Could I Be Leaking???

My water broke, but it was a high leak, so it only trickled out. The doctor had me go to the hospital anyway, and they test to see if the fluid was amniotic. It was, and I had my daughter that day. She was 2 weeks early. I also had my twins at 36 weeks and they were fine.

Call and go in if they feel it's necessary. I had that happen as well. There's a test they can run to see if it's amniotic fluid (they just take some fo the discharge). It would be worth the peace of mind to know. You're so close, but not quite there. Good luck!

I experienced this with my first and am experiencing this with my current pregnancy. I went in with a concern with my first pregnancy and they said it was nothing. Mine never seemed to correspond with movements or anything, it was all random occurrences, and it was relatively thin and odorless. I found that this started happening at around 30 weeks for me (both times, which corresponds with your timing as well). Since it has been going on for 5 weeks and they weren't concerned about it I would wait until your next appointment. They should be able to see, too, if there's any amniotic fluid in your urine that they test. As long as it's not gushing out, I wouldn't worry. Good luck!

I had the same thing with my second pregnancy (soaking thru a couple thin pads a day). I swore to the doctor that my water was leaking and even ended up in the L&D unit at the hospital to have it checked a couple times. They can do a really simple and non-invasive swab test to find out if you did indead break your water. It's kind of like a long Q-tip that they have you cough and swab your vagina (the coughing part supposedly makes the water flow if you did indeed leak). It has a reactive chemical that changes color in the presence of amniotic fluid.

Turns out, I never was leaking. Must have just been thin watery discharge or urine. I know as gross as it sounds and as much as you swear you are not peeing yourself, it happens...especially this late in the pregnancy. Baby is pushing on your bladder and your muscles are getting weak from being stretched out and not used as much...and it just kinda dribbles out.

Have no fear. You are not alone...not the first, and certainly not the last. If you are really concerned, call the doc. They are there to help you, so don't feel as tho you are abusing the system.

Good luck and congrats!!!

I started leaking amniotic fluid with my first at 30some weeks and didn't think that's what it was. For me it was very positional- I'd stand up and have a little drip that I could feel. No color to it and it was watery. I let it go for five days just wearing liners until I actually lost a cup of fluid then went to the hospital in labor and had my daughter a few hours later. With my second I was obviously paranoid but never leaked. I had a slippery, shiny, clear discharge that increased after I lost my tan mucous plug at 31weeks. I was only pg until 34weeks with this baby girl though too :) You are at a stage that if you are leaking you would be induced, baby most likely would do great and get to go home with you provided he or she is eating. Amniotic fluid does regenerate but without getting it checked you could be exposing baby and you to nasty infections. If you notice you are feeling dripping, there is a nitrizine test strip they can probably do on your wet underwear or on your skin to test it. If it comes up positive then there is another swab into the vagina called amnisure. It's always better safe than sorry- just call and talk to the nurse and describe the discharge. I was nervous about the slippery shiny clear mucus but it was nothing like the thin watery discharge I'd leaked with my first!

It is most likely urine. This happened to me and I went running to the doctor. I was also going through 2-3 panty liners a day. The baby is putting lots of pressure on your bladder and sometimes urine leaks out without you even knowing it. If it was amniotic fluid, it would be a constant trickle.

I would at least call. If you are ever unsure about what is going on, or are concerned about anything regarding your pregnancy, you should always call. That's what the nurses and doctors get paid for! =)
You could potentially be beginning to lose your mucous plug, and it's just coming out slowly. You are almost there, and I would say it's better to be safe than sorry!
Good luck to you!

Increased discharge is normal in late pregnancy. When in doubt however, call your provider and ask them to check. They can also give you a few strips to take home and check yourself every now and then.
Good luck!

I had this exact same worry with my last pregnancy! I asked my midwife at every appointment, hehe. She assured me that increased discharge at the end of the term was totally normal and not to worry about it. I was having Braxton-Hicks contractions from 34 weeks on, and they were pretty consistent from 37 weeks on, so that added to my worry. (I never got Braxton-Hicks contractions till 38 weeks with my first 3 kids).

Call your doctor just for peace of mind, but unless there is an odor, discoloration or pain, there's no need to run in for an appointment. Hope this helps, and early congrats on your little one! :)

I second those that say its most likely urine. I know that is so unpleasant to think about but a friend of mine is 30 wks pregnant with twins and thought her water broke! She went running to Labor & Delivery at her hospital only to find out it was urine. As previous posters have mentioned baby is putting a LOT of pressure on our bladders at this point (I'm 32wks myself) and little movements can cause the bladder to leak out even when we're not aware of it. Not to mention things like sneezing, coughing, etc. ;) By all means call your doc - that's what they are there for!! But don't worry too much just yet. Best of luck to you on your upcoming delivery!

Being 35 weeks, I would at least call. It can't hurt for a little reassurance. I do know that some discharge is common, even all through the pregnancy. But I think if movement is normal for you, there probably isn't anything to worry about. But if movement has decreased or gotten sporatic, than it might be something to be concerned about.

definitely call your dr, at the very least. they WANT you to call with concerns or symptoms, and may ask you to come in now rather than wait a week. or they may give you good advice and tell you to sit tight. but do call.

Yes, go in! I went in for a routine check with my second at 35 weeks and didn't even know i had lost a lot of amniotic fluid. I never left (dr office was at Childrens Hospital) and had a c-section hours later.

One more thing, i learned after the passing of my first child due to Placental Ubruption, that you need to follow your gut feelings. I KNEW something was very wrong when i went to the hospital the first time, but the nurse told me to go home anyway. I wanted to stay but was worried about standing up to her because, after telling me that she knew what she was talking about and that the excrutiating pain was "normal", i unfortunately listened to her and went home.

Always do what you think is right even if it makes you look crazy! It's not worth losing your precious baby!

With my second pregnancy, I woke up one morning feeling damp, like I'd dribbled during the night. I called the OB, they said they thought it was stress incontinence because I wasn't filling a pad in an hour. I called back a few more times during the day, they finally had me come into the hospital to check for amniotic fluid because they were tired of me calling. Sure enough, my water had broken and was slowly leaking.

It's critical, if your water has broke, to have the baby within 24 hours because of the risk of infection. If you're concerned, I'd call your OB and explain the situation and ask if they can check. It's simple swab with almost immediate results.

T.,
There is definitely increased discharge at the end of the pregnancy, but if you are worried about this, do NOT hesitate to go to the doctor to find out. Trust me, you are better safe than sorry. With my recent pregnancy, I had a bit of a fever that I thought had gone away, but I wasn't feeling the baby move as much as I wanted. I went in, feeling like a big hypochondriac, and it turned out I was having regular contractions (that I wasn't feeling) and a high fever!! I didn't even know! So, point is, go to the doctor now if you are worried. It may be nothing, but this will give you relief in the final weeks of your pregnancy.

p.s. My little guy was born the very night that I went in - 6 weeks early!! It never hurts to go in...

I would go in.... they can give you a simple "fern" test to determine if you are leaking. That will put your mind at ease.

T., you may be leaking fluid, I would call your docs office and talk to the nurse, let them know what has been going on and they may want you in sooner just to make sure everything is okay, If nothing more then do it for your piece of mind. you dont need any added stress at this point in time in your pregnancy. Best of luck!

If you think you might be leaking you should be on the phone with your OB and telling them that you're coming in ASAP. They have these little test strips that they can either dip in the pee to tell you if it's amniotic fluid or they can take a sample and put it on a test slide and put it under a microscope. If it crystalizes in a certain pattern then it's amniotic fluid.

If it's amniotic fluid then you go from there. If it's not, if it's maybe the fluid build-up behind your mucous plug coming loose, they'll let you know that's a possibility. But the only way you'll know is to GO TO YOUR OB.

This happened to me for a week when I was at 34 weeks. At 34 weeks 6 days - my water broke and I went into labor. I would definatley call your Dr.

I haven't read the other responses, but my answer is to go get it checked right away. If its nothing, all the better. If you're leaking, you don't want to get an infection and its important to know for sure. Don't wait until next week.

I am 31 weeks and have been experiencing more discharge with my second pregnancy, but not consistently as you describe. So bad once that I thought it was my bladder, but it wasn't. HOWEVER, I second those who say call or go in to your doctor. You shouldn't wait a week. That's what they are there for, and it should be a pretty quick check. Good luck!

The other ladies are correct - there is a test to check to see if it is amniotic fluid - most OB's would rather you call then to risk unforseen complications.

But, it is most likely just normal discharge of pregnancy - hormonal changes during pregnancy make you have more secretions of every kind... clear, thin, odorless, colorless discharge is NORMAL and is just an upleasant side effect of pregnancy. Yeast infections are common in pregnancy as well, but you would have itching, buring and different dischage.

Always call your doctor for peace of mind... your health and your babies health and safety are their main priorities!!!

Hi T.,

Call your doctor today. My sister-in-law was leaking and had complications with my nephew. He had other developmental issues as well but the leakage played a part. Don't wait. Call today and demand to get seen!

C.

The biggest help to me has been the OB on call nurse :) A few times I have been concerned but didn't want to "freak out". I called the OB and asked for the on call nurse. They are very helpful and it helps to put your mind at ease!

Good luck!