I win stupid question of the day prize

SvedkaStoli

Ladies, I am the primary driver in the family. Here is what I was thinking about: there is a reasonable chance that my water can break while I am driving. It will ruin my seats. Thoughts/suggestions?

aessary03

Depends?

SvedkaStoli

I was thinking maybe somebody tried those disposable sheets.

Jmattis

Get a seat cover for your seat or put a bag down as the time gets closer??

candypantsls

There are incontinence pads, like puppy pads for people. They use them in hospitals/nursing homes. Put one down, then cover with a seat cover! Haha, idk what else to suggest!

megngregk

Well, thanks for adding one more "ahh crap" item to the list of things to worry about

ChuggingWater

Also worry about your mattress.

ashleywiz

I am absolutely investing in a waterproof mattress cover. I'm way more concerned about that than I am the car!

megngregk

ashleywiz said:

I am absolutely investing in a waterproof mattress cover. I'm way more concerned about that than I am the car!

Yep!

Caitlinm123

Not a stupid question at all. I keep thinking about my mattress!!

kw42775

DH is super worried about our mattress and our cars! He's been talking about this for months!!

lolinshag

I second the puppy pad or incontinence pad. Hell, its not like we all aren't snissing or butts of as it is!

SarahA918

I think my best friend used those quilted waterproof crib protector sheets on her chairs, couch, bed, etc. One in the car wouldn't hurt!

SvedkaStoli

Good point about the hospital but I am still going to worry about my car and mattress

Kiwi110 said:

If you have fabric seats, amniotic fluid wouldn't be anything a good car detailing with seat shampoo wouldn't fix, I think. No clue about leather seats, though. I'd probably get a waterproof seat cover if you're worried. 

Also, your water won't necessarily break right at the onset of labor or before labor (though of course it could). You might be well into labor and near the pushing stage before it breaks, and I sure hope you aren't driving then  

ashleywiz said:

I am absolutely investing in a waterproof mattress cover. I'm way more concerned about that than I am the car!

cnwilbur1030

Ok this maybe gross, but my water broke at night. At first it was a trickle, so the mattress wasn't too wet (we just changed the sheets when we got home). I sat on a towel in the car on the way to the hospital. It really broke when I was walking through the hospital to L&D (DH told me I could just walk it off and forego the free valet and wheelchair service like I just stubbed my toe, but that's another story). So while walking, my pants were soaked, but the fluid is clear and washed out easily. I think the same would be true if it was in the car. And to be honest, you won't care when it happens!

echo136

The only thing that makes your water breaking extra gross is if lo has taken their first poop. Ds had so my water breaking also meant meconium was coming out which was like green. Mine was a trickle that broke at 5:30 in bed and by the time we were at the hospital by 7 and I was on a bed it broke it a puddle of watery shit around me. That was gross but my contractions were so intense I didn't comprehend much other than I was in a puddle of liquid.

I think it's only like 10% of women have their water break naturally. My last bmb had a high occurrence of it though. You never know.

MrsGraham06

My water broke at home with my 1st, it was the carpet and bathroom floor that got it. I had a little bloody show, possibly my mucus plug came out then as well. Either way, the bathroom tiles got a little red stain to them (not much). The hospital broke my water with the other 2.

I do have a friend whose water broke while she was at the drive-thru getting lunch. She waited for her lunch before going in (single mom). She didn't really talk about the car- it wasn't that memorable after having the baby.

vstevens

My water broke at home before going into labor, and I was surprised at how clear / clean / odorless it was.  On the car, I'm pretty sure a good detailing place could get it out - I would just have a good thick towel handy just in case (and you can also pull over and allow it to come out a bit more before continuing to drive).

On the mattress - plastic cover?  We won't be doing that - we need a new mattress, and I'd love nothing more than to ruin ours with my water breaking so I have an excuse to buy a new one this year instead of next

Firefly9

candypantsls said:

There are incontinence pads, like puppy pads for people. They use them in hospitals/nursing homes. Put one down, then cover with a seat cover! Haha, idk what else to suggest!

When my water broke (it was a slow trickle and I didn't know that's what it was), my OB office gave me some of those for the drive to the hospital.  I'd see if you could get some!

sugarland726

I slept and drove on towels. I had heated leather seats, so there was a lot at stake! Luckily the OB had to break mine in the hospital.

kwinkle1980

I think some people use those Peepee pads for potty training puppies.

cpm1223

MarBee1214 said:

Yeah I'm with PP about my mattress...I aint risking my tempur pedic.  A friend of mine had her water break in the middle of the night and she just thought she was peeing herself and was half asleep so she just kept trying to hold it in...then she legitimately woke up with a soaked mattress.

That's what I'm worried about too. We just got our new mattress a year ago and I love it. I'd also hate to come home to no bed to sleep in if my water breaking ruined the entire thing since its not like we'd have time to get a new mattress before returning home!

jamiecal

I'm not sure I could ever forgive the baby if she ruined my heated leather seats that I waited so long to get.  (Just kidding...kind of.)  I'll be going with a towel just to be safe!

moosebaby2011

I have a couple of these mattress pads. They are really great for naked tummy time, or under the sheets of a pack and play so I've gotten a ton of use out of them already. When I get close to my due date I'll be putting one on the seat of my car and another under me in our bed just in case! They are nice because they are all fabric (waterproof PUL that they use for cloth diapers and a fleece cover) so they don't make a rustling noise when you try to sleep on them!

yogamama13

My water broke with my 2nd while I was driving my DS home from a playdate.  I didn't even think about the car until it hit me a few days later.  Luckily my DH had cleaned it up easily.  The worst part was getting home from the playdate soaking wet and still leaking with a 22 month old begging and crying for lunch and no one around to help me since it was the middle of the week at noon.  It was 12 days before my due date and my DS had been 2 days late (they broke my water at the hospital) so I was not expecting it at all!

Side note - still trying to get my siggy to show up, I don't know what I'm doing wrong!

nbbride06

I just have to say that I seriously never thought about this while pregnant with DD.  I'm pretty sure your car and/or mattress would be just fine if you clean it up right away.  It's not like you won't have time to grab a couple of towels.  

AHeidiA

Hi, long time lurker here

My water broke with DS while I was driving on a busy street (no where to pull over) so I just kept driving home. The seat was soaked, my DH had to sit on a towel to drive us to the hospital. Once we got to the hospital he didn't have a chance to leave until the next day and it had basically dried. There was never any smell or any discoloration (we had black upholstery)