Litmus Test Negative but I'm Leaking Out of My Vagina! Anyone Else Experience?

Updated on October 15, 2011
M.M. asks from Lake Charles, LA
14 answers

So i posted a question a few hours ago asking if I could be leaking water and thankfully so many of you answered and made me feel LOADS better!! So the litmus test was negative at early labor.. it had been like an hour since I had "leaked" when I finally got checked (maybe more?) so the test was negative she said that USUALLY it's a steady trickle and the test will show if I'm leaking.. since it did not it was more than likely not my amniotic sac.. came home ate, showered then just now I went to get off the couch and something leaked out.. like a tablespoon amount.. colorless, odorless, not slimy (so not discharge) it literally felt like water.. I DON'T want it to be my water leaking (I'm only 32 weeks!) but I swear I'm not crazy! I have had discharge my entire pregnancy because I'm on progesterone suppositories so I know what discharge looks like.. about a week ago I had some discharge that was almost a purple/brown color.. weirded me out but I thought nothing about it now I'm wondering if it could be my mucus plug.. I know I'm not crazy and I know something is leaking out of me (slowly and irregularly) especially when I switch positions and stand up (which I've been laying down a lot bc I'm on bed rest)..

Has anyone else's water broken and the litmus test was negative because it was leaking slowly? Do they sell anything like that at like CVS or Walgreens? It'd be way easier to check this out at home and I'd feel a lot better, I'm just over feeling crazy and paranoid! TIA!

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So What Happened?

I ended up going BACK to the early labor they did an amniosure and an ultrasound.. they STILL didn't tell me I wasn't leaking but my fluid level was at 26 (average is 10-20) so the dr. said that even if I was leaking I'm good.. keep with the bed rest and come back if there's a big gush.. He said it is possible I was leaking but as long as my level is as high as it is and there aren't copious amounts leaking out we're good.. I see him weekly so he'll just be checking it when I go in. Thanks for all the support and responses!!

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S.R.

answers from El Paso on

I haven't had any personal experience with this, but I HAVE heard of there being a small leak that is in a place where it will only leak if you are in specific positions and/or change position. Basically, the leak only leaks when it's not pressed up against the side of the uterus or gets moved some. I don't know if that's what's going on, but it's something to consider.

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❤.I.

answers from Albuquerque on

They can check the amount of your amniotic fluid with an ultrasound. I had to have that done when I thought I was leaking, the doc says it must have been pee but to this day I still think it was fluid. Since yours is continuous I would talk to your OB about having a U/S, you really don't want to have low amniotic fluid. Wishing you the best and hope everything turns out OK.

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

I think you are supposed to wear a pad & take it in to have that tested as well...also I would have thought they would do an u/s so they can check the fluid level...I would definitely be speaking to your ob or the dr on call if l&d keeps sending you home

V.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I went to the hospital the first time because I thought I was leaking very slowly (I was overdue though). The fluid test came back negative. The next morning, I woke up at 5am and my bed was soaked. I put a pad on and that was soaked within half an hour. When I got to the hospital they did another test just to make sure (By the time I got to the hospital my pants were dripping because they were so soaked). It came up negative.

The nurse and I were both really confused. The doctor came in and said that my "fore-water" had broken, but there was another bag of water with the baby inside that hadn't been broken. Luckily for me, he broke the other bag of water and let me stay. I was going crazy being an overdue pregnant lady. Lol.

Anyways, my point is... I don't trust those things at all.

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

I didn't read your other post. Are you sure it's not pee? I would pee a little (squirts, if you will) when coughing, laughing, sitting to standing and standing to sitting, sneezing....just about anything really.
L.

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M.K.

answers from Las Vegas on

It happened to my friend this past month. She had a slow leak over 2 weeks. It took several tests for one to come back positive. Try to collect the leak with a pad. L and D can test both you and the pad. I know it happens also because they warn of this in the birthing class that I took. You aren't crazy. Even if you are wrong don't worry about it, you are doing the right thing by knowing what to look for.

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L.S.

answers from Omaha on

I would definitely call the on-call OB right away. Let him/her know the events from earlier today and what's going on. Especially if you're on bed rest and high risk. No one will think you're crazy about calling, even if you were in for the litmus test already. It's something, and it doesn't sound like discharge. Discharge is odorless, slightly off-white in color, and somewhat thick. Especially at 32 weeks, I would call to be certain - and if anything to put your mind at ease. Good luck!!!

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

They had to test me 3 times and 1 time it came back positive. Then they said, "settle in, we're having a baby" (I was past 38 weeks). It was a slow leak, and they said something about forewater but anyway...if I was at 32 weeks and seriously thought I was leaking fluid, I'd be AT LEAST on the phone to the OB (someone should be on call) if not in triage.

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

Are you having contractions? I started having contractions that were a little stronger than my braxton hicks and then my water broke. It felt like I had peed my pants, and then every time I would have another contraction it would gush out. When I got to the hospital, they tested me and never could get a positive reading. Since I was only 2.5 cm, I think they were going to send me home, but I was adamant that my water had broken, so they ordered an ultrasound. Well, the tech never made it up to me, because I had my baby! Granted, I was full term, but I went from 3 cm to 5 cm to 9 cm in about 30 minutes! Call your doctor and ask to have an ultrasound to evaluate the status of your amniotic fluid levels. I can't believe they didn't want to investigate this more, being that you are only at 32 weeks. I hope the best for you and your baby! Good luck!

D.K.

answers from Sioux City on

I haven't had this experience but I have have had experiences that are just not fun to explain. I would really urge you to go back as soon as possible. If you feel there is something wrong follow that instinct. Demand that they do an ultrasound. Make sure you feel confident that all is well before leaving the office. Also have them check the level of progesterone. My progesterone was to low for suppositories. I had to have shots several times a week. I lost two of my children. I would hate for anyone to go through what I did.

M.L.

answers from Houston on

My litmus test was also negative, my nurse told me to go home. I urged her to do a physical exam in which I was "paper thin" and ready to go. She explained the litmus test can be negative if there is meconium in the fluid.. which usually means fetal distress. I never lost my mucus plug. I had a slow leak for about 6 hours or so... the Dr actually went in fully broke my water once at the hospital.

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

M.:

Yes. With Nicky I had a high, slow leak. it went on for a week. My litmus test came back negative TWICE in one week - like I said yesterday in your other post - I KNEW something was wrong - they did what they were supposed to do but couldn't find a problem or leak.

Your mucous plug is NOT liquid - it looks like snot and cylindrical piece of snot. At least that's how it was for me.

I would go back to my OB and tell them to do it again - follow your instincts and don't give up. Repeat the pattern in which you get the liquid to flow and have them test that.

Good luck!

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Doubt it's the mucous plug. That is SLIMY. blech...
If you mean the purply-brown from a week ago.. maybe. If it was slimy. Mucous plug is like thick snot (sorry to be so gross, but really, that's what it is like).

M.M.

answers from Tucson on

My water did leak out very slowly. I kept thinking i was having an accident. Bladder control gets more difficult the farther along ya get. Ya know. : )
My test was positive though. Wear a pad. If it continues to be colorless and order free and id go get it checked again.
Good luck. Congrats on your baby.

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