Advice about waters breaking with no contractions

[pinxminx]

I'm after a bit of advice please; first some background:
I had my DD 3.5 years ago by emergancy c-section.
My waters broke, but no contractions started. After 48hrs induction was started, after nearly 24hrs I had dilated just 2cm. I ended up having a c-section. I am very hazy about exactly why I had the c-section, I was completely exhausted and I remember them telling me that it was likely to be at least another 12 hrs before I'd get to 2nd stage.
I felt terrible about the whole experience - so far from the birth centre birth that I'd hoped for.

I am now just pregnant with No.2 and want to know how likey it is that my waters will break without any contractions again - is it something that some people just do, or was it bad luck?

Part of me thinks that I should go for an elective section, but part is thinking about a VBAC...

Any advice gratefully received!

My waters broke without contractions but I'd had prem labour stopped at 32 weeks so was a bit nervous and went to hospital. Had no contractions until I hit the transitional stage when I had 3 in 10 mins pretty much on top of each other. I had a very quick labour, so it can work out.

I'm having elective section this time but that's more because my care was shocking and due to the speed dd came out at I tore badly so I've been advised to go down that route.

Every birth is different. But maybe keep an open mind and get dh/dp to be forceful if during labour it gets too much and you want a c-section so it's you in control.

Thank you. It is so difficult to think about all this without getting very upset. You are so right that each birth is different!
I think that if I do go for a vbac then I'll look into getting a doula as my DH didn't cope very well with everything last time.

There are lots of reasons why waters can break and no ctx follow, perhaps baby was in an awkward position and pushed just enough to break waters but your body wasn't ready to labour if that makes sense.

Maybe you had an undiagnosed infection, that can cause waters to break.

Often it is just one of those things and you'll probably never know but what you have to remember is that this is a different pregnancy, a different labour.

When the body is not ready to labour, no amount of induction will force it to do so as you found out and a cs sometimes, is the way to go.

Maybe have a chat with your mw about what happened last time, get a look at your labour notes, debrief that birth fully, then put it to rest and concentrate on this labour.

I am a doula and we see this alot, the key to a vbac is positive attitude and letting nature take t's course, (not withstanding medical necessaity of course).

Hope it all goes well for you. :)

lia thank you for your post - I didn't know that there were so many different reasons for waters to go - I just assumed that they went when the baby was ready to come out! You are so right about the body not being ready - I don't think that it helped that I was freaking out about being induced and was very tense! I will definately talk to the mw when I get my booking appointment through.

My dh wishes he'd stood up for me more but we both took the word of the mw, thinking they knew best. Now I know only the person in labour knows how they feel and should trust themselves. I think dh would be more confident next time. Keep dh up head end!

My poor dh was pretty traumatised I think, he can't talk about without crying even now. At the time I needed him to stand up for me, but instead I had to comfort him. I just don't think that he is cut out for being a birth partner! I know he loved being there when DD was finally cut out and being the first to hold her - maybe he could be wheeled in at the last moment!

I'm not sure exactly how relevant my experience is, except to demonstrate that every labour is different. First time round my waters broke, and although contractions did start about 8 hours later, it never really established and I had to have syntocinon etc to get things going, but DS did eventually come out with assistance after about 24 hours and me being exhausted.

Second time, my contractions started, and I had a much more normal gradual build, and easy delivery.

Exactly the same thing happened to me so not alone. Not that this really helps, but sometimes good to know!

This time I have employed an IM and have a clearer idea of how my situation could have been handled differently, which I found useful.

Like Lia66 mentions, we suspect that baby being in an awkward position, maybe not engaged either, at a stage when baby's arms and legs are strong enough to get enough leverage and rupture waters was the issue we had.

Another thing I'd like to add is that the only reason induction is offered is due to a higher risk of infection. You probably knew this, but what my IM reassured me with is the information that instead you can just monitor your tempreture closely at home, taking blood tests when/if concerned. Keep yourself clean and she's had ladies go weeks after waters rupture no problem, only to labour naturally in their own time. Even if your tests pick up an indication of infection there is of course normal antibiotics that you can be prescribed and sent home with.

I personally now know one woman who was losing amniotic fluid from literally week 4. She was on antibiotics for the whole of her pregnancy. Obviously this is not preferable but it does show that leaking amniotic fluid can be handled in other ways than the complete horror of induction, which I for one will certainly never consent to again!

Sorry to post such a long post, but heart goes out to you and wish you all the very best with your VBAC. I'd definitely suggest going through your notes with a (small) glass of wine and a (large) box of tissues with a doula or midwife as a hugely cathartic experience.

Mine broke without contractions, but with meconium staining, and after a failed induction I ended up with a c-section.

I'm going for an elective this time, but my consultant said, that there's no reason to believe that my waters would break without contractions again, if I were to go for a VBAC when discussing the options.

I had this happen with both my DDs.

DD1 syntocin after 4 days of waters leaking at 40+6.

DD2 waters broke with meconium staining at 41+1 and induced with syntocin 6 hours later due to no contractions.

Luckily both were quick labours with no intervention (second one without epidural so very painful) but I have wondered whether there is something wrong with me to make this happen twice. Or maybe I was just unlucky.

Best of luck and I hope it goes better for you this time.

Your experience is identical to my first birth - right down to the 2cm dilation. DS1 was born by emcs 15 days early. With DS2 I went into labour 9 days late and had a VBAC so there is no reason to think it will happen again. I am actually now 35w with DC3 and opting for an elcs as my VBAC wasn't a great experience. I ended up delivering a 9lber with forceps, minutes from an emcs and have ongoing problems down below - but it could have all turned out great as it does for many others so I don't regret trying for a VBAC. It's all swings and roundabouts as far as I can tell - I don't want a cs and I don't want a VBAC like I had with ds2! You could always book an elcs but then see how you feel when you get there. Good luck!

Thank you all for your comments and stories, it is so lovely to know that I'm not the only one this happened to!
So difficult to know what to do, I'm sure that I will change my mind 100 times in the next few months!