Urine vs. Fluid: What am I leaking?

OvariesbeforeBrovaries

How do you know if you are leaking fluid or if you are leaking urine?

I've had leakage on/off all day especially after getting some boots to the pelvis by the baby. I feel like some is coming out even if I clench really tightly and I think it's worse when I'm sitting down. Any ideas? My 4 year old is asleep so if I'm just peeing myself I don't want to wake him up and schlep him out.

TIA!

TexasTwinMom

If it smells like pee, it's probably pee. But call. If there's any question, they may want you to come in.

poptart109

I heard amniotic fluid smells sweet? Not sure how accurate that is...

waldothewiener1

Smell it, yes everything says it smells sweet, but mine smelled awful. It smelled rotten sort of. So if it doesn't smell like urine it might be worth a phone call

portentosa

It's supposed to smell sweet, but I will also go with the "if it doesn't smell like urine make a call" advice. This pregnancy I've had a lot of discharge and have peed myself on a couple occasions, doesn't smell the same as amniotic fluid.

For me with my first pregnancy (38w5d) I was laying on my side on the couch for awhile. When I sat up I felt a small but definite gush. It didn't smell like urine, but I had also read that in situations like what happened to me that recreating the episode is helpful in determining if it's amniotic fluid or not. So I laid back down for 30 minutes, then sat up. Another small gush so off to the hospital I went where it was confirmed that my water had broken.

an02102

I second the lay down for awhile and if it gushes when you get up it is most likely amniotic fluid.

JEPES1348

:lurker:

I also echo noting changes in "flow" with position changes. For me, every time I peed, wiped myself, and stood up, I'd have a trickle down my leg. I thought my discharge was just getting more thin and watery, like I had read about. This went on for about 4 days until I started having contractions. It was amniotic fluid.

MTAtlanta

Mine smelled sweet ish. While up the baby's head can act like a cork to slow it down a lot but like pp said if you lay down for a while and then get up it should be more obvious. I'd never had any kind of contraction at all but after my water broke things moved very quickly and intensely, so you may have that too.....or not. Haha can be frustrating. I remember googling "what does amniotic fluid smell like" while trying to decide what to do.

Gapin1aj

I"ve been told that amniotic fluid smells like comet... Not sure what comet smells like, but worst case scenario the nurses are my birthing class said to at least call and if it is necessary then I can come in and they can check... Also as a FTM they scared me with all sorts of things like infections can set in and other stuff...

Everyusernameistaken

You can get a test at Walmart and probably Target that is supposed to be able to tell if it's amniotic...that being said it gave me a false positive so you never know...

Michelleashby

I had the same issue and was told it would be like a cobstant

Leanne&kieran13

I have had this problem for the past few weeks now constantly leaking when I'm doing things got a pad on and it's clear smells quite sweet (first baby btw) got constant pain in my back and hips and just scared and worried he will come early I'm 32+2 weeks get induced at 38 weeks due to being diabetic any advice as this pain is unbearable I take pain killers warm baths lay down but nothing helps much

CynthiaVRey

From what I've read the lower back and hip pain in third trimester is normal but is it severe? I have it to and was in the hospital for what I thought was leaking , I also tested positive at one point for pre term labor so keep an eye on that , I agree use a pad to monitor. How have your fluid levels been ?