Cleaning up broken waters
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Forum Name: Pregnancy
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=39932
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Topic: Cleaning up broken waters
Posted By: BikeBaby
Subject: Cleaning up broken waters
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 1:09pm
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I realise this is a bit of a random thing to worry about but if my water break how do I clean up? Does it smell or stain? Just before I got preggers we bought a fairly expensive new mattress, will it get damaged if my waters break? What if it happens on the sofa or on our landlords carpet? I guess what I am really asking is can you clean up so there is no stain or smell?
Thanks for reading my random worry  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 1:24pm
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My waters broke in bed, just about 1/2 hour after me thinking that it might be a good idea to put a mattress protector on! Talk about being taken by surprise. There hasn't been any detrimental affect to the mattress though that I'm aware of, it's cream so stains would be visable. I'd definitely get a protector for you peace of mind. If it was on the carpet then just get them cleaned, same as couch.
Also not everyones waters break my didn't with #1 & it's not always that huge gush that they have in the movies either. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 1:51pm
My waters broke both times but really only dribbled. Don't remember seeing any stains on the carpet but then not sure who cleaned it up or whether it actually made it to the carpet or just down my leg  ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 2:11pm
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My waters didn't break until I was well in established labour - although I wasn't at the birthing centre then, I should have been if wed known how far along I was. So there's a chance you won't even have to worry about them breaking at home, and even if they did, you may have plenty of warning once contractions start (although I'd totally forgotten that was going to happen, with the contractions and everything, it was like 'heck, what's THAT?' ) -------------   
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 2:17pm
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Mine didn't break either, and Dh had the passenger seat in the car covered in plastic and towels jic. Not that I cared I was too busy having contractions. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 3:54pm
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Does anyone actually have to full on gush or spat like movies? My mw told me it's very uncommon and usually trickles. Mine broke next to the couch (just stood up) but I had undies and pants on so didn't go anywhere... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 3:59pm
| All 3 of mine were major gushes. With Jared and Alex it was so bad I was on the hospital bed and it saturated it and went splat on the floor as well lol. Daniels i just saturated the bed. But all mine happened well into established labour |
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 4:10pm
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Oh yes, mine was the exposion-style event you see in the movies. But like kebakat, I was well into the labour before it happened. -------------
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Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 4:54pm
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Mine was the explosive/gush style too, however i was already in hospital at the time trying to sleep after the induction wasn't working (haha) so no help on whether it stains or anything. ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 5:27pm
Yeah mine was but at home in bed, I always thought that the spontaneous breaking/popping should have happened at the supermarket & was quite disappointed it was wasted on being at home  ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 7:07pm
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Mine was a big gush, but it just keep coming for ages.
I had just been to the toilet and was about to hop back into bed wen I got a sudden urge to pee again and bam they broke. I ran to the toilet and sorted myself out. In between them breaking and me getting to the toilet there was only some minimal leakage on the floor, I'm not sure how. There were no stains, and I just blotted it up and washed with napisan dissolved in warm water. -------------  
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Posted By: Inlove28
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 7:08pm
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Mine was at home, was lying in bed and felt/heard a pop then turned and a bit of waters came out, I had a towel next to the bed so put that between my legs and when I stood up it kinda gushed, I would have two towels next to the bed ready to go I dont think all your waters come out at the start. I just put a pad on after that and it trickled out. -------------  http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 8:53pm
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Mine was a light trickle until I started to throw up then I was kinda gushing out both ends! DP wasn't really sure what to do...poor boy! Luckily we were at the hospital and the midwife stepped in to help!
I'd just make sure you've got a towel or something near by - keep one in the lounge and one by the bed when you're near your due date (I took the electric blanket off the bed too, just in case) - then you can just hold it between your legs if need be and get to the loo. My waters broke when I was in established labour though. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 10:34pm
| Mine gushed. And my waters breaking was the first sign of labour for me as well. And I left a trail between the bed (which I saturated one side of - thank heavens the electric blanket was turned off!!!!) and the bathroom. It cleaned up pretty well - I think my SIL and MIL cleaned it up??? Put the sheets through a hot wash, and the underlay. We did throw out the electric blanket though LOL There was no noticeable stain on the carpet either... |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 17 July 2011 at 11:43pm
Mine was a gush (not huge though), then a trickle after that (hind waters). TBH, I only noticed the gush because I was standing up. It was also the first sign of labour for me too, at 38 weeks gest. If I had of been sitting down I would have just thought I'd pee'd myself 
Its generally clear and doesnt really have a smell as such, although I thought it kinda smells like mild semen. If you are worried about the carpet or furniture you could start wearing a liner or pad just for peace of mind. ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 18 July 2011 at 8:42am
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Mine broke both times at home while sitting on the couch. The first time I just felt something odd and went to the toilet before they broke fully. Second time, I felt a pop and knew something was going to happen so I flung the laptop to DH and ran to the toilet and it was then a full on movie like gush - but thankfully I made it in time so it all went down the toilet with just a bit on my clothes.
It was clear and only mild smelling like Westiesgiirl said. All the best  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: millemama
Date Posted: 18 July 2011 at 5:30pm
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Yeah, mine was a gusher!, just like the movies, lol, no sign of anything much besides an indigestion feeling at that stage either. I was on the couch early Sunday night watching Jamie Drurie - he'll do it for you anytime!! - and I heard a pop from somewhere internal, and remembered a friend mentioning a pop. Then b4 I could react it started to dribble so jumped up and rushed to our shower, then it gushed! Couldn't think of anything else to do but strip off and jump in the shower, it seemed like it just would'nt stop and it didn't for ages. Couldn't believe how much really.
Long story short, no stains, no smell, just clear liquid, and didn't have DD until Tues evening. But I still remember the feeling of sheer terror and excitement as I looked at my DH and grinned thinking this is it, no going back now! lol ------------- http://daisypath.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Birdie
Date Posted: 18 July 2011 at 10:19pm
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Mine was a gush just like the movies, but I was in established labour and lying in bed in the hospital. My MW told me after my daughter was born that the gush was a bad sign as it meant the babies head was not right down against the cervix plugging it!!!! (I was induced) ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: luv2dance
Date Posted: 19 July 2011 at 8:00am
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I was asleep in bed at pretty much bang on midnight I felt a pop i ran to the loo and it was like i was peeing but not. There was a bit of a gush but didn't really start till i sat down on the loo so no mess. After that there would be a little gush every so often but that was all caught in the maternity pad i was wearing. Had to change it a couple of times though. My contractions started about 30mins after my waters broke ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: millemama
Date Posted: 19 July 2011 at 3:31pm
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Thats interesting Birdie, haven't heard that one, but I had to be induced too, as contractions were on again off again. And eventually had a CS as she was coming down sideways and got stuck. ------------- http://daisypath.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 20 July 2011 at 12:34pm
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My waters broke in bed both times, but each time I'd just gotten back from going to the loo so was awake and had enough warning to jump up and run to the loo again. Only my undies got wet and the rest went down the loo. Although with DS I kept getting little leaks after that during each contraction, but a maternity pad stopped it escaping! ------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 20 July 2011 at 3:48pm
| I had a mighty gush (and interesting DS wasnt fully engaged so Birdie might be on to something), though my waters were broken for me in hospital, then a second gush when i got up of the bed, and then a third gush some time later when i'd gotten all dignified and put pants and undies on. Then had heaps of mini gushes with contractions. I pretty much soaked every pair of pants i had packed in my hospital bag and had nothing to wear afterwards. There is a lesson in my story! |
Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 20 July 2011 at 11:25pm
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With C my waters broke but it was just a trickle,felt weird
And with my last 2 they were broken for me. If feels gross! I hate the feeling of waters breaking Ha Bowie,with C I forgot to pack underwear in my labour bag. CLEVER. ------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 21 July 2011 at 10:21am
I forgot to pack underwear too. Was like OMFG, how the hell did that happen. If you are worried about waters breaking on your mattress you can get a cheap shower curtain from an asian store to put on your bed under the sheets :) ------------- 
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TheKelly wrote:Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 21 July 2011 at 11:17am
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Mine broke just as I stood up from the toilet. It was sudden and quite a lot of it. Half of it went on the floor before I had the chance to sit back down again. I was 10 days overdue and the waters had light meconium in them (so they were quite yellow-brown, not clear).
The bathroom floor I just wiped up with something - a towel I guess. Then they gushed with every contraction for the next 24 hours. Initially I wore pads, then upgraded to newborn sposies in my undies, and then gave up and just hung out in the bath room. I changed my knickers a lot cos they kept getting leaked on, and the white ones that I wore did get a bit of a yellowish stain, but they were rank ones anyway, so I threw them out after. I think the staining in my case was because of the meconium. And the meconium was only because she was well overdue. And honestly, although at the time I worried about leaking on the carpet, my DD then spent a good year regularly puking semi-digested breast milk all over the carpet, and now likes to cover it with food, drink, felt pens etc etc. So this time I'm not really too worried. The waters are such a small part of the baby's mess ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Cinderella
Date Posted: 21 July 2011 at 11:45am
| I am so envious. I always wanted the big OMG my waters just broke scenario but it just never happened. With both of my boys my waters were broken during labour to help speed things up in the hospital. I have no idea how much or the colour though. My SIL had a cover on her bed with one of hers and was able to clean everything up quite suscessfully. |