How do you know if you are leaking amniotic fluid?

Teney1la · May 2012

Sorry if this is a dumb question. And I swear someone posted something recently but I can't find the thread. I've had discharge on and off for a while now which I know is normal since my body is trying to keep bacteria out. But today it's seems much more watery. I can't feel anything coming out. But I have wet spots on my underwear that aren't like the spots from the discharge.

I know I'm probably freaking myself out. My spotting went away so I need something else to worry about...

How would I know if there is a leak?

Lrncconway · May 2012

I read that before too, i remember it being mentioned that amniotic fluid smells very very sweet. But with something this serious, i would call your dr.

mAnYaSha · May 2012

Stop freaking out, it could be something simple like urine leak from pressure on your bladder when you sit. Call your Dr. anyway.

abbyful · May 2012

I've had to wear panty-liners ever since my 2nd trimester started. I have lots of discharge now, usually pretty watery. (And unfortunately occasionally a few drops of pee when I sneeze or laugh.)

When I called my doctor and asked about it, they say as long as it's not enough that it's soaking through my underwear and running down my leg, and I hadn't been having any cramps/contractions, it's nothing to worry about.

I've read it's common for discharge to increase in the 2nd trimester. Call your doctor to make sure and ease your mind.

jessican08 · May 2012

I had this too (a lot of watery discharge) shortly after my SCH bled out. I called my Ob's office and they brought me in right away and did a quick amnio fluid test. Turned out to be nothing but when in doubt, call and describe your symptoms, if they're concerned they'll have you come in. GL!

Teney1la · May 2012

The nurse has now freaked me out. I have no cramping, pain, nothing. It's not running down my leg or filling my underwear. The spot was the size of a half dollar. They close in an hour and have no appointments for me but want me to go to the L&D triage at the hospital. Now I've freaked myself out.

She scheduled me for Monday morning but she said if my water broke it's an emergency (which I get) and I need to go now.

I don't think it warrants an ER visit just yet. She said I can always sit tight for a bit and see but she can't advise me to do that....which I obviously get for liability reasons.

jessican08 · May 2012

Teney1la:
The nurse has now freaked me out. I have no cramping, pain, nothing. It's not running down my leg or filling my underwear. The spot was the size of a half dollar. They close in an hour and have no appointments for me but want me to go to the L&D triage at the hospital. Now I've freaked myself out.

She scheduled me for Monday morning but she said if my water broke it's an emergency (which I get) and I need to go now.

I don't think it warrants an ER visit just yet. She said I can always sit tight for a bit and see but she can't advise me to do that....which I obviously get for liability reasons.

I would go just for peace of mind - especially since your OB's office will be closed for the weekend. Better to be safe than sorry. I hope it's just a false alarm, Hon.

mrs.kapow · May 2012

I have much bigger spots than that in my underwear on a daily basis and had low fluid with DD, and I personally wouldn't worry if I were you (easier said than done).

With DD, the week before I had to be induced due to low fluid, I told my doc that it felt like I had a constant leak -- very slow and not a lot. They did the test strip PP mentioned and said it was fine.

I was so low the day after my EDD that they kept me and induced me.

Lrncconway · May 2012

I would go just for the peace if mind. It's better to have gone and get sent home with a clean bill of health than wish you had gone later. Better safe than sorry for something so important. It doesn't sound like amniotic fluid, but check to be sure so you won't be on edge all weekend.

hmp1 · May 2012

It is probably discharge. The trick I learned in my birthing class and what I used to determine if my water broke with DS was to lay down flat and then stand up, if more comes out go to L&D. I thought my water might have broke while I was using the bathroom. I did the trick and more came out. I went to L&D and did the stick test and they confirmed.

GL, hope it is all ok.

MainelyFoolish · May 2012

I had a slow leak at the end of my first pregnancy. I never had a gush of fluid but I had to change my pantyliner several times a day.

Tampasomedaybride · May 2012

You would know if you were leaking amniotic fluid because it feels like you're peeing but you cant control it. It gets more noticeable too with movement. So when you get up/tighten your belly muscles/etc it might leak more.

I vote that it's more likely just watery discharge. Wait until the third trimester. I had to wear a liner everyday during the third trimester because I had so much discharge.

Sporkmoostipe · May 2012

Amniotic Fluid has a very distinct smell.

It smells like bleach. If your water broke, it does feel like peeing and not being able to control it.

I would call, just to be safe. I am thinking it's just discharge (I have a lot more discharge this pregnancy than I did the last). But you want the peace of mind that everything's ok. And when it comes to your LO, you can't be too safe.

cjustice76 · July 2013

the only way you'll know for sure is to go to either the Drs or L&D and have them do either a fern test or an Amnio Sure test. I don't want to scare you but this same thing happened to me at 26w. I was due March 20,2013, and my son was born on December 15, 2012 at 26w. On a Wednesday evening I started to notice that I was just damp, not soaked to where it was on my pants, but to where almost everytime I'd use the bathroom I'd have to change my undies..I didn't think it was anything to worry about because it wasn't gushing and plus I was only 6 1/2m pregnant. After a little over 24hrs I called my Drs on-call since it was after hours and the Dr that called me back told me that if after walking for about 10 minutes it wasnt running down my legs, or after laying down for about 10 minutes the sheets weren't soaked not to worry. I had a Drs appt the next AM. This is now Friday. Went to my appt and told my Dr what had been going on and he did a Fernning Test and it was "+" right away. He then checked my cervix, and I was 3cm dialated. Needless to say I got rushed to the hospital. I ended up delivering my son the next day. They tried to stop my labor, but after my water did start to gush out I started to have contractions and they couldn't stop it. With God's grace my son is perfectly healthy, however he did stay in the NICU for 10 weeks and when he did come home he was on a heart monitor for 4 months longer. Now he'll be 8m old on August 15, 2013 and he's doing great

cjustice76 · July 2013

Oh wow, sorry...Just realized that this was from May 2012. Well, what was the outcome? Good I hope

carleegohagan01 · May 2014

Well im 6 months and I have been having a lot of discharge and I really don't think its normal. I fill a panty liner and its clear color, but I can be in the shower and it just pour out like string like and it has been so bad! The other day I used the restroom and wiped and it was a bunch of discharge on the paper. Monday or Tuesday I used the restroom also before I got in the tub, because my back was hurting and when I stood up after I got done it looked like I was peeing, but it was clear it wasn't pee and I had no control over it. IDK what it is.

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