Urine (generally) has an odor that resembles ammonia, and it's quite common to have some bladder leakage during pregnancy. Vaginal fluid is usually white or yellow in color. Amniotic fluid, however, is typically clear (or red-tinged) and will soak your underwear. It also has no scent and/or a slightly sweet smell.
You can tell whether you're leaking amniotic fluid and not urine by taking the sniff test: If it doesn't smell like ammonia, it's more likely to be amniotic fluid. If it has an ammonia scent, it's probably urine. If it has a somewhat sweet smell, it's probably amniotic fluid.
A pregnant woman with a liquid other than urine or normal discharge coming from the vagina should visit the doctor. This is particularly true if the fluid is green, brown, or has a foul smell. Leaking amniotic fluid will usually be clear and odorless and will continue to leak.
Believe it or not, one of the most common reasons people come to the maternity unit is because they're leaking something. Most of the time, it's not amniotic fluid but— you guessed it—pee. When you've got a baby pressing on your bladder, sometimes it leaks.
The fetus feeds from all of them by swallowing amniotic fluid and excreting it as urine. Even though it occurs rarely, your water or amniotic sac may break, which can cause the amniotic fluid to leak slowly.
The easiest way to determine if it is amniotic fluid, urine, or discharge is to put on clean, dry underwear and a pad or panty liner. Then lie down for about a half hour. If the fluid is amniotic fluid, it will pool or gather in the vagina while you lie down.
In general, it looks like water, but there are exceptions. Sometimes amniotic fluid is green or brown when meconium (stool passed by the baby) is present. It can also appear white-flecked as a result of mucus. And when blood is present, amniotic fluid may appear red-tinged.
Leaking amniotic fluid or discharge? Sometimes it can be difficult to know what you are seeing on your underwear, or while wiping yourself after using the toilet. It could be amniotic fluid, vaginal discharge, or even urine. It's also possible for some women not to feel anything when the water breaks.
You can breathe a sigh of relief, because clear or white watery discharge during pregnancy is completely normal. Not only is it rarely a cause for concern — it's actually a sign that your body is working hard to keep you and your baby healthy.
Normal amniotic fluid is clear or tinted yellow. Fluid that looks green or brown usually means that the baby has passed the first bowel movement (meconium) while in the womb. (Usually, the baby has the first bowel movement after birth.)
Check the radiator, water pump, engine core plugs, heater hoses and radiator hoses for leaks. The coolant level should be checked when the engine is cold. The coolant overflow reservoir should indicate the coolant level. If the fluid level does not hit the full line, there could be a leak.
If the fluid is clear and your are having only mild contractions or none at all, your physician or midwife may have you stay home for awhile. If the amniotic fluid is green, brownish-yellow, or anything other than clear in color, notify your physician or midwife and come to the hospital as soon as possible.
If you and your midwife suspect that your waters have broken but are not sure, you will be offered an internal examination. If you agree to this, your midwife or doctor will insert a plastic speculum into the vagina so that they can see if water is leaking through the neck of the womb.
Waiting longer than 72 hours
95 women in every 100 will give birth within 4-5 days of their waters breaking however the risk of infection in your womb increases significantly after 24 hours. This is the reason we recommend planning an induction after 36 hours.
Locate your water meter and check the leak indicator to see if it is moving. Depending on the brand of your meter, the leak indicator could be a small triangular shaped dial or a small silver wheel that rotates when water is flowing through the meter. If the dial is moving, chances are, you have a leak.
Your doctor or a member of your health care team will give you a physical exam to determine if you're leaking amniotic fluid. In some cases, an ultrasound might be done to check your amniotic fluid volume.
If you think your water is leaking, let your midwife or doctor know, and watch for other signs of labor, particularly the onset of contractions.
While both amniotic fluid and vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) tend to be odorless, the latter is generally stickier, thicker, and may look like clear or milky white mucus. Amniotic fluid, on the other hand, is typically very thin and watery.
Main symptoms and signs of amniotic fluid leakage include: Wet underwear, but the fluid is odourless, colourless; Wet underwear more than once a day; Decreased movement of the baby in the uterus, when there has already been a major loss of fluid.
Hormonal imbalance: Hormonal imbalance occurs when the endocrine system produces too little or too much of a particular hormone in your bloodstream. Whether caused by stress, diet, or a health issue like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hormonal imbalance can result in side effects like watery vaginal discharge.
Amniotic fluid is usually clear or has a pale yellow tint. Discharge is more milky white and slightly thicker. Most of the time when the amniotic sac breaks it doesn't result in a huge gush of fluid like you see on TV. Most often, it feels like a steady trickle or a leak of fluid in your underwear.
A leak can lose up to 700 – 1,400 gallons of water in 24 hours. A single leak in toilet supply line, which flows at 2-3 gallons per minute, can lose up to 3,000-4,000 gallons each day. A washing machine hose can leak up to 10-12 gallons per minute, causing the loss of more than 12,000 gallons in 24 hours.
From the tub or faucet – If your tub or faucet is constantly dripping, and you know for certain you have turned it all the way off, then it may be time to have someone come check it out. In the pool or fountain – When the water levels drop an eighth of an inch of more in a 24-hour period, there could be a leak.