Fluid leaking - update

974 Views 28 Replies 11 Participants Last post by ~*max*~, Apr 6, 2006

Momto1and1ontheway

Discussion Starter · Apr 1, 2006

3

Help mamas - I'm supposed to be going to my baby shower in about an hour. I'm crampy and I leaked some clear fluid into my panties. I know this is TMI but I didn't know enough to pay attention last time. What does AF smell like? This is a bit "semen-y". There is no color and no real consistency to it; it's just like water...

Any ideas....

*Update*

Well, I decided to go to my shower since it wasn't far from home/hospital and had a great time! Got home and mom suggested I call in the leak before dh was supposed to be leaving, just to see what was going on..

So, b/c dh was leaving for his trip, I went to L&D for 4 hours last night to check on baby. They say *no* to AF, but they said that with dd too!

So, they hooked me up to the monitors, checked my cervix - I was at 1.5-2 cm, 70% effaced and +2 station (I think!). All-in-all, nothing to worry about there. However, after they checked me, I had contractions every 5 minutes and they progressed to every 2-3 minutes. They weren't full-on contractions, as they weren't all that painful and after 3 hours, no more dilation, THANK GOODNESS.

Best news is, they didn't do anything to me! No IV, no meds, no nothing! Just let me drink lots of water while waiting to see what baby was going to do! After no cervical change, they told me to come home, take it easy and just see what happens.

So, DH is now gone

and will be back on Friday (really late). Now my dilemma is to stay here (10 mins from the hospital) alone with dd (34 months) or go to my parents (45 minutes away (obviously further from the hospital, but with more help with dd). What to do, what to do??

:

Thanks to all who posted and those who make it through this novel! LOL

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calicokatt

· #2 · Apr 1, 2006

It should smell sweet.

How much fluid?

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Momto1and1ontheway

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 1, 2006

There's not very much, kind of like I worked out and the crotch of my panties are wet. With dd, my water never truly broke until full-on labor. I had a small trickle that kept wetting my panties, which the docs said COULDN'T be fluid since there wasn't enough volume. Sure enough, when they tested it, it was AF. I'm only really concerned b/c dh is leaving early tomorrow morning for a week long trip and I'll only be 34 weeks tomorrow....

calicokatt

· #4 · Apr 1, 2006

I hope this doesn't gross you out, but have you *tasted* it? To see if it tastes strongly like your regular discharge? (Assuming of course that you know what that tastes like

)

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Momto1and1ontheway

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 1, 2006

I wish it could be that simple!

I haven't the foggiest what *normal* would taste like.. tee-hee-hee!!

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calicokatt

· #6 · Apr 1, 2006

Well shoot!

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

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Xiaguan

· #7 · Apr 1, 2006

I have always thought AF smelled like semen~ You have 2 choices

1. Go to the ER & if they find it is AF they will most likely induce or 2. Follow all precautions for leaking & go see your DR for a regular visit~ He might induce & he might be willing to let you go on bed rest until your DH returns & then induce~ I went 13 weeks of 'leaking' & they finally induced at 35.5 weeks~ Only because I was still leaking & because they felt the risk of infection outweighed the risk of prematurity~

If it was me & I was not showing signs of infection or PTL then I would lay flat for another week or 2~ It should greatly increase your chance of no NICU stay~

Here is a great resource for info on PROM: http://www.kanalen.org/prom/list/

PM me if you need

Warmly,
Melissa

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Guinevere

· #8 · Apr 1, 2006

If you're still leaking, you really need to go find out if it's AF or not, so you can decide where to go from there.

Especially if your DH is going out of town tomorrow, this needs to be a high priority. Find out what's going on; potential PROM is way more important that being late to your baby shower...

Good luck!

Guin

P.S. If it turns out to be AF, they are not automatically going to induce you, btw. I've had PROM before and after making sure I wasn't developing an infection, they absolutely did NOT want to induce me, preferring instead to keep me pg for at least a few more weeks, if possible (I was 33 wks. along at the time.) They actually STOPPED my labor (I went into labor shortly after the PROM) for 48 hrs., then took me off the drugs. Unfortunately, my body went back into labor and I delivered shortly thereafter, but had that not happened, the game plan was to keep me gestating unless I spiked a fever.

Peppamint

· #9 · Apr 2, 2006

2

I've noticed my CF being a lot more watery lately... if it's AF I've been leaking it for the last 6 weeks.

Personally, before going to the ER or the doc I'd get some pH strips (or in my case, get one from my midwife) and check myself just because I wouldn't want unnecessary hoopla if it's "just" CF or a bit of diluted urine- but then again I hate going near hospitals!

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flowmom

· #10 · Apr 2, 2006

See if you can get some litmus paper to test the pH. Amniotic fluid has a pH of 6.7 or more, while vaginal fluid usually has a pH of 6.5 or less.

Although I would be concerned if I was leaking amniotic fluid, keep in mind that small leaks often re-seal themselves. The amniotic fluid then replenishes itself. When leaking amniotic fluid make sure nothing goes in your vagina (to prevent infection). I would recommend taking it easy and tuning into your body.

Good luck!

mamacatsbaby

· #11 · Apr 2, 2006

Mto1and1, how are things? Was the fluid AF? How are you feeling?

Peppamint

· #12 · Apr 2, 2006

2

Did you decide to stay home then? Sometimes kids do just fine for us when they know we need to rest, hopefully your dd is cooperating!

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luckylady

· #13 · Apr 3, 2006

- hope all is well with you!!!

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Momto1and1ontheway

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 3, 2006

2

I did decide to stay home and dd and I LITERALLY did nothing today! She's still in her PJ's and its 6:20 PM!

Oh well! I think I'll probably just stick closer to home and MIL is nearby. This way I can just be lazy and no one can make me feel a bit guilty about it!

I never experienced any of this with dd. Is this what they consider prodromal labor? My contractions have slowed and I don't really feel them much anymore. Guess that doesn't mean anything much since I didn't feel the other ones and I'm at 1.5-2 cm's!

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Peppamint

· #15 · Apr 3, 2006

I would say it's prodromal labor...

Quote:

True labor is characterized by progressive dilation and effacement of the cervix. False labor eventually goes away. Unfortunately, prodromal labor does neither. Little cervical change occurs, but it seems to go on forever. It's as though the uterus is stuck in low gear. Thankfully, at some point - usually less than 24 hours but possibly as long as 2 or 3 days - a shift into high gear happens and labor progresses toward delivery.

Except in my case, I was in prodromal labor for three weeks last time! It did make labor quick and easy once active labor kicked in though, so it was worth it. It was hard mentally to always think I was going to go into active labor any minute though!

And of course, we want our babies to stay in another two weeks...

Momto1and1ontheway

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 3, 2006

Oh heaven help us! LOL Are you the *norm* then (w/ the 3 weeks?) I obviously don't want a premie baby but how annoying and last night, how scary.

Unfortunately for me, this is all a moot point since I'm scheduled for a repeat c/s on 5/10. Oh well, gotta deal right! At least I know my body has it's own agenda

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Peppamint

· #17 · Apr 3, 2006

2

: I don't know if I've ever been called normal!

But yes, I've met a lot of moms who had similar lengths of prodromal labor... and a lot of moms who never experienced it at all! It just varies so much I guess.

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Momto1and1ontheway

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 3, 2006

I guess I'm just worried that if it continues and makes any progress at all, that they'll pressure me to move up my c/s date. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes well at my appt. tomorrow!

:

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mimid

· #19 · Apr 3, 2006

Good news about last night! Let us know what happens tomorrow.

: for you!

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mamacatsbaby

· #20 · Apr 3, 2006

2

:

I hope all goes A-OK mama!

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