If it's not amniotic fluid what is it?

[*star*]

Hello,

This is going to be a long one, I'm afraid, cause I need a bit of explaining!

Last night around 8pm I was lying on the couch watching telly when I felt a small popping sensation, and a bit of liquid. Being about 2 weeks before my due date (and fully expecting that I will go overdue) I thought it was a bit strange, but wasn't about to get too excited and think it was anything important. Went to the toilet and put on a pad to catch any more unexpected leaks. Well there certainly was more. I reckon there was about half a cup or so. It was all clear and had a semeny smell about it. So, even though I had no contractions and otherwise felt fine, I thought I should keep the midwife updated and gave her a call to let her know that I thought my waters had broken. Her advice was that it sounded like things might get moving during the night, but if not to give her another call at 8am in the morning to come into hospital.

Had a very sleepless night, due to both the excitement (although I was trying to keep relaxed) and having to get up every three quarters of an hour with another rush of fluid, with several pad changes. There had been some minor contractions, but nothing worth writing home about.

So, 8am comes and I ring my midwife with the news that there isn't much to say apart from the continuing leakage. She tells me to come into the Women's Assessment clinic to see her at 9:30. I get there and she tells me that she is going to monitor my contractions and bubs heartbeat, as well as check whether what I am leaking is actually amniotic fluid or not. I have to lie on the bed and let the fluid seep out onto a pad on the bed. Unfortunately I had just been to the toilet and leaked most of it out there, so I spent quite a while waiting on the bed. She also checks bubs position and says he is 2/5 engaged and that she would have expected that he would be further down in my pelvis by now.

At this point with no fluid to check, the midwife decides to take a specimen. She tells me it's pretty dry in there, but takes a swab. The swab should turn purple if it is amniotic fluid, but it goes brown instead. She checks my dilation and says that my cervix is closed. She also takes a slide from the swab and checks for ferning, which is not there, meaning not amniotic fluid- she gets this double checked.

Meanwhile bubs has been asleep for the whole heartbeat test and she needs to test whether his heart rate returns to normal after activity (which she needs an awake baby for). After a bit of prodding he still won't wake up, so she decides to give me a sweet cold drink (OJ) to get him to wriggle. She sits me up in the bed to drink the OJ and while I'm drinking it I have another leak (hooray I think- now she can test this and we can find out). The heartbeat test goes fine and I tell the midwife about the leak. She is adamant that my cervix and vagina would be wet if I was leaking amniotic fluid and goes by the original tests without testing the new fluid on the bed. She also explains that if the cervix is so closed, there is no way that there could be fluid leaking out.

I'm fine with the explanations, but that doesn't tell me what it is that I'm leaking! Her suggestion is that it's urine and that I am getting a lot of pressure on my pelvic floor, making me leak. My only problem with this is that the fluid has been completely clear (or clear with a pinkish tinge) and doesn't smell like urine at all (smells like semen).

So, I'm back home now, waiting for some proper contractions and thinking about labour (which is ridiculous because in theory I could still have 2 weeks to wait!). About an hour ago I needed to go to the toilet and it felt like I was weeing and proper yellow urine came out (totally different to the leaking I have been having- which is still coming in dribs and drabs into my pad.)

OK, enough background- my questions are - if it's not amniotic fluid, what is it? And can sitting upright, rather than lying down affect how much might come out, and can it affect whether my cervix is open or closed?

Thanks for reading so far - any advice would be much appreciated!

[Celsie]

Oh you poor thing. My girlfriend Kellie had this happen. She had a small leak, but the baby plugged the hole. It WAS amniotic fluid, but because the hole was plugged, the midwives said it wasn't. Maybe ask for them to check it again?!? Good luck.

Celsie. xoxox

[Olive]

could it be more than normal mucus????

[Ozstar]

How frustrating for you. I am sorry I have no idea what it could be. Perhaps if your still leaking tomorrow you should go and get it tested again, once your waters break isnt there a risk of infection after a certain time (sorry dont want to freak you out or anything)?

[*star*]

Ooh - forgot to add that they are ok with the leaking (even if it is amniotic) until Friday, without worrying about infection - if I get a high temperature I have to go in straight away as it could mean infection for the baby.

I have a midwife appointment on Friday anyway, so if nothing's happened by then, I'll still be able to be checked out.

I have had bits of mucous in the fluid, but these are much thicker and lumpier, and the main part of the fluid is very watery!

[Tracey]

Hmmm, I am wondering if it's hindwaters!?? There's (apparently) a hind bag of water at the back/behind bubs, mine broke & it wasnt a huge gush just constant trickling too... It smelt like a sweet semen & they werent fussed about it, til about 10hours later my wtaers did rupture but bubs head kept stopping the full flow & she then (72hours later) had become distraught!
So I was induced...
But I am wondering as it sounds similar!???

Good luck, hopefully it happens soon!!!!

[csab]

It is possible for it to be a slow leak, but then I am not a Midwife or Dr. Have you got a family Dr that you can go see, that you can talk to. Maybe you might have better luck. With my first baby, he was 2/5 when my water broke. I had to be induced to bring on the labor. The most important thing is that if anything worries you, that you see the hosp again. Another thing is to keep an eye on the baby's movements. All the best and hope you have an easy and safe labor.

[BellyBelly]

From our article on early labour signs: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/...n-early-labour

1. Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes (SROM)

Commonly known as the ‘breaking of the waters’, this happens when the amniotic sac (which surrounds the baby) ruptures, resulting in amniotic fluid trickling or gushing from your vagina. This happens as the first sign of labour in around 15-25% of labours, so it’s not as common as the TV soap operas would have you believe. You may notice a smaller gush of waters or sometimes it may be an enormous flood. Some women also notice a ‘popping’ sensation as their waters break.

Amniotic fluid can leak for days and even after the waters have broken, the fluid will still be replenished. If you suspect you have broken your waters, pop a pad on (do not use tampons) and call your midwife or labour ward who will ask a few questions to help distinguish what has happened. Sometimes it may be a bladder leak – don’t feel embarrassed if this is the case, as it’s quite common in the latter stages of pregnancy.

Some indicators that your waters that have broken are:

Having no control over the flow
A panty liner is inadequate to absorb the fluid
The pad is wet more than once, and
It doesn’t smell like urine
Some women describe their waters smelling a bit like ‘semen,’ so if you do notice a smell, mention this to the midwife. Your waters should be clear or may have a pink tinge to them. If they are green, brown or any other colour you should get checked out by your doctor or midwife.

Waters usually break during the night, some wake to their waters breaking and some wake to go to the toilet and find their water breaks as they get up. It can happen other times also.

[csab]

In regards to the popping that is what I have felt when my waters have broken. It is a strange feeling and once you stand up it just comes out.

[kungfubecca]

I wouldn't have the faintest, but as long as you and bubs are well, and you don't hesitate to contact the hosi again should you need to then I don't know.

It is a pain when the 'professionals' don't really seem to understand where your coming from though.

Good luck and I hope you get some answers soon.

[Meluchja]

Star you poor thing and what a night.

I'm not sure what the fluid could be. I had a very similiar discharge leading up to Jacks birth. I was 'wet' down there especially a couple of days prior to his arrival. I knew it definately wasn't urine, as it was clear and had a sweet smell. I didn't get it checked out though.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but can say that I went into labour 2 days after the first fluid leak, so fingers crossed for you babe it happens this way too.

[csab]

Star - How is everything today. Hope all is well. Thinking of you.

[Ngala]

Hi All,

I got good word that Star was having contractions over night, about 5 mins apart. She was waiting until they got to 2-3 mins before heading to the hospital.

Hopefully she is holding her baby or is very close to holding her baby in her arms!!

[Ambah]

Oooh goodluck Star... all the best hon!!!

[csab]

Thanks Ngala. Hope she is handling everything ok. Goodluck Star. All the very best.

[*star*]

Hi everyone,

Just thought I would follow this one up and add that I did go into labour on July 12th and made it to hospital that afternoon, DD was born on the 13th via c-section after a long labour! Also wanted to add that my midwife did say that it WAS my waters breaking (DUH!!) and that the other midwife should have tested the fluid that came out after the initial test. So, I've learnt that my gut instincts (and knowing what to expect from all my reading on here) were right!

[csab]

How are you feeling since the C/S. How big was your beautiful DD. BTW a huge congratulations.

[Adnil]

Congrats Star! I hope you are recovering well.