Identifying a "slow leak"

[1babysmom]

I don't have this issue, nor have I ever experienced...and I don't really expect to, but it's just one of the few things I wonder if I'd have trouble identifying. If you have a slow leak, how do you identify it? Is it generally enough to be obvious? The reason I was thinking about it is that I usually do EPO and/or coconut oil suppositories at the end, and I check myself (I'm familiar with how and when my body dilates/effaces...but I'm not asking for opinions on that ), but I wouldn't want to continue doing those things if I had a tear in membranes or something causing a slow leak (to prevent infection). But if it's really just a tiny, slow leak, is it REALLY that easy to identify? Obviously I'm not about to go to L&D for a pH or ferning test or something.

[MsBlack]

IME, it's something that might be hard to identify. But, you'd be more likely to think you DID have a leak that wasn't really there, than miss actually having one if that makes sense. That is, in the final days of pregnancy, some women have small, liquidy gushes (especially upon arising from sleep/nap) that seem so liquid as to SURELY be amniotic fluid--but really are just cervical fluid in a very very fluid state. So--you think you have a leak but don't--can only be verified with some sort of test as you mentioned.

And I would also think that if you had a teeny tiny pinprick of a high leak that you actually did miss because the amt of fluid leaking was so very small, that you would be extremely unlikely to introduce infection with your own hands via insertion of EPO, etc.

Just my opinion, tho!

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by MsBlack

And I would also think that if you had a teeny tiny pinprick of a high leak that you actually did miss because the amt of fluid leaking was so very small, that you would be extremely unlikely to introduce infection with your own hands via insertion of EPO, etc.

Just my opinion, tho!

Good to hear someone else say that, because that's kinda how I feel, too.

[jessica_anne010]

I've heard that you can use a kid's microscope to do a ferning test. *shrugs*

[velveeta]

I leaked a little right before labor, and I was really glad to have nitrazine test strips on hand b/c I leaked when I moved in bed (I wasn't sure it wasn't urine). The strips showed that it was amnio fluid. You can get them at inhishands.com (birth supply). Otherwise, I don't know of any other (more readily available) way to know for sure.

I am told you can get ph test strips at drug stores, and amnio fluid should measure 7, but that wouldn't be as accurate, I wouldn't think.