STMs - water breaking

LTMama · June 2014

I'm curious about this, since I've seen lots of mentions of towels and changes of clothes in case water breaks. When mine broke last time, it was just enough to soak a pantiliner and maybe get a few drops on my shorts, so it really wasn't a ton of fluid. I'm curious about others' experiences with this, because based on mine, even if it does break in public it's unlikely to be that messy or even noticeable.

What were your experiences?

Ceridwen21 · June 2014

Mine never broke on their own. My midwife broke them 18+ hours into labor as an effort to get things moving when I stalled.

peanutbuttervibes · June 2014

My water never broke but was just talking to someone about this, she said she had a ridiculous amount of fluid and had to use a towel to try and clean it all up. I guess the doctor said it wasn't that common though.

aliciak316 · June 2014

Mine broke on it's own but I was in the hospital, it looked like a water ballon exploded in the bed, there was water everywhere. Maybe it just seemed like it to me though because I was so nervous for the birth.

Jenner37 · June 2014

My OB broke my water, not too much came out. She had told me previously that it could range from a gush to a slow trickle if it broke in its own.

Bella2425 · June 2014

Mine broke at work. I honestly couldn't tell if I was just peeing my pants every time I walked or if it was my water. I had DH come pick me up but didn't tell anyone why because I was so afraid I'd have to come back the next day and tell everyone I just peed my pants! lol!

I never did get a "gush" but felt very leaky all the way until it was time to push. I will definitely be bringing a change of clothes to work once I get close to the end and keeping a couple towels in my car. I will also put a waterproof liner on my bed once I get close too. I'd rather not have to buy a new mattress. Better safe than sorry I say!

Pinkmom19 · June 2014

Mine broke on its own 3/5 times. Twice it was like yours OP only continuous-I had to change the pad several times. At first, I thought I was just peeing

an unfortunate side effect by 9 months pg. The other one was a full out gush with water and even some blood everywhere. To be fair, I was fully dilated and nearly didn't make it to the hospital and when I stood up it just exploded. I think this is pretty rare though. Unless I know I'm walking around for weeks at 4cm again, I will not bother with towels.

kaleb87 · June 2014

My water broke at 4:50 a.m. on the day I had dd. I was asleep in bed and had the weirdest feeling so I jumped up and yelled at DH.By the time I yelled my water was spilling out. I ran to the bathroom and sat on the toilet. I knew it was my water because I couldn't stop it. I called the doctor, and then took a shower. I would have spurts while in the shower where it would leak. (My DH was sweet and actually cleaned up where my water had leaked from our bedroom to the bathroom. $:\$ "> )
We left for the hospital and I had a huge like overnight pad on, and then two towels. Needless to say by the time I made it to the hospital at 7a.m. I had soaked through everything. (Thank goodness I have leather seats.) It was awkward walking all the way to labor and delivery with pants completely drenched. It was so bad it actually ran into my shoes, and soaked my socks. Needless to say my shower was worthless. Once there my contractions started and for the longest time everytime I had a contraction I could feel it gush. Finally it quit. Just as I was in transition the nurse did a check and realized I had a second bag of water, so She broke it. Within minutes I was pushing. So, I had a ridiculously amount of water.
I have an appointment on Friday so I will be asking if they are going to monitor my water this time around because our AS showed it on the bigger side. I don't know if this is true, but I'm going to ask my doctor, my water was almost sticky. I expected it to be like water but it wasn't. It was heavier, and like I said kind of sticky??

Irisheyes1247 · June 2014

With DD1, that was my first sign of labor - I got up to go to the bathroom and when I went to get back into bed, it felt like I had peed a little. I changed and went to get into bed, and the same thing happened again. It was kind of period like, in that if i was sitting it was slow, but kind of did a little gush when I stood up. After a while, a pad was fine to keep it contained.

With DD2, it was a bigger gush, and my pants got all wet.

lovesazzie · June 2014

When mine broke with #1, it was not much fluid like you mentioned, but I was already in the pushing phase, so the baby's head could have prevented more from coming out? With #2, it broke before contractions had even started and it was quite a bit of fluid. It happened as I was getting into bed, I needed towels, and it was definitely more than a panty liner could have handled.

mapchick77 · June 2014

SmileyGirl18 said:

My OB broke mine at the hospital and it was a huge gush.

Same with me.

rachuwrf · June 2014

Mine broke when I was laying in bed (this is common as the baby moves off the pelvis and water can escape). Then when I was walking around, every few steps I'd feel a little "gush" not a lot though. Not even enough to leak through a pad.

bethybeach · June 2014

Mine broke at home with DS a little at first then TMI but gush on the floor. I can remember my dog just following me into the bathroom and that face as it was going on. Then I was filling pads for a while but slowed by the time I left for the hospital.

MY boss at the time all he could say was please don't let it happen at work. All in a joking manner (he doesn't have kids) but I said less than 25% actually have their water break, so I thought I was ok, I guess not. But I am very glad it didn't happen at work.

But everyone is different...

Blemaro · June 2014

Mine broke when I bent over slightly well before contractions started. I wore a jumbo pad and had to change it sporatically. I was induced after about 28 hours and I leaked a lot the whole time before the induction. It was ok sometimes but if I would shift just right I would get a huge gush again and have to change the pad. I didn't use towels. But this time I will likely have towels in the car and a waterproof pad on my bed. I'm lucky I was home when it happened last time or it would have been a huge mess. Your fluid replenishes so I made sure to drink a lot of water so I wouldn't become dehydrated!

LexiT88 · June 2014

Mine was broken for me at the hospital after I had already gone into labor. I remember it feeling like I jumped into a pool bottom first...if I were in public I definitely would've made a giant mess...

brittneyandadam · June 2014

This thread makes me want to line my entire bedroom with plastic drop cloths.

an02102 · June 2014

Mine broke while I was sitting on the toilet peeing. It just kept coming and coming. I immediately filled an overnight pad but then it slowed.

mavelle93 · June 2014

Okay, I just started having a freak out moment reading all of this (but good to know). I'm going to be working almost up to the due date and I hadn't really thought about what would happen if my water broke at work...I need a plan!
For those of you who had your water break outside of the hospital -- how long before you actually got to the hospital?

MrsLaLaBug · June 2014

JeremiahsBabe said:

I had mine broken at the hospital too but it was a ton of fluid at first, then just small amounts until baby came. I think if it breaks on its own it will vary from a slow leak to a gush all at once.

this

ashaw512 · June 2014

I don't even know, mine broke when they cut me during c-section. It felt like a lot, but I couldn't see it.

Bella2425 · June 2014

mavelle93 said:

Okay, I just started having a freak out moment reading all of this (but good to know). I'm going to be working almost up to the due date and I hadn't really thought about what would happen if my water broke at work...I need a plan!
For those of you who had your water break outside of the hospital -- how long before you actually got to the hospital?

It took my DH about 30 minutes to get to my work and then another 15 to drive to the hospital. That's not including the time I spent whisper-yelling on the phone at him from the work bathroom stall to "BRING TOWELS AND PANTS!" lol. It's so funny looking back on it but at the time I was totally freaking out.

suitern · June 2014

Mine broke as I was laying in bed, so it was a pop and a small gush. Then I stood up and it all gushed out. I needed a pad, a towel, trash bag on the way to the hospital. Every time I had a contraction more water would come out-awful feeling.

mariaculbreth · June 2014

Mine broke in the hospital just after I had my epidural and it was a huge gush. One of the nurses was just coming in to check me and I told her my catheter wasn't working because I just peed myself and she was laughing at me and said no that was my water breaking.

cmumama · June 2014

My OB broke my water both times.

Linz-E · June 2014

It was a small gush like enough for a thin pad. If I hadn't felt the little pop I probably would have thought I just peed a little! ha

BrightMoon1 · June 2014

suitern said:
Mine broke as I was laying in bed, so it was a pop and a small gush. Then I stood up and it all gushed out. I needed a pad, a towel, trash bag on the way to the hospital. Every time I had a contraction more water would come out-awful feeling.

Exactly this. I had gone to bed around 10:30 or so that night. At about 11pm, I was still awake tossing and turning, trying to get comfy (I was 4 days past my due date). When I rolled over, I felt a pop and then a gush of fluid down my legs. I stood up to go to the bathroom, and a huge gush came out as I ran to the bathroom. I took a shower and more came out in the shower. But by the time I was dressed and ready to drive to the hospital, most of it had stopped. I wore a pad in the car, but that was all that was needed. I didn't leak thru the pad at that point.

chardonnay24 · June 2014

My OB broke my water because I was induced. I actually only know one person whose water broke before labor started, and it was such a little amount that she wasn't sure if it was water or if she peed herself a little.

bardini · June 2014

I had a pop that startled me so much i jumped up from being asleep before it even hit the bed. It was green which is how we knew there was meconium ( after calling the hospital). It leaked most if the time i was in labor. Nothing more gross than having poop leaking out of your lady parts, but at that point her health was all i cared about.

JulyMomma2U2 · June 2014

Mine did not break on it's own the first time, since I was induced, but when my OB went ahead and broke it for me it was a TON of fluid.. like, soaked her leg (she was sitting on the edge of the bed!) and sheets and everything! I was an RCS, so no need to break it when I was admitted for my 2nd.. I assume the same this time.. but, if it does break on it's own, I'm prepared for a mini pool

BabyMayinMarch · June 2014

Mine broke at home, and it was nothing at first. Once we started to get our stuff to go to the hospital, it was like peeing my pants every 5 minutes. A towel was NEEDED in the car!

jmolr · June 2014

Mine broke on it's own and it was a ton of fluid. The initial break wasn't that bad but it leaked the whole day. I must have went through 6 towels. The nurse on call advised me to take a towel and wad it up in my underwear for the trip to the hospital. By the time I got to the hospital it had soaked through.

conradraging · June 2014

This thread has officially terrified me.

portentosa · June 2014

Mine didn't fully break until the OB broke it. It sprung a leak.... I was laying down on the couch and then sat up and felt a small whoosh... enough to soak my underwear. I was just under 39 weeks and didn't want to go to the hospital on a false alarm so I tried to recreate it by laying back down for half an hour, sure enough I got another whoosh when I sat up. They tested me for amniotic fluid when I got there, it was positive so I was admitted. A panty liner was enough to get me to the hospital.

gingerkid9989 · June 2014

I keep picturing the mom from Coneheads flooding the house when her water breaks. :-S

emmylu30 · June 2014

My OB had to break it at the hospital also. It was just a small gush but the weirdest feeling of relieving pressure. I was also at 7 cm at that point though. I would definitely suggest getting a waterproof pad to put under fitted sheet of bed. I got mine for pretty cheap from target last time.

Mrs.Leah.Maria · June 2014

My water broke with my boys when they were crowning and surprisingly, it was A LOT of water. With my DD, my MW broke it while checking me.

T&HLove · June 2014

My ob broke mine and it was a huge gush, followed by more gushes. My ob was surprised at the amount. It varies on how it happens spontaneously. Sometimes a slow leak, sometimes a gush. There's no way to predict it.

bumpuser5078523 · June 2014

I'm paranoid about my water breaking in public.....

I was a failed induction at 37 weeks due to preeclampsia. I didn't experience anything labor related. I'm hoping to have the opposite experience this time, minus the water breaking part.

wrightpalomo · June 2014

trombgirl said:

Mine didn't fully break until the OB broke it. It sprung a leak.... I was laying down on the couch and then sat up and felt a small whoosh... enough to soak my underwear. I was just under 39 weeks and didn't want to go to the hospital on a false alarm so I tried to recreate it by laying back down for half an hour, sure enough I got another whoosh when I sat up. They tested me for amniotic fluid when I got there, it was positive so I was admitted. A panty liner was enough to get me to the hospital.

Ok so I've been reading this thread and laughing, imagining how funny and weird this is going to be, thinking good thing I have that waterproof mattress cover...but then THIS just freaked me out! I just bought a velvet sofa like 3 weeks ago... I guess I'll be sitting on a towel for the last few weeks if I want to use my sofa!

portentosa · June 2014

wrightpalomo said:

trombgirl said:

Mine didn't fully break until the OB broke it. It sprung a leak.... I was laying down on the couch and then sat up and felt a small whoosh... enough to soak my underwear. I was just under 39 weeks and didn't want to go to the hospital on a false alarm so I tried to recreate it by laying back down for half an hour, sure enough I got another whoosh when I sat up. They tested me for amniotic fluid when I got there, it was positive so I was admitted. A panty liner was enough to get me to the hospital.

Ok so I've been reading this thread and laughing, imagining how funny and weird this is going to be, thinking good thing I have that waterproof mattress cover...but then THIS just freaked me out! I just bought a velvet sofa like 3 weeks ago... I guess I'll be sitting on a towel for the last few weeks if I want to use my sofa!

LOL. Glad I could help. It's unlikely to happen, but with a velvet couch I would be sitting on a towel too. :P

ve304856 · June 2014

I was on the toilet about to go to the bathroom when my water broke. I knew bc it was cloudy and I knew I didn't pee. I called my Dr. and she told me that she would call me back in a half hour to see if I was leaking to make sure it was my water that broke. While I was getting ready I had a second gush of fluid, it completely soaked my pants. I went to the hospital once she called me back 30 min after the first gush. I brought a towel in the car but I wasn't leaking much at that point.

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