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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Induction- how painful is it when they break your waters?

19 replies

Fredfred · 30/10/2010 09:39

Hi,

I am currently 33 wks pg. I had a meeting with my consultant the other day who I think is excellent and who I really trust. For various reasons I am being induced when I am just over 38 wks pg. My consultant has told me that his plan is to induce me by breaking my waters. I have no problem with this and have had long discussions with him about why he wants to do it that way etc etc.

My main question is how painful is it? Firstly when they actually break your waters and secondly when the contractions start. (I am talking about before they put you on a drip as I know the contractions can be extremely painful when that happens).

I went into labour naturally with my DD, but I had ruptured membranes, so had already leaked a great deal of my waters before I felt any pain, but when I started to feel uncomfortable it became extremely painful very quickly (she was back to back). I just wondered if it would be the same really, or if it would be worse.

Sorry for long post and thanks in advance.

OP posts:

porcamiseria · 30/10/2010 09:53

not that bad, water did not feel and contractionsb were normal, not as bad as the syntocin ones!!!

Loopymumsy · 30/10/2010 12:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

idobelieveinfairies · 30/10/2010 12:26

I have been induced 3 times. The first time i had the gel put in which kicked off contractions and once my cervix was open enough they broke my waters and labour continued fast and without the drip. I was 10 days overdue so it looked like things would have started soon anyway.

Second and third tome i was 38 weeks. I was already dilated to 2 cms (don't know how)on examination so they went ahead and broke my waters and waited, nothing happened so the drip was started and so did the contractions. The contractions are more intense with the drip, but always remember about the pain relief!!!

The actual breaking of waters did not hurt one lttle bit! It was actually an amazing experince as a lot of pressure was gone and i could literaly see my tummy shrinking down. I was amazed a baby was still in there with 2nd induction as tummy deflated so much......i did have a 10lb within a few hours .

Good luck!

sunndydays · 30/10/2010 14:56

It hurt a bit when they broke my waters but no more than the sweep did, I was 36 weeks and 1cm dilated, they put the drip in straight away so can't compare the contractions :(

xMrsSx · 30/10/2010 17:14

don't mean to hijack but does anyone have any experience of why they sometimes use the drip and sometimes not? I am currently 8 days over and 1-2cm dilated (sweep yesterday). Mw has booked me for an induction on Tues (which I may well refuse/not need anyway) but she did say they won't need the del/pessary cos I am already dilted and will prob just break my waters then no drip. Though I presume they would use a drip if nothing had started within 24 hours?

I have been having terrible backache and lots of painful bh/contractions?? though not getting into any pattern, since the sweep so I'm hoping I wont need any of this anyway but I really dont know what to do... Do I refuse any induction and hope things start on their own or may I just as well them them break my waters (I know then I am on a 24 hour countdown though). Also, is it poss to have your waters broken then go home to labour as you would if things had happened naturally? Or do they make you stay in?

Sorry, Fredfred this is all just so complicated though isn't it!! And you never think of the right questions when you are actually talking to the mw etc!!

Original poster

Fredfred · 30/10/2010 17:49

Thank you all for answering my question, you have put my mind at rest, I'm very grateful.

xMrsSx I can't answer many of your questions, but I know that I was told that the drip would be used if labour didn't start within a certain time frame after my waters were broken. For me they said they would wait 2-3 hours, but I've no idea if that is the normal waiting time after an ARM induction or if thats just in my case. I know if your waters break naturally they normally wait 24 hours before doing anything.

Also I have been told they can only break your waters if you have started to dilate. In my case, as I had my DD not long ago they seem to think that by the time they come to induce me I will be 1 or 2 cm dilated, enough to break my waters (don't ask me how)!

Sorry I can't give you an answer to any more of your questions. I've never been induced before.

OP posts:

Loopymumsy · 30/10/2010 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ClimberChick · 31/10/2010 06:40

The broke mine as I was stuck at 4cm (for over a day), had about 20mins grace and then I was in pushing stage 2hrs later. Was pretty intense, but not beyond what I expected (that I have anything to compare it too). So I don't know about waiting time, I think 2-3 hours will be enough for you to know if things are starting (even if it's not going enough by their standards).

You can have pethidine (sp?) ready before they break your waters to go so you don't need to wait around for an anesthetist mrsX as the back pain far outweighed anything (hopefully yours won't be back to back but just in case, look up best positions for back labour as well)

Manda25 · 31/10/2010 18:37

I have had my waters broken during both my labours.

First time i was induced (39 weeks) I went into labour within 5 hours ...had waters broken in the labour ward when 10cm dilated ... don't remember a thing!

2nd time i was induced I was 37 weeks... i was induced for 2 days ...waters broken on the 3rd day this was horrible ..not painful just more embarrassing and uncomfortable because I wasn't in labour (iyswim) ....still nothing ...put on the drip on the 4th day ...baby born within 5 hours.

SummerRain · 31/10/2010 18:42

I've had it done twice and it's ok, a bit ekk when they're rooting around trying to break the waters but them breaking doesn't hurt at all.

The contractions are quite intense afterwards though but i always considered that a good thing as it meant something was finally happening.

Teaandcakeplease · 31/10/2010 18:48

My waters were broken for both my children, the hook thing looks a little disconcerting but it doesn't hurt. My contractions definitely sped up after but both my labours were back to back and painful anyway. The contractions hurt long before my waters were broken both times.

My post is probably not very helpful for you is it

littleElif · 31/10/2010 19:10

was induced with gel. was quite painful (though I managed with some gas & air). was in labour for 5 hours (but was induced at term+11 - so everything was pretty ready. I am not sure it would have happened that fast at 38 weeks.)

waters broke about 1 hour before DC was born (had a waterbirth BTW)

MrsC2010 · 31/10/2010 19:28

Didn't hurt when waters were broken, had been having contractions for hours by then but didn't speed things up.

Original poster

Fredfred · 01/11/2010 16:17

Thank you all so much for your replies. I feel a bit better about it all now! :) I was really nervous!

OP posts:

narmada · 01/11/2010 16:45

I've had my waters broken (once on purpose and once seemingly by accident) it both labours. I cam homestly say I didn't notice it either time - it certainly didn't hurt - only noticed the warm gush of amniotic fluid.

4madboys · 01/11/2010 17:03

had mine done all four times and it was fine, i was 3 or 4 cm dilated each time, the fourth time my membranes were 'tough' so they struggled but i just had a bit of gas and air and ended up laughing whilst they did it, it worked each time, i always planned on insisting they gave me at least 24hrs, but i went into labour quickly each time.

i think like internals etc it will basically depend on how soft/open your cervix is, and as long as it is 'ripe' it shouldnt be a problem :)

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 01/11/2010 19:14

I had mine broken whislt I was in labour because my baby was OP and my contractions weren't strong or regular enough. TBH it didn't hurt a bit but I was around 4cms at that point I think maybe that makes a difference?

BollocksToThis · 01/11/2010 19:22

I was holding out for a VBAC but had to deliver pronto for my health so they broke my waters through a slightly dilated cervix. The rupturing was painless but the midwife was in there up to her elbow for ages (well so it seemed) before she managed it. So be prepared for it to be a fairly internal internal! It wasn't that bad really, just crushed DP's fingers a little bit

Karoleann · 01/11/2010 20:37

I had an induction with DS2 at 40+8, like the other posters didn't feel a thing when waters were broken, was about 2cm dilated at the time.
Only problem i had was it didn't do very much - they had me walkng up and down the stairs for a couple of hours - then DH and i went out for a walk and lunch. he was born a few hours later though.

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