Amniotic fluid leak « Back to Group Discussions

[tm0sweet]

Talking about bodily fluids here, if you're squeamish CLICK AWAY

Yesterday I noticed my underwear being wet, kind of felt like I peed myself a little. I changed and went about my day. Throughout the day I started feeling drippy (like my period was starting) and noticed that my panty liner was wet with clear fluid. Didn't smell like anything. I figured I might be leaking amniotic fluid (I'm 37.4 weeks) and decided to take a wait and see approach. Had some contractions through the day and kept feeling leaky.

I called the MW office this morning and I told a little fib and said I just noticed the wetness this morning. I was told by a nurse to come to L&D right away to get checked out. On the way in I ran into my MW and she told me if I'm admitted now without contractions I'm going to probably be induced. She gave me the option to stay home until 6 pm tonight and see if labor will start on its own as that would be 12 hours after I told them my water broke. If nothing gets going by 6pm she said we may have to talk pitocin (YUCK!)

So here I am, at home, waiting for labor to hopefully start because *i think* my water broke. I didn't want to have them check for sure and end up being at the hospital all day!

Anyone ever had a slow leak before? Or anyone ever had their water break before contractions, and if so how long until labor kicked in? About to take a walk and see if we can get this ball rolling! Please send labor dust my way!!

[guen]

With baby #3, my waters broke 12 hours before the first contractions started.  I just went about my day's plans as usual with nothing more than the normal BH and the trickle continued.  My midwife warned me that once I had the kids put to bed for the night and settled in myself labour would probably kick in.  She was right.  The moment the kids were in bed and DH had just dropped off to sleep and I was getting drowsy myself WHAM, the contractions started slamming me.  Within a few ctx, I knew if I didn't get out of bed now, I wouldn't be able to (we had a semi-loft bed, so it required climbing out of).  Luckily, we had planned a homebirth, so no driving anywhere!

With baby #4, my waters broke with a gush.  Stupidly, I drove straight to the hospital.  It was late evening and they had me stay in and induced first thing next morning. :-/

The amniotic fluid replenishes, so unless you are gushing and as long you don't begin to run a fever and don't notice any decrease in fetal movement, you can probably give your body some time.

Good luck!

[OceansEve]

With #2 my water broke 3-4 hours before ctx started, but they didn't get serious until much later (sorry can't remember specifically). Another mama here it took 2 1/2 days.

With #3 I thought I had a leak and went to my OB to check, turns out it was just baby bouncing on my bladder and I just didn't realize I was leaking that much pee. lol I was so embarrassed!

Good luck! Hope it's either just pee or your labor starts soon so you can avoid induction.

I've heard of ladies going a VERY long time with a slow leak, I hope you don't have to!

[finnegansmom]

My water broke this time 28 hours before contractions really picked up and were regular, but I was 39w2d when it broke.  It was nice not a small leak, it gushed and I soaked 2 bath towels totally in a few hours.  I called my midwife but I didn't go in until my contractions were regular and starting to get painful/more intense.  My baby was born about 12 hours after that, in total 40 hours after the water broke (without any medication/intervention).

I tried walking, did the yoga ball, drank some RRL tea and took some EPO (by mouth) to see if anything could help.  Honestly, I think they only that helped was me going to bed at 8pm and then waking up at 2am in labor.  I think I needed to sleep....

Edited by finnegansmom - 11/5/12 at 4:43pm

[Sheri R]

With my first (now pregnant with #2), my water broke in the middle of the night, not really a gush, but continuous leaking.  When I called the midwives they suggested I come in as soon as I could and that if contractions didn't start regularly that they recommend pitocin..(bleh)..  I went in 2 hours later, they monitored me for 4 more hours - had contractions, but not regular enough apparently, they did give me some pitocin which seemed to kickstart my own body - DD was born 5 hours later with no other meds needed.  So a total of 12 hours from water breaking to birth.  I think they were possibly more concerned with getting baby out in a 'timely' manner due to my GBS positive/need for antibiotics etc. ??  not sure.

I'm hoping to get to labor more at home this time and not need the pitocin!  But just know that if they do end up giving you pitocin it doesn't automatically mean epidural or other drugs:)

Hope you have a wonderful birth soon:)

[tm0sweet]

I hit the 12 hour time limit without ctx so I went on in. They could not figure out what I was leaking (actually told me I didn't look like I was leaking anything!) all the tests came back negative for amniotic fluid. They did an ultra sound to check my level and I am on the low end of normal so they want to check the level again in a few days, but no induction tonight! Yay! Funny enough, even though they said I'm not leaking anything when I got up from the bed I definately left a little puddle behind. Maybe I do have a really slow leak, who knows? I'm happy to let my body do what it needs to do as long as baby is healthy

[sere234]

Well, that's a good update!! Hope your baby can still grow and mature in you for a little while longer :)

[OceansEve]

Chug that water! Glad you didn't have to face pitocin! I'm not a fan of it, tho I've ended up with it in my previous three births.

[fayebond]

Its amazing how many-little-known-but-normal pregnancy symptoms there are.  I have this tiny leak/trickle from about 8 months on, they couldn't figure out what either last baby.  This time my MW says to just assume its normal until I see some kind of color or mucus plug, and chug the water.  Last time, when my water "officially" broke, it was a big gush and obviously had the whole plug going down there.

[MrsKoehn]

Glad it's all fine! I'm surprised they don't give you long at all. I can see OBs but MWs? Wow. I thought mine didn't give me long - she said 48 hrs to start Cx then 72 to have the baby. That's probably full blown burst though.

[tm0sweet]

I'm seeing a hospital based MW so she is much better than any local OB, but she is still restricted by hospital policy. I learned with my last pregnancy anyway, MW does NOT = natural birth friendly. The last MW told me an epidural had no negative side effects to me or baby and also started pushing induction the day after my due date for being "post dates".

I'm not entirely convinced I don't have a leak. I'm operating under the assumption I do and it was just too small to detect. Hopefully it will reseal itself or I will go into labor on my own. Pitocin is not invited to this birth, thank you very much! I have another u/s tomorrow to make sure my fluid levels don't keep dropping. I'll definately be drinking lots of water! I've had some knock-your-socks-off contractions today so maybe baby getting ready to make his grand entrance

[Therese's Mommy]

With #3 I woke about 6AM on a Monday morning with a slow leak and no contractions in sight.  I tried all day to get labor started by walking.  My mw had me checking my temp and taking more Vit C.  Tuesday came and still no contractions and still leaking.  MW came to check me about 11AM and I was at 4cm.  She stripped my membranes to try to get something started.  Told me that if something didn't happen by 3PM we would have to start to look at our options.  Walked more, nothing.  No contractions AT ALL.  About 2PM I laid down with my then youngest to put her down for a nap.  I was pretty relaxed and all of a sudden contractions started up and if memory serves correctly they were already 2 minutes apart.  Called mw, contractions stayed consistently 2 min apart until everyone arrived and then I completely stalled.  I tried to relax but kinda felt weird that everyone dropped everything to come (stage fright I guess).  MW wanted to check me sometime after 4PM to see if she and her assistant should leave and get dinner in order to help me relax.  I was at 6cm and that was enough to get me to relax.  Contractions started right back up, 2min apart.  MW decided to stay and order pizza to be delivered.  Things progressed to where I didn't really get a break between contractions.  Had  a little back labor.  Felt a little overwhelmed, knew it was transition, and my girl was born at 6:45PM.

So, all in all, a great experience.  The key was relaxing or maybe when I laid down I got baby into a good position.  I don't know exactly.  But it was a nice fairly easy labor and not too short or too long.  Good luck! 

[Therese's Mommy]

Also, although I most definitely was leaking, the leak must have been up high since the mw still felt water around the baby's head.

[MrsKoehn]

Originally Posted by tm0sweet 

I'm seeing a hospital based MW so she is much better than any local OB, but she is still restricted by hospital policy. I learned with my last pregnancy anyway, MW does NOT = natural birth friendly. The last MW told me an epidural had no negative side effects to me or baby and also started pushing induction the day after my due date for being "post dates".
I'm not entirely convinced I don't have a leak. I'm operating under the assumption I do and it was just too small to detect. Hopefully it will reseal itself or I will go into labor on my own. Pitocin is not invited to this birth, thank you very much! I have another u/s tomorrow to make sure my fluid levels don't keep dropping. I'll definately be drinking lots of water! I've had some knock-your-socks-off contractions today so maybe baby getting ready to make his grand entrance

Keeping my fingers crossed!