they didn't happen, so I was induced with the drip at 6pm that night. DS was born at 2.30am.

I'm sure it's different for everyone though.
Goodluck.

[Kat]

Its funny how differently this happens for all of us.

Mine was in the middle of the night, got up to go to the loo and it was like having wet myself when I stood up, only it was really obvious (to me) that it was my waters breaking.

someone gave me the advice for if you are worried about it happening in public - to carry around a drink bottle of apple juice and if your waters break to 'spill' the juice - gives you a 'cover' :D Personally I never did this & even now I'm not sure which would be more embarrassing - having waters break in public or to be klutzy enough to spill apple juice then exit the scene! :rolleyes:

For me the waters breaking thing was a bit like a leaking tap. For the whole labour more just kept coming out in odd spurts and drips. Hope that isn't too graphic for you.

Kat

[MyL&S]

thanks for the info..

Not at all to graphic, i kind of have an idea of what to expect.. thanks guys :)

[willsmum]

It depends what position your baby is in whether they drop to block the flow. Both of mine were transverse (sideways) so couldn't drop.

My water broke at 5.00am with William. I woke up cos I felt/heard a distinct "pop".

When I stood up it was just like someone had thrown a bucket of water over me from the waist down. I was absolutely drenched and scared DH half to death. I think he thought I'd wet the bed or something.

Anyway I rang the hospital and they just said to stick a towel or pad between my legs and come straight in (I was scheduled for a cs).

[sopolicha]

Oh Willsmum,

I should work out how to pm, but if you don't mind, how did you go with a cs after your waters breaking? Did you go into labour? Did you still have your cs?

I am asking because I am scheduled for my 3rd cs on September 7 and am a bit paranoid about going into labour, something which I have never experienced. Between the hospital putting the wind up me, and some strange pregnancy dreams I could let myself get really carried away.

Thanks

[Rainbowbrite]

Mine just dripped at first, then after about 10mins started to get heavier and more frequent. It was a scary sensation because i had no other signs but then when we realised what was happening, the adrenalin started.

You'll just know :D

[willsmum]

Hi sopoli. I didn't go into labour. I just had to go straight to hospital and they dragged the theatre staff and my ob etc in asap (it was early Sunday morning). Some people do get contractions but I didn't. From my waters breaking to having him out only took 4 hours all up, so no big deal. Don't panic.

To pm someone, just click on their name then click "send Private Message" And to check if you have a message just see if there is a number under your name against "private messages".

[chasesmum]

hi,
My waters started, leaking through out the day, just a dribble that i didnt realise was that. That evening at dinner i felt a sudden dropping sensation and a BIG gush. I changed my trackys 3 times before leaving for the hospital and realising that no matter what i did it was going to look as though i had wet myself as nothing was going to stop or catch it.
My gratest fear was it happening in public too, and an hour before the 'gush' i did the food shopping, so i was lucky. But if its going to happen then it will and people will understand i am sure.
It should be clear but tell them when you ring the hospital if its not.
Good luck :)

[our little treasures]

With dd my waters broke at 6am, I was deep asleep and then next thing I knew I felt a huge gush and I jumped out of bed and yelled at dh to get up. The bed was soaked and the waters kept gushing out when I was out of bed I was trying to clean it up and hubby said forget about the mess go stand in the shower. He still laughs about me trying to clean while it was still flowing.
I hope I didn't scare you, water breaking before labour has only 15% chance of happening anyway don't stress!!!

[cwsmum]

My waters broke less than 30 mins before DS was born, I had been at the hospital for less than 30 mins too, but my contractions were 3 mins apart. I had been having contractions since early that morning and he was born at 7:10pm. I think they were leaking a little for most of the day, but nothing anyone else would notice.
When my waters finally did break they were brown, this ment that bub has passed meconium, (or pooed) at some point, probably after contractions started. This can be dangerous and make bub very sick if he swallows any of it, so like others have said, make sure you tell the hospital if they are not clear. Luckly my bub hadn't swallowed any, but they still took him away and sucked everything out of him before I got to see him, just to make sure.
Don't be scared, you can't stop it when it happens...it just means you get to meet you bub soon :D

[ladybug]

I was having contractions since evening, then at 1 am, I went to the bathroom and my mucus plug came out, 30 minutes later my water gushed out in a small amount. It was clear.

Don't feel silly for asking about it. I was very curious about it at that time too. Goodluck.

cheers
May

[summerly]

About 5 am I felt a ripping pain go from my ribs down to my pelvis so I thought I must need to pee again for the billionth time. I got up out of bed and took two steps into the bathroom and then all this fluid gushed out in one heap, I'd say about a cup full, and then just kept leaking out after that. I actually think that I'd been having contractions for about 3 days before then but being young and stupid I didn't know what they were. I just put it down to normal pregnancy pain from being so huge and having all my insides rearranged, heartburn, backpain etc. It was only after my waters had broken that I realized they were real contractions. So baby was born 8 hours later by epidural and vacuum (I had high blood pressure). I hope my next one goes faster and easier. Good luck! :)

[aardvark]

When my waters broke with #1, it was quite a distinct "popping" sensation (it seemed almost audible), followed by a gush. Fortunately I was at home. Unfortunately I was on the bed.

The liquid was clear, with some pink mucous "bits" - part of the show. It can be brown/green if baby has passed meconium.

The amniotic fluid can permanently damage leather and some fabrics. I recommend keeping an old towel and a green garbage bag in the car to sit on to protect the upholstery in case it happens when you are out and about.

[Georgie'smama]

Well, i too had a different experience. I woke up in the morning, sent hubby to work, and then as i was having a cup of tea(around 9.00am), i had a leaking sensation (you know like when you have a period, and you just feel it 'plopping'?) (god i hope this isn't too graphic)*blush* anyway, i thought it might be my waters, so i got a pad out, and had to change it about 4 times in 10 mins, it was coming out slowly but quite steadily. then about an hour and a half later (after i'd had a nice bath and got myself nice and clean) i was sitting on my birthing ball, chatting to my mother (who at this stage i think was more excited than me!) when suddenly it just ...went...like a bucket of water between my legs- couldn't beleive it.Well, that was 10:30ish, i didn't have any contractions till later in the day- by 5 then were about 10 mins apart, and i ended up delivering at 12:18pm (just after midnite) :)