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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Waters broken, no contractions...

50 replies

Koop · 15/12/2011 10:17

Morning all.
My waters broke at 3.15am, midwife checked me over just now and confirmed - but no contractions yet. If I don't go into labour naturally today, I have to be induced tomorrow morning. Was planning a home birth too :(

Anyone had this happen to them and started having good strong contractions? It's been 7 hours and nothing. Wonder if the cough I've picked up has helped the waters break?

OP posts:

mousysantamouse · 15/12/2011 10:23

with dd they just suddenly started after about 6 hours. 3 hours later she was born :o
good luck!

Flisspaps · 15/12/2011 10:25

Koop :(

If you're not showing any signs of infection and are willing to be monitored, then you don't have to be induced. You can wait longer - some areas allow up to 72 hours providing that all is well.

Of course, if you do consent to induction tomorrow it doesn't have to be a terrible experience and you'll probably have midwives who do everything they can to make it a 'pleasant' experience for you - although if your waters have broken I would imagine you'd be straight onto a synto drip, in which case you might want to consider an epidural because synto contractions are bloody horrible (although an epidural is another step on the cascade of intervention)

Anyway, you've got until 3.15am to go into labour naturally before your first 24 hours are up, you could well be holding your baby by then

Original poster

Koop · 15/12/2011 10:27

Thanks! I just feel very normal.
Ate my bodyweight in chips, steak and chocolate last night, which I should've seen as a sign - barely enough room to fit a chip in my belly the last few weeks!

OP posts:

Original poster

Koop · 15/12/2011 10:32

Flisspaps: thanks for the info, the midwife did say not to rule out an epidural if I was induced, I guess she was trying to tell me the same thing!
I don't really mind if I have to go to hospital, it's my first so I knew there was a good possibility nature would stick it's oar in!
It'll be great to finally meet the little one who has been doing a great job of sticking it's feet in my ribs for the past few weeks!

OP posts:

gingerbreadhousecurl · 15/12/2011 11:21

This happened to me at 37+5. Waters broke at 01:30 night between Tues and Wed, went in to hospital where midwife confirmed it but the way DS was lodged in teh pelvis there was plenty of fluid left. Was booked for induction on Friday morning if nothing happened. Went for walks, up and down stairs, etc, all of Wednesday and Thursday. Nothing happened but I kept on gushing amniotic fluid from time to time whenever DS shifted position a bit . Went in for induction early on Friday morning, was given a pessary. Contractions started after a while but didn't stabilize and then just stopped altogether. Was given another pessary in the evening wiht no effect whatsoever. I was kept in over night. Nothing had happened by Saturday evening so, on their recommendation, I was put on the cyntocin drip at 10 pm, as although DS was doing fine and there was no signs of infection and I was still trickling amniotic fluid they were concerned about the risks involved if they waited much longer.The drip led me to needing an epidural. DS was back to back and so ended up having an epistiostomy (one of my biggest fears at the time) and ventouse delivery (also a big fear). DS was born 11:46 on Sunday morning, nearly five and a half days after my waters broke.

Although I had to have a hospital birth, due to previous medical history, I had planned to have a non-medicalised delivery. Obviously this didn't happen in the end, but I must say it was still a positive experience for me and DH. Most importantly, DS was delivered safely and was healthy. But also, throughout whenever the midwives and doctors wanted to intervene, they listened to and, I felt, respected, my reservations and concerns and explained to us in a very professional and clear way why they felt the invervention was necessary. I didn't feel pressurised or pushed into doing anything and still felt I had some control over what was happening. so not the birth I had hoped for, but I didn't end up feeling robbed IYSWIM . So it doesn't have to be a negative experience even if it isn't what you have originally envisaged . But I think, in order for that to be possible, it is important to get a good dialogue going between you and the HCP when you are there.

Sorry for long post.

brandysoakedbitch · 15/12/2011 11:26

This happend to me with my dd2 - My waters went at about 5am and contractions did not start at all until about 9.30pm - she was born at home at 1.30am. Shagging is all I can suggest - worked for me .

Best of luck anyway and as long as all is well don't let them hustle you into an induction

gingerbreadhousecurl · 15/12/2011 11:32

I was to told NOT to have sex or have a bath as the broken membranes meant there was an increased risk of infection.

brandysoakedbitch · 15/12/2011 11:40

Oh crikey then I am a massive tart and I had a bath too....

Original poster

Koop · 15/12/2011 12:06

I'm quite ok with however it turns out now, quietly excited. Nice to see how It's worked out for other people too. I never had a solid birth plan, just a guide of what would be nice, but I'll take what I get and all the midwives I've met so far have been lovely, so I'm sure it'll all work out well.
Midwife suggested I relax in a bath but all I want to do is eat so I'll do that for a bit (4 custard slices in the fridge with my name on 'em).
Just lost another bit of fluid (ew), but still not a sniff of a contraction yet.
Come ooooon baby!

OP posts:

fishie · 15/12/2011 12:07

this happened to me too. stupidly i sat on my arse and waited for something to happen, nothing ever did and I had an induction / ecs. Wish I'd gone for a very long walk or got more active, go do something. Then even if you end up with a different birth than you'd anticipated at least you know you tried everything.

Flisspaps · 15/12/2011 12:11

Do you have a birth/gym ball? You could try bouncing on that, see if getting baby's head going on the cervix starts things up?

gingerbreadhousecurl · 15/12/2011 12:28

Koop I reckon you have the right attitude . I think that, when it comes to how you give birth, provided neither mother or child is unnecessarily harmed or put at risk, there is no such a thing as right or wrong but if you are very determined to give birth in a particular way, you may end up being disappointed if and when events take over. It always amazes me when I read some posts on here where the poster seems to think that the HCPs' biggest aim in life is to intervene and to rob women of their perfect birth experience. I'm not saying that there aren't shitty HCP out there or that there aren't women who have the labour from hell due to unprofessional/uncaring/ nonchalant/incompetent/stupid midwives, nurses and/or doctors but I do think the vast majority of them try to do their very best to give excellent care and do so successfully. .

Also meant to say that DS was my first, too.

Good luck!

Original poster

Koop · 15/12/2011 12:39

I've got a gym ball which I'll probably have a bounce on (when I've stopped eating ), and when DH gets home from work I may go out for a walk - but it's freezing out there today so may just do a bit of hoovering.

OP posts:

fairimum · 15/12/2011 12:46

mw friend always says it isn't always the sex that starts things going it is the orgasm.....

brandysoakedbitch · 15/12/2011 12:51

If you cannot bounce on a ball and eat a custard slice at the same time then I am disappointed to be honest - My midwife at the time also told me to sit on the floor on my knees folded back with legs wide apart so bum on floor to get the bub in the right position - it did help I am sure - I remember something clicking that sounded like a seatbelt click and it all started.

That said custard slices sound like the best course of action, you will need your energy.

blackteaplease · 15/12/2011 12:52

I had this happen to me water started to leak at midday, went in for monitoring at about 5pm as they didn't believe me and contractions started of their own accord at about 9pm before I could be induced.

I ended up having an emcs in the end, but all in all it was still a positive experience.

brandysoakedbitch · 15/12/2011 12:52

so, in conclusion, sex with and orgasm (after his) with a custard slice and a light bounce followed by a bit of yoga... simple really

newbroom · 15/12/2011 12:55

This happened to me as well - took 20 hours for contractions to get going, but once they started labour was only 4 hours. I had also planned a home birth but was persuaded to go into hospital as everyone assumed it would be a long drawn out first birth. If you really want your home birth then get moving around, and ask for a bit more time - protocol seems to vary about how long they'll let you go before induction. Good luck

Original poster

Koop · 15/12/2011 13:04

Oh what am I thinking, of course I can bounce and eat a custard slice. Shouldn't be worried about getting custard on the carpet, there's far worse I could be spilling.

OP posts:

Flisspaps · 15/12/2011 13:06

Seeing as you have four custard slices, you could have one when DH 'gets back' so to speak, surely a cake + sex at the same time = guaranteed orgasm?

cravingcake · 15/12/2011 14:26

I had my waters start leaking at 6am on Thursday morning. I decided to agree to induction at lunchtime the following day. I went in (to be monitored) but they couldnt start the induction as there wasnt a bed available until 9pm that evening.

Best things I can tell you (if you havent started contracting yet) is wherever possible avoid internal examinations to minimise risk of infection and be paitent as this could take some time. Also, try not tell everyone as they will be wanting updates throughout, and if they dont hear from you they will start worrying (this happened to me as my parents live in NZ so we let them know things were happening).

My induction was started with pessary gel on the Friday evening and by Saturday lunch time I was only 2cm and had hardly had a contraction. The midwives said they would have to start again on the Sunday morning as I'd had all the drugs I could. My body decided that enough was enough and contractions started on their own and was at 10cm by midnight. So it was about 60 hours after waters went to proper contractions starting.

Good luck!

dreamingbohemian · 15/12/2011 14:41

My waters broke at home and my contractions started probably five hours later. They were really strong and constant but I didn't dilate past 2 cm so they put me on synto -- but only after I got an epidural, I insisted on that because I was already in so much pain and I'd heard synto makes it worse.

My hospital birth unit actually told me to come in when my waters broke, even though I didn't have contractions yet. I developed signs of infection about 15 hours in so that was a good thing, I think.

The junior doctor on call was happy for me to keep going up to 36 hours after my waters broke, even with my signs of infection. I balked at that and asked to see the consultant, who agreed that was a bad idea; I ended up with an EMCS.

I think at this point, try not to put too much pressure on yourself. What will be, will be! Take a shower (not a bath!), do NOT have sex, and try to rest, you may not sleep for a couple days.

Good luck!!!

Original poster

Koop · 15/12/2011 16:17

Hah, poor DH was looking forward to attempting to help start labour too.

13 hours now, still no sign of any aches, pain or contractions. Baby is just fidgeting.

And if one more person tells me they are pleased this has happened because they didn't like the idea of a home birth, I'll be doing some eye-pokin'.

OP posts:

Beamur · 15/12/2011 16:26

Happened to me too - I didn't go into labour spontaneously, the hospital confirmed it was waters leaking, sent me home over night - still nothing, then back to hospital in the morning, pessary - nothing, so then onto the drip (and the contractions were painful I had gas and air and pethidine (which I rather liked!) but still insufficient dilation, so then an epidural and a c-section. Medical but fine.

Witchofthenorth · 15/12/2011 17:39

Do you only get 24 hours? They are willing to leave me or 5 days so long as my temp doesn't go up.

fingers crossed for you OP

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