Waters broken 35 weeks no contractions

[joeybrownbill]

My waters broke 4 days ago at 35+2. Was admitted to hospital for monitoring for 48 hours but am now at home with strict instructions on looking out for infection. All seems good and no signs if contractions.

They want to get me to 37 weeks and then induce. But if the baby is happy and no sign of infection then if rather wait for contractions to start naturally.

It's not very nice leaking fluid all the time though! Anyone had a similar experience?

My hind waters went at 36+1. I called the maternity unit and they asked me to go in to be checked.

I had to stay in, I was on the monitor for 30 minutes every 6 hours and given an antibiotic at that time when they remembered. They had me stay in as they were going to induce if contractions weren't forthcoming. Trouble was, it was really busy on the ward and I think they were half wanting to get me delivered and half wanting to give DD a bit more time so I was there for days! Which slightly went contrary to their assertion that they didn't like women to go more than 48 hours without inducing.

At 36+6 a room was finally free, I was induced (straight to drip) and DD was born in about 3 hours @ 6lb 4oz, so pretty good really. Went home the next day because they wanted to monitor her for 24 hours they didn't, I wish I'd just gone

The leaking is very unnerving, especially when you first stand up from sitting or lying, at least it was with hind waters gone.

You'll be fine, it won't be long till you meet your baby. Best wishes.

Thanks for your reply! I'm now booked in for induction at 37 weeks, next Saturday, which will be 2weeks after waters broke. No signs of infection so far.

I'm nervous about induction as had planned a home water birth and induction is often associated with epidural. Did you have one? How did you find it? Really appreciate your advice.

I think by 37 weeks the risk of infection is greater than the risk of being born slightly early. I was induced at 38 weeks after waters went and no contractions. I clearly wasn't ready to go into labour and it was a long drawn out business (29 hours) but I did have a normal delivery without assistance. It's different for everyone but I would say compared to my spontaneous labour it was a lot more intense and painful (oxytocin drip, the works) so don't rule out an epidural I don't think I would have managed a normal delivery without the chance of a rest it gave me. Of course not all inductions are like that you might just have a pessary and that will kick things off.

Yes, as Princess says, it's different for everyone, and it depends how they start you off.

My friend went up to deliver just before me. She was induced too - though I can't think how just now - her labour was 16 hours and she was knackered, it was very hard work.

I went into the room next door just as tea and toast was being ordered for her and started mentally adding 16 hours to work out when I might be done.

They hooked me up to the drip, I had a wee snooze while fluids were fed in and the midwife did her paperwork, then I called DH to drive in (it was about 5 or 6am!). Once DH arrived, they started the oxytocin and for me it took immediate effect. It was a fast and furious, but quite mobile delivery. I used a ball, then leaned over the bed, then on my knees leaning over the bed head, then sort of sitting to deliver. Took about 3 hours altogether. I didn't have an epidural but I did use a lot of gas and air, though not while pushing. It was very intense, but mercifully short.

I had wanted to delver on the midwife-led unit downstairs so I was a bit anxious when that went out the window. As it was, the midwives did their best to allow me to be mobile, to change position (the delivery suite bed was like a transformer and finished up in a birthing chair shape) and no doctors would be involved unless it was necessary. The anaesthetist put the cannula in as the midwife was struggling, and a sonographer scanned me to check DD's position - no one could tell which way up she was from feeling - her bottom was doing a good head impression under my ribs! Induction needn't mean you flat on your back, closely tied to the drip so perhaps talk to your midwife about how you can make the best of this new situation.

Speed-wise, turned out it could just be how I give birth. DS, 2 years later, was spontaneous (also a bit 'early', though not prem) and labour ramped up very quickly to delivery in under 4 hours, start to finish. He was back to back or it would have been much quicker. I had him in water, with just gas and air.

I think I have quite a high pain threshold, I didn't realise this at the time but I think it's fairly unusual to go straight to drip without being offered and taking an epidural.

It's hard when your birth plan changes for reasons beyond your control but I decided to go with the flow and concentrate on getting DD out however the midwives suggested! Doesn't bother me now that she wasn't a relaxing, whale song type delivery - she's here and safe, that's all that matters.

Very best of luck for Saturday! Let us know how you get on.

Crikey, that was long, sorry.

No advice on waters etc but I was induced (arm first then drip) I didnt have an epi. I had pacs I think its called.

Thanks all. This is really useful. Are the contractions brought on by a pessaries less intense than the drip? Would like to try without epidural but so many people have said don't be a martyr if having the drip. I guess you don't know what it's going to be like until it starts. I've never even broken a bone or had chicken pox so don't know how I react to pain!

I had a pessary induction. It was pretty quick to take effect and was removed as it was working too well and contractions very full on. The whole process from start to finish was about 9 hours though and I had no epidural, just gas and air and a morphine injection. It was all ok actually and I felt quite proud I did it without epidural as I had fully planned to have epidural. Good luck, it'll all be fine!