Waters have just broken! Don't know what to do!

[mmgirish]

Hey,
I'm 37+2 and my waters broke. I'm abroad at the moment so it's just after 5am so I feel like I shouldn't call my ob-gyn yet?? Any thoughts? I'm a first time mum so feeling pretty nervous. Trying to keep my dh occupied by packing the last things in our bag.
X

Firstly, dont panic. All will be ok.

Are you having contractions, tightenings, pains or anything slightly like labour? If not, then try to relax, pack the last things in your bag, maybe have a shower (if your not having painful contractions).

If your not having contractions or they are quite a bit apart then have some breakfast and try to rest. It may only be a few hours, or it could take a few days (sorry) before your little one arrives. Either way, you will need the energy and strength.

Hi, how exciting! I was a ftm 6 weeks ago and mine went suddenly and all over my bathroom at home :) Any sign of contractions?
I would say hold on for now and don't go anywhere just yet, maybe don't even call just yet.
Had you any specific birth wishes?
Very best of luck!

I had a shower at home but really wanted a bath, but for some reason thought you couldn't do that if waters broke. When I eventually went in to hospital my midwife popped me straight in the bath!
You could probably have one if you wanted to do that. x

My first sign of labour with my first was my waters going.
It was 19 hours later that ds arrived.
It may be a while so keep calm, eat and try to sleep.
The worst thing I did was not sleeping!
Good luck :)

No contractions yet just a feeling of light cramping. I'm really trying to remain calm but it's really hard not to let panicky feelings creep in! Just told work (I'm a teacher) that I wasn't coming to work today. That made it feel more real!

The exact thing happened to me, and I rang the hospital for advice. They told me to stay active for a few hours and see if contractions would start.

I suggest you do the same and ring the ob-gyn - at the very least, you need to know the 'process' and at which point they want you to come in, what to do if no contractions start etc.

I was told if no baby within 24 hours, they would intervene as they are susceptible to infection without the water.

Um if I were you I would call. Waters are generally the last thing to go and only 5% of women's waters break as a first sign of labour. I am one of those women and both my labours were less than 5 hours. Why wait til you're in pain? You can be in full blown pushing mode very quickly so waiting seems a bit daft imo. Plus the risk of infection increases once the waters have gone

Forgot to say, good luck! It's weird isn't it, sitting there in the middle of the night and knowing you might be holding your baby very, very soon. I thought it felt a bit unreal, especially with not having contractions. I spent a good hour folding laundry and making mental lists of everything I didn't have time to sort out before baby arrived.

I would give them a ring especially as your only 37 weeks, my waters have broken early twice, both times it was nearly a week before I went into labour. They did have me in both times straight away though as I was early.

If you can, try not to tell anyone you dont need to as they will only text or call every 4 hrs wanting an update and panic or worry if they dont hear from you.

If it makes you feel better then by all means phone your ob-gyn as at least they will have a heads up when they wake. Do you have a midwife?

Light cramps can be early labour (sorry I was induced after 36 hrs after my waters broke but no proper contractions so dont know quite what that is like).

You can have a bath, provided its clean water and clean tub (why wouldnt it be) to help you. I used that as a distraction but only after i'd checked it was ok.

Good luck, you are going to meet your little baby very soon!

My waters going was the first sign of both my labours, and babies both arrived within 8 hours. Both emcs, but ten cm dilated both times.

Ring obgyn!

Hello,

Get to hospital soon. Could be a quick delivery so don't delay getting an examination to see how dilated you are. Happened to me and by the time we got to hospital - one hour - was dilated 10cm.

Good luck.

I don't have any advice that hasn't already been given, but excited for you!! :) Enjoy your little one... all the pain is totally worth it :)

I also think you should ring. My waters went first and I was told to ring labour ward if this happened. Had to go in to check all was well and be booked in for induction if things hadn't started in 48 hours (they hadn't). How exciting! I think your baby will be here soon!

Ohhh how excited my waters went and contractions started about 4 hours later. It took a while before I finally delivered though!

Good luck and stay calm

I was 37wks exactly with dc1...

My waters went first, and contractions (at that stage just felt more like period cramping) started about 5 hours later. Call your Ob-Gyn, tell them what's happened and let them guide you.