Direct guidance
What to know or do
Use a pad rather than a tampon, note colour, smell, amount, time and movement, and follow the urgent route. Do not rely on smell, a home pH test or temporary stopping to rule out membrane rupture.
What changes the answer
- The exact finding, pregnancy week, measurements, symptoms and diagnostic certainty
- Maternal health, fetal growth or wellbeing and how each is changing over time
- Available specialist care, monitoring, treatment, transfer and birth-timing options
Urgent help
When to get individual help
Use urgent maternity or emergency care now. This guide cannot determine the cause or confirm that it is safe to wait.
Open urgent warning signs