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Original poster

Waters broken - still no contractions :(

59 replies

Rachell1 · 05/03/2023 13:42

Hi everyone,

My waters have been leaking in rather big gushes since 8am. Currently in hosp and have confirmed that waters are rupturing. I’ve lost quite a fair bit now but still no contractions or pains… they will start the hormones in the morning if nothing progresses but hoping they just start on their own!

Any experiences of waters breaking and failing to progress further than that??

OP posts:
elliejjtiny · 05/03/2023 17:11

That happened to me 4 times. Youngest was born 9 days later and got sepsis, 2nd was born 4 days later and the other 2 were both born 2 days later.

Tiredmum100 · 05/03/2023 17:15

I had PPROM at 34 weeks, but my labour didn't start for another 2 weeks. Hopefully you will be induced if you are full term? Good luck hope all goes quickly for you now!

QueenOfWeeds · 05/03/2023 17:17

Same thing happened to me - no beds, so was left for over 36 hours before getting onto the labour ward - unfortunately not much sleep because I was bounced around cubicles. Waters started leaking Tuesday lunchtime and I got the gel at 2ish on Thursday but no contractions until nearly 10pm. I refused the drip until I had an epidural, and they couldn’t give me one because there wasn’t a bed in the active labour bit. DD was born shortly before 10am on Friday. I was put on an IV drip from Wednesday lunch to try and prevent an infection - could you ask if this is an option?

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Original poster
Rachell1 · 05/03/2023 17:41

Thanks everyone - interesting reading all of your stories!

Getting a little anxious (pizza express and half a pack of digestives helped a bit 🤣), I just wish things would start! Still no bed on labour ward so looks like I will have to wait until the 24 hours is up.

It’s funny.. I thought I’d enjoy the break from my son (2 yo) but having never left him overnight.. I feel so down!! Just want to go home.. which technically is an option but midwives have advised staying in just in case things get moving naturally during the night. Help!!!

OP posts:
iloveyankeecandle · 05/03/2023 17:47

This happened and then contraction started about six hours later. Good luck! They sent me home and said to go back following morning if nothing happened. But it did

thedeepdarkwood · 05/03/2023 17:52

With my first it was 12 hours between waters breaking and first contractions. With my second my waters broke at 5am and becuase I was expecting a similar delay I then went food shopping and had lunch out before LO was born at 6pm.

popopop · 05/03/2023 17:56

This happened to me and I was put on the drip after about 48 hours. Drip didn't work so ended up having an emcs. It wasn't too bad really just not the birth I wanted. Keep on communicating with the staff and don't let them sideline you. Good luck!

BeStrongLittleRodney · 05/03/2023 18:42

My waters went at 6pm, I went up to hospital for a check up - their request - felt my first twinge at 1am and baby was born just after 3pm. No pain relief, no tears, fabulous labour.

BeStrongLittleRodney · 05/03/2023 18:43

Sorry, baby born at 3am - two hours from first twinge.

KenAdams · 05/03/2023 19:03

This happened to me. Walk if you can. Gravity helps.

CoffeeInTheClouds · 05/03/2023 19:06

I hope you and baby are doing well OP.

It took almost 24 hours for active labour to start after my waters broke. I spent the day climbing stairs, pacing the village and bouncing on a birthing ball...but no sign of baby.

I finally gave up hope of the home birth I had planned and went to bed. I think the peace and calm helped as contractions started while I was asleep...just outside of the 24 hours. But my midwife let me carry on at home, and it all worked out fine.

Good luck!

Original poster
Rachell1 · 05/03/2023 20:56

Thanks all!

Still nothing unfortunately! Been moved to a shared room which was fine until the woman next to me started chomping on her kfc (not what you want in this situation!!).

Midwife is doing her best to get me to labour ward to start the drip but they are just so so busy… ☹️ Little man honestly is giving me no signs of attempting to come out on his own so kinda giving up hope that things will miraculously start happening!

OP posts:
tb4122 · 05/03/2023 20:59

I woke up and found my waters had broken and contractions started naturally 12 hours later. It was about 36 hours between waters breaking and baby being born so we had to stay in for him to be monitored for 12 hours (although by the time we'd finished in the delivery room it was 9:30pm so I suspect we would have stayed overnight anyway).

Chat1354 · 05/03/2023 20:59

I was advised to go for a long walk when this happened to me with the first of my 3 births and it did seem to do the trick for me.

Any chance you can get moving?

Badbudgeter · 05/03/2023 21:05

My waters broke and nothing, was examined at hospital and booked for induction the next day. 12 hours later contractions kicked in, hospital was very much stay at home as first babies take ages. I insisted on going in and DS was born two hours later.

Original poster
Rachell1 · 05/03/2023 21:46

I honestly have walked around all day… he still isn’t budging! Been up and down the stairs, on the ball etc but so far it just isn’t working.

Now hoping to get some sleep and see if relaxing does it!

Midwife has said that if a bed becomes available during the night then I MIGHT be able to be moved round there to start the drip.

I was booked in for a c section tomorrow (still planned just in case), but then waters broke and I really wanted to try a vaginal birth. I wish he would surprise me and make a nice quick entrance!!

Thank you for all keeping me company, it’s awfully boring in here x

OP posts:
QueenOfWeeds · 05/03/2023 21:52

Definitely try and sleep!! Sending you positive vibes and hope that baby makes an appearance soon.

I knew my baby was imminent when DH was able to beat me at cards as we tried to pass the time on the ward - he never wins!

RandomMess · 05/03/2023 21:55

I hope you've had plenty to eat and get some sleep.

If you go straight to drip I strongly recommend insisting on an epidural first, no need to be heroic and go without pain relief plus easier to top up if you still end up with a C-section.

Baby will be here soon Flowers

Led9519 · 05/03/2023 21:57

Good luck! Don’t get down about it the little fella must be happy where he is. One way or another he’ll be here soon so try and get some rest!

AbsolutePixels · 05/03/2023 22:00

Try to eat, drink and sleep in preparation for the labour OP. Good luck .

Whiskers4 · 05/03/2023 22:02

I was being regularly scanned for unconnected reasons, but it was pick up my most of my amniotic fluid had gone. Doctors reckoned I'd been slowly losing it for a few days, as it had totally gone two days later.

I needed to be induced which was nowhere near as bad as I thought. I didn't have an infection or any complications due to it. My labour was quite long, but I was 37 weeks and DD hadn't been engaged. Staff were great and totally looked after us each step of the day, so try not to worry.

citylifemummy · 05/03/2023 22:03

You have got this @Rachell1 🤍

Hope you manage to get some shut eye and if not, I hope it's for a super exciting reason. Have you got some earplugs? Hopefully the shared ward is quiet overnight xx

Wellillsayitifnoonelsewill · 05/03/2023 22:04

what I would say from my experience is ANYTHING is possible and it could still happen naturally.

However I think with baby being back to back and waters having broken I would stay in if that’s an option and go for the planned c section tomorrow and avoid the drip.

i think I’d want my Birth quite planned and controlled rather than leaving it to chance.

wishing you all the best xxx

OllytheCollie · 05/03/2023 22:14

Both babies 2&3 did this. Waters broke, went in, got checked out, discharged and told to come back once contractions started (it usually does in 24hrs). Nothing happened. Both times they said they wd start induction then the induction suite was full so admitted me but said hang on until the next shift etc. Still nothing. By that stage they don't like doing internals due to infection risk. 36 hrs in they inserted a pessary. Both times I pottered about and bounced on a ball for a bit and then had a baby 2-2.5 hrs later. Perfectly healthy, no interventions.

Good luck to you. Honestly they were lovely birth experiences. I guess by the time things kicked off I was well ready to pop. Hopefully that will be true for you. But whatever happens go well the flow. There will be a lovely squishy baby somehow soon.

citylifemummy · 06/03/2023 14:52

How are things today @Rachell1?