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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Had a show, waters broke, 18 hours' false labour - now nothing

25 replies

ck1 · 02/12/2003 11:21

I had a show a week ago. Then my waters broke two days' ago - just a trickle every now and then, and pinkish (bloodstained, but not bright red blood) discharge.

Yesterday I had 18 hours of contractions. For most of the time they were coming every five minutes and lasting for about 30-45 seconds. But a walk eased them for an hour, and then I went to bed and they stopped.

This morning I hoped they would return, but they haven't. I don't want to be induced (my temperature is OK, so I don't have an infection). Anyone had a similar experience, or know of ways I can help bring on true labour?

Thanks.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

StressyHead · 02/12/2003 11:23

message withdrawn

melsy · 02/12/2003 11:42

Exaclty how mine started ck1, unfortunately it went on for 5 days like that and then I dilated to 3cm. The bleeding could just be old blood from when the implanting happened. I would phone your delivery suite, as they may want to break your waters properly, it really depends on consultant.You may find you go full throttle into it naturaly it depends on your oxitocing levels in the body which is what creates contractions. If it continues v. slowely they may want to speed u up with hormone drip (syntocinal), if so I would very much reccomend Epidural at the same time as it can bring it on FAST , so the Epidural is an amazing god send.Contractions can then go from 60 on the monitor to off the scale! Agree with stressyhead that the fluid is hind waters(a small pocket of fluid behind the babies head).

Hope I havent scared u - is this your first???

StressyHead · 02/12/2003 11:49

message withdrawn

Janstar · 02/12/2003 12:18

I found a hot bath made labour resume.

pupuce · 02/12/2003 12:58

ck1- I would say you can easily "stay" like this for another 48hours.... youw ill probably get going soon. Personally I would suggest you rest rather than exhaust yourself as you will need your strength later.
Keep monitoring your temp and you'll be fine.
There is a debate whether sex (with a leak) is a good idea or not. Certainly baths are fine.

If you want to saty off the induction.... stay at home until labour really gets going ! I am sure yesterday's contractions were a blessing in disguise.... building your endorphins and softenig your cervix !

pupuce · 02/12/2003 13:01

Just read others' posts.... I would suggest you AVOID having your waters broken as that does induce labour and can make baby go into distress.
Syntocinon as Melsy suggests needs (usually) an epidural if you are not already contracting. Many women can handle syntocinon without an epidural if their contractions had already started and they feel properly supported.
I'd say keep doing what ever your doing, talk to your baby... is everything ready in your house for the babe? Then he/she will come

Original poster

ck1 · 02/12/2003 13:45

Thanks everyone. Yes, this is my first, so I'm really unsure about what to expect. I have my 41 week midwife appointment this afternoon and will discuss with her all the options.

I forgot to say that because the waters had broken, I was told to visit the delivery suite yesterday. They monitored and examined me. The midwife said the hind waters had gone, but that the baby was OK and I should go home and act as normal, with no need to contact them again unless my temp was raised or the contractions became too painful.

Everything in the house is ready - as am I and dh. But it's really frustrating at the moment.

Thanks for all the advice.

OP posts:

3GirlsMum · 02/12/2003 13:47

Good luck CK1. Its something I never had to worry about, all my girls were impatient and my waters never broke until I was in full labour. Hope that all goes well for you. Take care. xx

pupuce · 02/12/2003 19:27

ck1 - when you went to hospital did they tell you when they would induce you?
Did they do a vaginal examination? That is not suppose to happen as it increases risks of infection... maybe by examination you mean something else?

Good luck

Mog · 03/12/2003 13:40

Just to reassure anyone who might read this thread, my waters broke early and because I didn't have contractions I was induced. INDUCTION CAN BE ABSOLUTELY FINE!!! I was terrified when I discovered I was going to be induced but got to the end of labour with a TENS machine, a very supportive midwife and a bit of gas and air. I had an epidural with my first birth so I am not superwoman but with induction you should be able to say if you are finding the contractions painful and they can turn it down.

Please be reassured induction does not equal horrendously painful labour.

Mog · 03/12/2003 13:41

Sorry I should say that you can ask for the induction drip to be turned down if you are finding the contractions coming too thick and fast.

pupuce · 03/12/2003 19:57

Mog was your induction for your 1st or your 2nd?
There IS a difference and a lot of 1st time mum do not have easy labours AT ALL following an induction. If you can avoid it you should.... I think Mears would agree with that.

And if YOU didn't find it unbearable.... some babies do - hence the increase level of intervention.... often because babies get distressed during an induction

popsycal · 03/12/2003 20:27

i had an induction at 37 weeks due t pre-eclampsia....it was totally great. very short labour, no waiting around with contractions for a whole day
from applying the 'gel' to ds popping out was about5 hours
from water breaking - 3.5 hours
from first really strong contraction - 2 hours
it can be fine

popsycal · 03/12/2003 20:28

ps - first baby
i amno induction expert so please also listen to what other more knowledgable people say
just wanted to give the other side of the story

popsycal · 03/12/2003 20:29

and as the midwife was weighing ds - ie 2 minutes after him popping out - i remarked that i would have no problem doing that again!!!
hehe
diamorphine talking?

pupuce · 03/12/2003 21:01

popsycal - great that you had a good experience and wat to do it again - but you were in a different situation,.... you had pre-eclampsia and that also plays on your body.

popsycal · 03/12/2003 21:04

fair point pupuce...i know what you mean....
it is totally different!
sorry if i have clouded any judgements!

pupuce · 03/12/2003 21:09

Popsical and all - do not get me wrong it is GOOD to hear of positive inductions as sometimes (like you) you do not have a choice and it is important to know that it doesn't have to be a disaster. I have been a doula to women with inductions.... it wasn't easy (on them or me ) but one had an easy birth and the other had a section

popsycal · 03/12/2003 21:12

don't worry pupuce - i wasn't taking any offence!!!
isnt really hard to hear the 'tne' of a post sometimes....
for me, i suppose i was naive and didnt know of the difficulties of induction - was just glad to get it over with after being hospitalised before hand!

popsycal · 03/12/2003 21:13

make that hard to hear the 'tone' of a post!!!
can't hear anything when my typing is so bad!!

Hulababy · 03/12/2003 21:17

I had an induction at 41 weeks +5 but unfortuantely it didn't work well enough. I think I had the whole works - 3 lots of the gel, varginal examinations, waters broken, drip.... I only ever got to 2cm dilated though, although had the contractions I did have a cs on the 3rd evening. DD was in no distress at any time in all this I add quickly but was laid funny. She was born very quickly by cs in theatre and was perfectly healthy and adorable - her APGAR was 9 at 1 minute and 10 at 5 minutes - so no worries there at all.

popsycal · 03/12/2003 21:19

what is the name of that gel...dh and i were trying to remember the other night.....yes, very weird conversation topic, i know!

pupuce · 03/12/2003 21:27

prostaglandin

popsycal · 03/12/2003 21:29

thank you !
i knew it had something to do with progesterone
good luck to all those on this thread - and sorry for hijacking it!!

Mog · 04/12/2003 19:59

Pupace, I'm not implying that induction is always good but I was terrified the night before I was going to be induced because I had been told such horrendous stories. It was only coming on mumsnet and receiving reassurance from other mums that calmed me down and no doubt helped me to cope with labour.

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