little mini-gushes - normal or leaking fluid? i'm worried - UPDATE

[blue_salsify]

(update in #9)

so i'm going to call my MW, but wanted yer all's opinions on this....i can't tell if i'm leaking fluid or am just increasingly 'moist' as is normal for 39 wks.

so, do you gals have little mini-gushes of fluid throughout the day/night (say 2-4 times)? like, enough to get your pants just a little wet?

it doesn't smell or look like much. i'm 99% sure it's not pee. i guess it's that fact that i keep having this and that it occurs in little.....bursts.....instead of being a general 'moistness'.

am i normal or should i worry about PROM and infection? TIA

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

Do you have any ph paper? Try that it should turn blue if its amniotic fluid. My midwife gave me some pieces.

[starry_mama]

Can you or your DP run to the store and buy litmus paper? Amniotic fluid has way different pH. I *believe* (but maybe you should google or ask someone who is more sure) that amniotic fluid is more alkaline. Then you would know for sure.

[starry_mama]

Ok, I see Aimee already answered and said the same thing. I'm a sloooooooow typer.

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

Great minds think alike starry_mama...

[LaLibertad]

Just today I started to have the same thing happen to me. I thought it was because I was trying to hussle to make it to the bus stop (which I missed anyway) or that I was slowly losing the mucous plug. I did get my pants a bit wet. It doesn't seem that different and it has lessened since this afternoon.

Long story short, I don't have an answer to your question but I will be watching this thread as well.

[guest9921]

The 'gushes' is probably amniotic fluid.

[kittywitty]

Yes! I get the same thing. Mine isn't amniotic fluid, but I get the same gushes. I think it has to do with how quickly my cervix has been dilating and moving down and anterior the past couple of days. I'm majorly losing mucous plug. There was just a thread about it probably a page or two back. The pH paper should turn more basic to about 7-7.5 from the more acidic vagina. You should be able to get it at a drugstore or something.

[blue_salsify]

update

so i just got back from meeting my MW at the clinic and the tests are inconclusive for the fluid being amniotic or not.

i called her at like 8:30pm and she said i could come into the clinic for testing or wait till morning. i decided to go in b/c if the test showed it was amniotic i would have been leaking for days now and her next move would be to consult w/ an OB and possibly induce labor.

the nitrazine pH test showed blue (alkaline) but the ferning test was negative. so the plan is to go in a get checked out again in the morning if i keep leaking (whatever i'm leaking). it might be a high tear, or just lots of discharge or ?? i'm taking the infections precautions and going to try some gentle induction (pineapple, acupressure, acupuncture maybe lax tea).

we're not worried, but are keeping any eye on things changing. thanks for your responses (she sent me home w/ paper and slides

[wife&mommy]

Oh good luck!

[roseoffred]

I had the same thing on Tuesday and Wednesday of this past week, since then no more gushes but just a continual wetness feeling. I didn't tell my midwife about it until last night.....in an email...I probably should have called her when is started. She doesn't work with an OB though, and wouldn't induce so I wasn't sure if it made a difference in the absence of contrax. I've read that you can get little tears that then sort of reseal. What sorts of things should I be doing to prevent infection?

[kittywitty]

Good luck!! Keep us updated with what you learn today!

[guest9921]

Originally Posted by roseoffred

I had the same thing on Tuesday and Wednesday of this past week, since then no more gushes but just a continual wetness feeling. I didn't tell my midwife about it until last night.....in an email...I probably should have called her when is started. She doesn't work with an OB though, and wouldn't induce so I wasn't sure if it made a difference in the absence of contrax. I've read that you can get little tears that then sort of reseal. What sorts of things should I be doing to prevent infection?

Crazy amounts of vit C (sodium ascorbate)- which helps prevent PROM too, btw.

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

Good luck!! Keep us posted!

[starry_mama]

Originally Posted by roseoffred

I had the same thing on Tuesday and Wednesday of this past week, since then no more gushes but just a continual wetness feeling. I didn't tell my midwife about it until last night.....in an email...I probably should have called her when is started. She doesn't work with an OB though, and wouldn't induce so I wasn't sure if it made a difference in the absence of contrax. I've read that you can get little tears that then sort of reseal. What sorts of things should I be doing to prevent infection?

Take vitamin C (sodium ascorbate if you have it, otherwise ascorbic acid is fine), echinacea, garlic, acidophilus. Plus, don't put anything into your vagina. Small tears can TOTALLY re-seal. Try not to stress. ALso, if it makes you feel better, you can always take your temp to check for a fever (a sign of infection).