Water Breaking?

Updated on October 23, 2008
S.O. asks from Lincoln, NE
24 answers

How can I tell if my water broke? At the beginning of my 37th week, we had nooky in the evening (doctor approved) and the next day before lunch, I was sitting down and felt like I had more than the normal discharge which soaked my panty liner and part of my undies. However, it didn't soak through my jeans or I wasn't sitting in a pool of wetness. It was clear and didn't smell like urine. I changed my panty liner and undies and since then just had the normal preggo discharge. This was two days ago. I don't know if my water broke or if it was just a backup of fluid from nooky the night before. Also that day, I had strong Braxton-Hicks with the pressure at the bottom of my belly, (pain/pressure was tolerable). My baby still has movement and my BH contractions aren't as strong as they were that day.

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So What Happened?

Thank you for all your responses! Very much appreciated :) I did call the doctor and they told me to come in right away to check. The receptionist told me I did the right thing to call just to be on the safe side cuz she knew I felt a little silly from worrying too much. It turned out that my water didn't break - they did the litmus paper test (I had yellow = no amniotic fluid; blue would've been "time to go to the hospital") and checked for ferning. I'm still "intact" and 50% effaced w/only 1 cm. So I'm still good and waiting patiently for my baby's birth day. Thank you everyone!

Additional UPDATE: I gave birth to my healthy baby boy on October 28th!

More Answers

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G.N.

answers from Minneapolis on

Go to your doctor. I had the same experience with my first. I suspect you have a small tear as I did. I went on for 3 days like that. When I finally went back in, they were very concerned about infection that could have incurred because of the bacteria that may have gotten in through the tear.

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L.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

OMGosh! Totally happened to me too! I felt silly not knowing the difference, but seriously, I was walking down my stairs and did not even feel like I had to go to the bathroom or anything when I competely soaked myself. I thought, was that my water breaking? I called my husband, called in to work, and called my dr. After being examined by them, they said everything was normal. I couldn't believe that I had wet myself, but I guess with second babies...
I'd call your dr though and have everything checked out just to be sure.

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A.P.

answers from Milwaukee on

I would check it out with your OB. I had a high tear in my amniotic sac so I just leaked a little and then it stopped. That was a Saturday. The next day...nothing. I had it checked 'just in case' that Monday, and sure enough it was amniotic fluid. Evidentally, the baby's head can act like a stopper, so there doesn't need to be a constant trickle. You don't want to be ruptured too long, and if you are, definitely no more sex until you know for sure. Sorry to be alarmist, but it happened to me. But, my son is FINE....but they did end up inducing my labor once they knew I was leaking for sure. Good luck!

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A.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

Go to the doctor! They can tell for sure.

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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

With my first I had it happen where I had a small hole at the top (by my ribcage) and so amniotic fluid was slowly leaking. I just figured it was normal discharge. I ended up calling he doctor and the had me come right in. They tested the fluid (after having me lie down for an hour to collect it) and it came back positive. I was admitted to the hospital and induced and my son was born the next day at 35 weeks. So if you're still having that discharge/leaking call your Dr to have it tested. Having your water broken like that can introduce bacteria. I was given IV antibiotics when I was in labor with my son. I believe the same thing happened with my second but they tested it (without having me lie down for a period of time) and it was negative. My water fully broke several hours later at home (a gush).

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C.T.

answers from Milwaukee on

Call your doctor. They will do a very simple, easy, painless test to see if your water broke. When my water broke it was a slow leak, not a big gush, and I never saw or felt myself losing my mucus plug. Anything is possible and everyone is different.

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D.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

you should call the doctor to go in...they can test to see if it is amniotic fluid pretty easily. if it did break or it is leaking, you will need to deliver the baby asap!!

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J.K.

answers from Omaha on

Go to your doctor! Same happened to me. We had "nookie" and I just felt different, like too much fluid. this was on Saturday. Went to doctor on Monday and was 3cm dilated, 80% effaced. A few hours after being in the hospital they checked my fluid levels and they were way low. Had to use internal monitors, and was given iv antibiotics to be safe. Wish I wouldn't have waited. It was all a little scary. Good Luck! Better safe than sorry!

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M.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hello S.,
I had something similar with my first. My Husband and I were having sex because I was ovedue and wanted to go into labor. After that I had what seemed like more discharge than before but thought it was from the sex. Then I was going pee and I knew I finished but heard liquid still trickling in the toilet. I called the doctor and then had me come in right away. They collect the fluid and can tell if it is amniotic fluid very easily, which mine was. Then I had to tell them that I might have been leaking for two days but I thought it was from the sex and I was embarrassed. (I see I am not the only one) They gave me an hour to go into labor then induced me because once your water breaks they like to deliver the baby within 24 hours to avoid infection. So, it can trickle out very slowly. I even worked with a women who had a dry labor. Her water never broke because she must of had a slow leak before labor and never knew she was leaking.
So definitely call the doctor, they will probably have you come in and check. Better to be on the safe side.
Congrats and good luck, M.

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P.U.

answers from Minneapolis on

Hi S.. Please go in to see the doctor so they can check for you. Very important. If your water has broken, you and baby are at risk for infection...so it's important to determine if you did indeed have your water broken.

It is normal for your vaginal secretions to increase towards the end of your pregnancy. However, I still would stop in to have them check you out. Better safe than sorry.

Good luck. Congrats on the soon to be baby in your family. :)

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C.

answers from Lincoln on

I would call your doctor asap! There could be also a number you can call for after hours. You need to make sure that you and baby are ok. They may want to recheck you. Also, maybe you are just dialating more or the baby is dropped more into position and is ready to come. You may be in early labor! I would call and make sure. Hope you can figure it out! Let me know how you come out. Good luck!

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P.A.

answers from Wausau on

Oh you would know it, it is a LOT of fluid that gushes out. It's like you've peed uncontrollably. It soaks everything, if you were standing, there would be a pool at your feet. I think it was probably just back up from the nookie :).

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M.C.

answers from Fargo on

Good Luck & Keep us posted we all love to hear a happy couple having a great pregnancy. Good Luck!

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T.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Are you still leaking or having extra discharge? If not, I would say, it's not your water.

Mostly it's a large gush. However, sometimes you can develop a leak, but that would usually continue leaking and not go away.

If you're still worried, I'd call your doctor and talk to them, if they are worried, they will probably have you go get checked...they can do a swab and see if it's amnionic fluid or not.

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K.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

maybe there was just a little tear in the sac and some fluid came out? and your baby's head plugged it?

i have heard that happening.

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C.A.

answers from Minneapolis on

My water broke after nooky with our last (3 wks early). Kinda the same thing. I went to the bathroom afterwards and when I finished peeing there was still a strange trickle, but nothing else. I went to bed and when I got up to go pee again at 4 am it was the same thing. I decided that I better call in but at that point it was more of a slow steady stream. Not the gush that I've experienced before.

It doesn't hurt to get it checked out. Better to be safe then sorry.

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M.W.

answers from Grand Forks on

I would call the doctor. They can check to see if your water broke with a little strip of paper. Sounds like the way my water broke, it came out slowly. The doctor did not belive it was my water, well see was wrong, with the little strip they tested it, it turned blue,that means my water broke.

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K.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I had my water break at 35 wks and it was the same experience you described. I had a doctor appt in the morning, and then tested and it was amniotic fluid. I was admitted to the hospital right away. I would definitely call your doctor asap, if you haven't already from all the other responses :) Good luck!

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M.N.

answers from Green Bay on

Hey there!
It was probably just some gunk left over from nooky, like you said;-) I have two children and from what I remember, though my water never broke until after intense hours of laboring, it was very warm and lots of it... However, if you are worried about it, you should call your doctor and get checked to make sure their is not a leak in your water sac. I doubt it though since you said it has been back to just normal discharge. Congrats on the new baby to be!

Melissa

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J.R.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

I'm glad to hear that you got things checked out and all was ok! I guess i'm mainly writing for anyne else possibly reading this post with the same situation. I worked with a home daycare provider who had worked for years with disabled/ mentally challenged children. She told me horror stories of children who were born disabled because they had basically been starving or sufficating or something w/o amniotic fluid. She said it happened when the moms water broke before active labor or somethin and hospitals used to send moms home? But this was also probably 20-30 years ago when they didnt induce within 24 hrs... i dunno how true it is, but the idea of possibly hurting my child by not going in and gettin the reassurance of gettin checked had me in the er twice twords the end of my preg.

I stick to the rule: When in doubt-Check it out because the risks outweigh any embarassment or cost.

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B.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

Maybe you lost your "mucous plug" but it would be a mucousy substance, not just watery. Maybe you're leaking a little amniotic fluid. But you shouldn't unless you lost your mucous plug. Likely it was just "sex fluid."

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J.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

My water broke the first time around before I experienced any contractions. The smell was like bleach, didn't smell like urine at all. My contractions started about 3-4 hours after that. Check with your CNM or OB to be sure of what you experienced. Good luck!!
Hope you have a nice delivery.

J. M

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C.M.

answers from Bismarck on

maybe you lost your mucous plug? your doctor can check for you!

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L.R.

answers from Wausau on

I think you should call your doctor ad be checked out. You could be risking getting an infection if it did break.
Good Luck to you!
L.

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