Are some people more prone to starting labour with waters breaking?

[Ktay]

With dd1 my waters went with a pop on Friday night and she was born on the Sunday afternoon at 39+6. dd2 is still hanging in there at 40+1 and I was just wondering whether some people are more predisposed to their labours starting this way? It's tempting to use the 'extra' time to squeeze in stuff like haircuts but don't want to risk making a mess of the hairdresser's chair...

I had both my children like that.

2 weeks before term. Pop - waters gone, baby born the following day.

Good luck with your birth!

I think every labour is different.

I have 3 children and only dc2 labour started with my waters breaking with a gush but luckily I was home. It was my fastest labour and earliest gestation if that's relevant.

Thanks both, looks like I'm in for a surprise then. First labour took ages (both to get started and in itself) but that was because it took them 8 hours to notice there was still a bit of membrane blocking DD1's way. I won't let them make that mistake again this time if things kick off the same way!

Happened to me twice, both were overdue. First was induced and not a twinge after 3 pessaries until my waters broke and contractions started immediately. Second was natural, felt waters pop as I got out of the bath and again straight into contractions. I do wonder this time if I'll realise I'm in labour, I'm used to waters going being my first sign.

My waters didnt break until DD's head was coming out - OUCH.
will be asking for them to be broke this time if they dont break before that. that made the pain very intense but still did it au naturel!

Wel mine never went spontaneously ahaead of labour, for three out of four they had to be broken in advanced labour. Membranes of steel me...

Fingers crossed it starts soon for you!

Lord my keyboard's fecked? Apologies for the sps.

I was ABSOLUTELY HUGE with DS, could barely walk. And my labour started with waters popping (actually heard the pop!). I felt it was inevitable actually because I just felt so heavy down there. Maybe a correlation here?

I had one of each

My waters have all gone at the same point - LATE in labour. With dd3 it was the last possible moment and it really sucked. Felt like I was going to explode! She shot out as soon as they went.

I've had five kids and all but one started with a big pop and my waters breaking. The one that didn't start like that (number 3) was the most difficult birth and in the end the midwife had to break my waters for me...she popped out about twenty minutes after that!

My waters broke at 38 weeks exactly with DS1. Has not happened with DS2. Most people I know have had labour start like that with number one only?

Both labours so far my waters had to broken quite late on in labour so the babies could get out, my waters just do not seem to break at all..having said that I'm due in 5 days and when I do go into labour I have a feeling they might break on their own this time due to feeling a hell of alot of pressure down there which I don't remember having either time before..but I could be wrong...either way the suspense is killing me..kind of exciting really(til the pain comes screaming back to me and I remember what put me off labour for 5 years this time..LOL) No seriously I can't wait, its all worth it in the end IME.

About 10% of labours start with the water breaking first. This is more likely to happen when the baby is in an OP position because it doesn't fit the top of its head neatly into the cervix, like an egg into an eggcup, and therefore creates a space for a "bubble" to develop ahead of it (like squeezing a balloon) which is more likely to pop. This is why you hear tell of "dry labour" being difficult, probably OP labour. Other factors are the strength of the membrane, they vary a lot.

Both labours started with waters breaking for me. 1st time about 12 hours ahead of any contractions starting. 2nd time about an hour before first contraction.

My first two labours started with the waters going hours before any contractions.

With ds3 they didn't go and the midwife eventually broke them to help things along.

With ds4 my contractions started and had been going on all day, then my waters broke and I had ds4 less than half an hour later (only just made it to hospital!).

Oh and ds1,2 and 3 were early and ds4 was nearly a week late! I guess they are all different!

DS1 early labour pains, water broke 2 days later
DS2 no signs of labour, waters broke, DS2 born 1.5 hours later - you have been warned!

Thanks everyone - I now have my own anecdotal data to add to the thread (and sadly never did get that haircut...). Dd2 was born last night; waters went all over our lovely bedroom carpet at the beginning of the 2nd stage.

mayhew that's interesting. DS was OP and my waters went first with a loud "pop" !!!

Ahhhhhh congratulations!

Congratulations OP :) Mayhew, that is interesting. As I said further down the thread, both of my labours started with my waters going. Both were also OP. I didn't know that made a difference.