Midwife accidentally broke waters

[Shortninbread]

Anyone have experience of this? Had a first sweep for DC3 at 40+6, mainly out of curiosity to see if any progress. She used quite a lot of force as my cervix was still high and broke my waters by accident.

Only hind waters apparently and hardly any leakage since a long walk and being at home.

A bit shocked and upset as I want to minimise interventions and now there is talk of antibiotics and induction within the next 24 hours.

[Hellmouth]

I've not experienced this before, but didn't want to read and run. She must have used a LOT of force!!! I had two sweeps, my cervix was also quite high, and my waters were not accidentally broken. To be honest, if it were me, I might raise this as a complaint.

[ohlittlepea]

Were you aware that this was a possible put come of having a sweep? Hopefully you will go into natural Labour, but because of the risks posed by your babies sterilize environment no longer being in tact induction within 24 hours and antibiotics may be recommended to reduce the risk of infection to your baby.

[Reality16]

I want to minimise interventions then why were you having a sweep? You do realise that's the whole point of the sweep?

[LeopardPrintSocks1]

^agree with Reality. A sweep is an intervention really as it's not natural. Hopefully your contractions will start soon or you will need to go in and protect the baby from infection

[Floggingmolly]

Minimise interventions... What on earth did you think a sweep was??

[rollonthesummer]

I want to minimise intervention

Yet you had a sweep?!

[McFarts]

I was always warned that there was a risk of waters breaking...ive had a few between 3 DC

[Stillwishihadabs]

Oh bless you, you are 40+6 so presumably induction is a possibility anyway. Hot curry and sex tonight to get things going ?

[bobbinpop]

I imagine OP wants to avoid bring induced, so sweep is a good option to try to start labour without this. After induction, further interventions are more likely. Completely understandable.

op I would feel the same but stay positive! Hopefully baby will hurry along now :)

[bobbinpop]

No sex! Would increase infection risk.

[3boys3dogshelp]

Hope you're ok Shortnin, you must have had quite a shock today. No experience of a midwife accidentally breaking my waters sorry, but experience of induction after my hind waters ruptured then nothing happened. I was left 24 hours then induced and had a lovely calm positive birth. I can understand why you would prefer a natural birth but please don't panic and upset yourself that induction =disaster. It really doesn't need to be that way.
I think some pp are being a bit harsh on the op who is clearly already having a crap day without everyone piling in. A sweep is fairly standard practice for it to be offered and I don't know many people personally who have refused (including home birthers/natural birthers etc)

[FrankAndBeans]

I don't think you can complain that a sweep broke your waters! She would have had to be incredibly forceful unless your waters were already bulging but if you're going for a sweep then surely this is the desired result?

[lilydaisyrose]

Although I understand a sweep is an intervention, I'd have done the same at 40+6 to avoid induction and a potential cascade of interventions.

I feel for you OP. I'm planning a home birth within the next 12 days and I'd have done the same (to avoid induction in hospital) and would be devastated if this happened to me I had a sweep at 39+3 this week but was not warned this was a possibility.

[UnoriginalNN]

40+6 is creeping close to talk of induction anyway. I can totally understand why you are upset though. Perhaps things will get going tonight.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

What's a sweep for then if not to speed things along and break your waters? What are the rummaging around for?

[WouldHave]

It's distinctly possible that your waters were on the verge of going anyway, given that it would be difficult for a sweep to achieve this otherwise.

[christinarossetti]

Breaking waters isn't the intended outcome of a sweep, but it does occasionally happen.

Take heart OP. Many women including myself have had very straight forward inductions ( the only intervention being the drugs to kick it off) and hopefully this, or going into labour naturally, will be the outcome for you

[BreatheDeep]

My midwife checked me yesterday and said she couldn't do a sweep as cervix and head were still too high and she didn't want to risk breaking waters - that is not the purpose of a sweep. It is a possible consequence though.

Did she say what you should do next?

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Is it just to encourage labour then? Don't they use a crochet hook thing any more to break the waters? (I'm old!)

[RobotLover68]

Don't they use a crochet hook thing any more to break the waters? (I'm old!)

they did with all my three boys - yes!

[BreatheDeep]

Dame its to separate the membranes of the sac from the cervix which encourages labour to start. It shouldn't be hard enough to break the sac but sometimes it can be or they can break unexpectedly. The midwife just uses her finger to sweep around the cervix.

No idea what/how they break the waters intentionally

[loobylou10]

And mine!

[BeaveredBadgered]

Yes, definitely a big no to sex because of the infection risk. I was induced and it was absolutely fine. I'd planned a home birth so not what I'd hoped for but waters broke early without labour starting so needs must. Best of luck!

[marthastew]

This exact same thing happened to me and contractions started a few hours later. I've also had my waters break without contractions and was indeed induced. It's easily said I know but you need to focus on the baby that you are going to be holding very soon. It won't be long now no matter how they end up arriving. Good luck op.

[londonrach]

I had an induction and tbh compared to a friend who went through a thred day natural start labour id have an induction any day. The sweep was more painful than an induction any day. Induction got it started and dd born within 4 and a half hours.