BTDT: Amniotic Fluid

sjo_thetwins

Hi! BTDT mamas that have broken their own water before - or had somewhat of a leak even, can you explain how you knew the difference between that and regular discharge? 

mothernorth

It's very very watery, not thick at all like discharge. It's more comparable to urine. It also comes in larger gushes that what any amount of discharge would (unless you have super heavy discharge usually?) be pretty easily recognized. 
When mine broke, it just felt like water down my leg, and I had zero control of it. I know I didn't pee, because even when I would accidentally pee a little, I could still feel that it's pee from my bladder, coming from my urethra.
Please tell me you're not asking because you are experiencing a leak!

TurtleMomma

I had one quick gush before babe's head stoppered it up (mostly). Immediately ran to the bathroom and sat on the toilet (I had been there less than a minute before to pee so I knew it wasn't urine) where I lost my mucus plug. The fluid itself was mostly clear and odorless, with some clear-pink-ish globs of mucus (different from MP). 

sjo_thetwins

Thanks you both! The doctors just have me watching everything, and if I feel anything slightly "leak" I freak out about what it could be. But was hoping there was a clear way to distinguish. For instance - tmi - but was sitting in the bed, not enjoying my bed rest, when I felt something leak. Small, small amount - didn't feel like pee, I could tell it didn't come from my bladder/urethral, but only happened then and was pretty clear. Went to the bathroom, pee'd, and had nothing else. Extra sensitive to everything since my contractions are back and are barely spaced out enough to keep me at home. 

mothernorth

From my experience, it feels more like a "gush", even in small amounts if that makes any sense?

waterfall213

Another way to tell is to lay down for a little while and see if you're still leaking when you stand up. Maybe wear a panty liner or thin pad all the time too. I have to wear panty liners because my discharge is so bad, and I sometimes pee a little when I cough or sneeze. 

TurtleMomma

Keep your bladder as empty as possible to rule out urine leakage. All else fails, L&D can do a swab and check it under the microscope to see if it's amniotic fluid (though L&D is probably the last place you want to be right now  )

sjo_thetwins

Thanks guys! I will keep an eye on it being different. 

serenaxo84

I actually felt a pop when my water broke- I was also having what I thought were strong Braxton Hicks contractions- but I definitely felt the pop. It also gushed out of me and kept gushing on and off- baby was breech so there was nothing really in the way to stop it.

I did think I was leaking about a week earlier- my OB told me to put a pad on and if I soaked through the pad then to come into L&D. They ended up having me come in anyway and did the swab test.

When I thought I was leaking- I was just really really wet- it was thin clear watery like discharge but I actually think it was a little more sticky. When my water broke it was more liquid like and had tinges of pink (blood).

nlane0723

Mine had a slime like feeling. It also smells "sweet." 

LGW2015

I obviously have no first hand knowledge but I can share what the nurse told us at the birthing class we went to on Saturday! She said you can have a trickle or a gush, but you will continue to leak. She said some people might mistake it for urine or discharge at first and change their underwear but then a little while later their underwear will be wet again. She also said to watch for COAT. Color, Odor, Amount, Time. The color will be clear or sometimes a gold color (unless the baby released meconium in which case it can have brown or green in it), and she said it will smell like bodily fluid (semen, sweat, etc) or Clorox. She also just said it's important to note the amount (was it a leak or a gush) and what time it happened. She did recommend wearing a panty liner because it might make it easier to distinguish what it is.

Good luck and tell those babies to stay put!

coffee89

Supposedly you can use litmus paper to check, amniotic fluid would be more basic than cervical fluids. I've never tried, just read it online it so take that with a grain of salt.

I hope those babies stay put!

blaf322

@sjo_thetwins tell those baby girls to stay put! 
Also, I waited until it seemed like you got an answer but had a quick question since we're talking amniotic fluid and hop you don't mind me hijacking the thread for a moment...

If my water breaks in bed, will any color it has wash out of the sheets easily? We have off white sheets and they're super nice (read: expensive) so I was considering using some cheapies closer to time. Also, should I put a towel or something under the sheet to protect the mattress. I really don't want to ruin the Tempurpedic.

mothernorth

@bnsmith85 I would imagine it would wash out easily if you got it to the laundry fast enough! I would prepare for it to have a little blood, just in case it does, so be prepared to launder as you would with blood soil. It couldn't hurt to use a mattress protector! My mattress top is actually stained Thanks-A-Lot to the weird bleeding episodes I had with LO and PP bleeding. I really wish I would have thought to get one now that you mention it, and am adding that to my list.

kelliott09

I would get it checked to be sure because you can also have a small leak rather than it breaking completely. Toward the end of my first pregnancy, sorry tmi, I always had a wet spot in my panties. It was much like urine but it smelled different. It was my first, I didn't know any better, didn't ask about it because I just assumed it was normal. I knew heavy discharge was normal so that's what I thought it was, just watery. Turns out, my fluid ended up being low so putting the two together...

queen_frostine

I am 100% getting a mattress protector for pre- and post-birth incontinence, potential amniotic fluid leakage, postpartum bleeding, breast milk leakage, and baby pooping, peeing, and spitting up all over the place. Eventually we're going to have a two-year-old climb into our bed and pee all over us so we might as well be prepared, right?

bosslady925

I've had some very thin discharge and was thinking it was amniotic fluid. Put your finger on it and see if it's sticky, a nurse told me that indicates discharge vs. amniotic fluid. I believe amniotic feels more like water.

LGW2015

@bnsmith85 I assume it won't ruin your sheets but the nurse did recommend putting some kind of mattress protector/towel on your side of the bed so that it doesn't ruin the mattress. Same goes for the car, keep a towel or something in there so you don't mess up your car seat. She said she imagines it would clean up but it would probably be super annoying.

TurtleMomma

@bnsmith85

Mine broke in bed with DS and everything washed out just fine without any additional effort needed. 

SuperNerd42

I broke my water in bed too. I had a minor gush, then otherwise leaking. It definitely had a sweet smell to it. 

I second the idea of wearing a panty liner. If it starts to soak in I'd be more concerned than for a once in a while wet feeling. Either way, take it easy and try not to stress!

The best thing about summer is that sweat is an option too lol! Pregnancy is so glamorous.