Protecting your mattress from water breaking

bscurt · March 2015

Sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything specific -

Any second time moms out there or anyone with any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

What would you put on your mattress to help protect it in case your water breaks at night? I've heard of people using dog pee pads (doesn't seem like enough protection) and even things like shower curtain liners. How uncomfortable are these to sleep on? Are waterproof mattress liners from Amazon worth it? Also, I'm 31 weeks, when would you put this protective layer on your bed?

I've even heard of friends that walked around with pee pads in their purse because they didn't want to sit on a couch or chair and have their water break! Things I guess I didn't think of!

Thank you!!

surprisebaby4us2009 · March 2015

I guess I'm not worried about it breaking while I'm in bed. I have a mattress pad, but when my water broke I was in labor and not in bed anyway. And it was a leak, not a gush

louloutte87 · March 2015

You can get a mattress protector for like £10 in the shops. I'm not experienced but I can't see why that wouldn't be sufficient. We have it on all year round anyway.

Rosie3rd · March 2015

I honestly think it's worth investing in a brolly sheet or similar (online store) as they can then be used when you child starts toilet training so they aren't wastes of money. It's not likely that waters breaking will be the first sign of labour, but if it's something that'll put you more at ease then get something you can use later on too.

a316b · March 2015

We got a waterproof one at Walmart for about $20. I did drive around while sitting on a puppy pad with my first.

I would say that it was awesome having a diaper in my purse once my water did break- I used it like a pad until I could get to l&d.

beaseg · March 2015

We have a memory foam mattress. And my water broke in a gush in the middle of the night when I was 39 weeks pregnant with my first. I was shocked. But it definitely broke in the bed, and I just waited for the gush to slow before I even got up. Then I waddled to the bathroom, looked in the mirror, blinked, and yelled to my husband "my water broke!". We left the house and returned 2 days later and DON'T JUDGE ME- but we never did anything about the mattress. We took the sheets off that night and threw clean ones on when we got home and that was it. It's not stained, it was dry by the time we made it home, idk - I guess looking back it's a little gross, but hey- who knew it would happen like that? This time around, I doubt that would happen twice. And even if it did- not worth sleeping on a shower curtain.

In the hospital, they have these blue paper things they put under you in their beds because you bleed so much and they're trying to protect their sheets and beds. I brought a few of those home and put them in our bed for my first week, between the mattress and the sheet. They helped. Super absorbent! But only ever seen them in the hospital.

rklinge0 · March 2015

Ftm and was going to buy a waterproof mattress pad. Heard that they will be useful if you are planning on feeding the baby in your bed, too. Or on those nights when we are just too tired to put the baby back in its crib.

lisalisanorgren · March 2015

We have a memory foam mattress. And my water broke in a gush in the middle of the night when I was 39 weeks pregnant with my first. I was shocked. But it definitely broke in the bed, and I just waited for the gush to slow before I even got up. Then I waddled to the bathroom, looked in the mirror, blinked, and yelled to my husband "my water broke!". We left the house and returned 2 days later and DON'T JUDGE ME- but we never did anything about the mattress. We took the sheets off that night and threw clean ones on when we got home and that was it. It's not stained, it was dry by the time we made it home, idk - I guess looking back it's a little gross, but hey- who knew it would happen like that? This time around, I doubt that would happen twice. And even if it did- not worth sleeping on a shower curtain.

In the hospital, they have these blue paper things they put under you in their beds because you bleed so much and they're trying to protect their sheets and beds. I brought a few of those home and put them in our bed for my first week, between the mattress and the sheet. They helped. Super absorbent! But only ever seen them in the hospital.

They're called Chux pads

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FD2AZ0/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944579842&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000FD2AWI&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1GF2RTCA097JD4VEM2K4

smashbaby111 · March 2015

I always have a waterproof mattress protector on my mattress... Spills or stains void the warranty so I've always kept one on there.... I'm just planning on keeping it on there and I'm sure it will do as long as I remove it quickly after if my water breaks so that it doesn't absorb and leak down the sides

beaseg · March 2015

@lisalisanorgren - yes!! yes!! those are them! They are SUPER absorbent! I shall invest.

They actually were great because sometimes I liked giving my daughter some diaper free time to let her little booty breathe, and I could lay one down and if she peed, it absorbed it all!

ali0608 · March 2015

Speaking from my experience in the last week...

a waterproof mattress pad will be needed on your bed long after your water breaks. When you child is sick in the middle of the night, they will most likely end up in your bed. You will want one for their bed and one for yours.

My five year has spent the night in our bed for the last 3-4 nights after getting sick in his bed first. Sick kids are the worst.

So, my point is that it's definitely worth the investment for many years to come; not just your water breaking. My water broke at the hospital so this is not something I considered.

CTcoffeequeen · March 2015

I think I was 37w when we put chux pads down last time. My water DID break in bed and my mattress was fine. Just my forebag broke in bed though (I think). I wasn't having any contractions and knew I had to get them going so I went to the kitchen and put on running clothes and running sneakers. Then it was like a freaking flood on the kitchen floor.

bscurt · March 2015

Thank you everyone!

mhilpisch10 · March 2015

I hadn't even thought of this. My water broke while taking a walk last time around. I guess it seems hard to believe it would happen while laying in bed but clearly it does ha!

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