Amniotic sac breaking...how will I know?

Question

I am 33 weeks. I have been having a little more discharge than normal, but cannot tell if it is leaking or just regular discharge. I have read everything on how to tell...and it is still difficult.

I know that only a small percentage have the "my water broke, and it spills out!", so how do you tell if it is trickling, or if you are just having regular discharge. I know if it is watery...but when I wipe (I know gross...sorry for details)...I cannot tell!!!

How do you really know?? I dont want to call my doctor everytime I think something is going on!!!!

Answer 1

You will know. I went through the same thing.

I was about 32 weeks and thought my water had broke, because I had all this watery stuff leaking down my leg after I peed, and after i showered, but on different days. I had to go get tested, because I was unsure what was happening. This is what they told me.

When your water breaks and it leaks out, it leaks for a minute or so, then stops, but if you walk up the steps, or move, it will start again. You cannot stop it like you can stop urine mid flow. It does NOT leak for a little bit, stop for a few hours, and then start again.

You can have a TON of discharge, and its really really watery. You'll have more as you get more and more pregnant.

When my water finally did break, i had stood up from the toilet, walked to the kitchen, and felt like I wet myself. I checked, but nothing was coming out, although my pad was wet. I walked out of the bathroom again, and fet like I wet myself a second time. I sat on the toilet and realized that every minute or so i would leak a bunch of fluid. It kept up like that until my son was born, 43 hours later.

You can fill a panty liner or two in a day, but you will not fill a pad with discharge.

You know its your water when you fill a pad, or completely soak the toilet paper you wipe with.

Besides that, any contractions you had before your water beaks, get a lot stronger and more uncomfortable after it breaks.

You will know, I promise.

Answer 2

if you think your water is leaking put a pad on and lay down for a little over and hour and when you stand up you should notice some water leaking out. go to the bathroom and check if the pad it wet. It should be clear or a straw color. This sounds gross but if you smell it it will smell a little sweet or have a scent that reminds you of bleech. It will not smell anything like urine.

At your next doctors appointment you can ask them for a few of the swabs they use to check if your water has broken. A lot of doctors will give a few out to a woman if they ask and mostly if its their first pregnancy because they arnt exactly sure what to expect.

Just keep an eye on the babies movement. Eat a meal and then lay down for a bout 45 minutes and you should feel the baby move 10 times with in that 45 minutes. your doctors should have told you to do this this anyways but your suposed to do it a few times a day.

Answer 3

Well....you should call your doctor. If it feels like you keep peeing on yourself even though you just went pee, then your water broke. I didn't know this when i was pregnant. And at 36 weeks, that happened to me. I though I was peeing on myself so just put a pad in, anyway turns out it was my water and by the time I went in it had been a week. I was lucky my little girl didn't have pneumonia, or an infection since it had been broken for so long, but no one had ever told me it could be just a trickle. So know that I learned the hard way, I hope this helps you out.

Answer 4

I would talk to the doctor anyway. By the time I was as far along as you, I had my doctor's number programed on my speed dial. It's better to be safe than sorry and even the smallest detail or concern that you have that isn't voiced to the doctor can be dangerous. It is normal for you to have some discharge, but if it's more than usual, you should really ask the doctor to be on the safe side.

Answer 5

If you have a constant trickle that soaks through a pad every hour. It's normal to sometimes leak urine (I know gross) if the baby is sitting on your bladder. If you're worried that your water broke call your doctor.

Answer 6

You will know. I felt a sudden gush of warm water. My undies were soaked and it trickled down my leg. It was also crystal clear in colour and it really did not have an odour. It had a watery/jelly-like texture to it, and it continued to trickle out (I had to wear a panty liner). I also lost my mucous plug at the same time. I was 39 weeks.

Don't be scared to talk to your doctor. That is what they are there for!

Good luck!

Answer 7

It's very, very important that you get checked by your doctor right away. Don't worry about bothering the doctor, this is about the safety of your baby. Even if you are just leaking fluid, there is the possibility that now bacteria and things can enter the womb and hurt the baby. It's your responsibility as a parent to keep the baby safe....so, please go and get checked out. Best of luck.

Answer 8

Wow, I remember this from being pregnant with my first child. It the mucus plug getting ready for your impending birth. Make sure you drink lots and lots of water to make sure that the baby has enough amnio fluid. And ofcourse when in doubt, just head over to Labor & Delivery and tell them of your concerns. They will do an u/s and measure your fluids. If its normal then that means that your discharge is just Leukkorea.

Answer 9

If you lie down for a minute you will get a gush if it's your water bag. If in doubt, call the Dr. they can give you a "fern" test to make sure it is not amniotic fluid.
This late in pregnancy, it could be urine or just hormones causing extra female secretions.

Answer 10

Trust me...you will know when your water breaks.