Sorry TMI here but is my water starting to leak??

[Sally06]

Does anyone know how to spot whether water leaking is actually the amniotic fluid or not?

I'm 39 weeks and 3 days and I've noticed it's like I'm leaking water down there in the past few hours, but it's so slight that I'm not sure what's going on. It's not mucous, it's definitely clear and water-like. And if it is my waters starting to leak, how long can this go on for before labour starts?

As it's so slight right now, I'm not getting too excited..(sadly, as much as I'd love to!)

Thanks

[Antheia]

I know this is TMI but does it smell like semen? If so, then it probably is. Put on a pad and if you fill it up in an hour(i think it is) then i would give the hospital a call. Although if you feel the need to you can call the hospital now, i'm sure they wouldn't mind checking it all out for you.

[Liviam]

The girls have given great advice. If it smells like semen give the hospital a call because they might want to check you and bubby out and they need to know if it is your hospital because they don't like to let mums go too long with broken waters as it increases your risk of infection and they may induce you if you don't start to labour spontaneously. My waters dribbled out (sorry for the TMI) for over 30 hours and I never established labour so I had to be induced.
Best of luck and fingers crossed you get to hold your baby in your arms soon.

[hannahfroodoo]

I had a lot of mucous in early labour - I thought my water had broken because I had honestly about half a cup of clear, water-like stuff splat onto the floor when I went to investigate the damp feeling in my undies (sorry TMI!!). Turns out it was just lots and LOTS of mucous - however it WAS the start of labour for me - contractions started about half an hour later. The hospital can do a swab test to see if it is amniotic fluid. It is worth checking because the hospital will want to know about it if it is your water.

Good luck! Hopefully you're holding your baby sooN!

[Sally06]

Thank you so much for your comments, it's so good to be able get advice so quickly!

Well I put a pad on an hour ago and it's relatively dry after all that?? It's a maternity pad though so I wonder if it's just really good at absorbing any fluid and since it's more of a trickle coming out of me, the pad mighn't come out very wet after an hour anyway - a long rambling way of saying I'm still confused!

It definitely doesn't smell of wee or semen. It's completely clear, watery and odourless. TMI!!

Maybe I'll sit on it for another hour or so and then decide what to do? It feels like it's slowed right down and if there were more of it coming out I'd feel more decisive, but as it's relatively little I don't want to overreact! What do you think?

Thank you!

[Antheia]

Hmm. I would give it another hour as you said.

When i was preg with Charlie i had soemthing similar to this. Although initially the first sign of it was a small gush of liquid, then just trickled slowly for a while. I remember it didn't have a smell either and was clear. I ended up going to the hospital and by then it had stopped so they really couldn't say what it was but suggested it was a hind water leak, which can seal back up.

If you are still confused though, just call the hospital. They get calls like this all the time and since you are so close they wouldn't mind.

[~Saram~]

When I was overdue with DD I thought I was leaking a few times. Once I believe it was watery mucus which can liquify and seem much like waters leaking the last time it would leak for a while and then stop, then spurt again yada yada. Went to OB appointment and said thought my waters may have been leaking this morning he did an exam and I was 4cm asked me to cough and nothing came out so said no- no waters leaking. 3 days later went in to have ARM and what do you know - no waters there??? So he agreed it was possible at some stage I had lost at least my forewaters. Bub was fine and after a bit of prodding around (still no waters breaking) labour started and with each contraction there was a small gush.

All the best to you and hope it is the start of something!

[Sally06]

Mmm...still leaking but only slightly...think I'll sleep on it and see how it goes in the morning. As always, any advice or insight is appreciated!

It's so hard to know what's a real labour sign and what's not!! Though I'm sure when the real thing comes along I will know! lol

[Lowe]

I read somewhere that sometimes when your water breaks it can be a gush of water of leaking slowly. Also when you stand up the head of the baby acts like a plug so it stops the water from leaking. It also said if it's clear and doesn't smell like semen or have a funny colour eg: brown or greenish, then it could be your water has broken. Ring the hospital and see what they say, they might want you to wait at home where it's more comfortable and until you start getting contractions. When I had my son I got the contractions first and then at hospital my waters broke with a gush I thought that I had wet myself. It looks as if everyone is different and you need to speak to a midwife. You will definetly know when it is the real thing trust me. Good luck and I hope this is the real thing and that you see your new baby soon.