Is it a good idea to have waters broken during labour?

[Jane101]

When I gave birth to ds my waters didn't break themselves. When I was 7cm dilated, the midwife asked me if I wanted her to break my waters, but I wasn't sure, so she didn't. She ended up breaking them next time she did an internal examination though. I wondered afterwards whether or not I should have said "yes" when she first asked me. I gather this can speed up labour. Does anyone know the pros and cons? I'm due to have another child in 4 weeks time, and I'd like to know what to do if it happens again.

Thanks, mears. It is all v. interesting. I was really surprised when I saw meconium as I didn't 'feel' the baby was stressed (thought mec. meant she was terrified) - hence my outlandish conspiracy theories . No further 'bad signs', so by your explanation, perhaps it wasn't significant in hindsight...

I think I'd like to read my records from dd's birth. Do I just ask for a copy at the hospital? I had my waters broken with her (not sure how far along I was, but was well into an epidural-induced haze....) when she did come out there were lots of people in the room because there had been meconium in the waters - I think 2 paeds, 2 midwives and I'm sure at least 1 or 2 other adults (besides DH!) I had to push for 1 hour is that normal too?

Angeliz - don't know why your waters were broken. It can be done if there are concerns about the heartrate. However, doctors always tend to do it because it is an intervention that they do not consider to be an intervention IYKWIM? There are midwives like that too. They break them because they are there...It is only in recent years we have stopped doing it too.

Thanks for all your comments. It sounds like it might be best to leave it to happen naturally so long as things seem to be progressing well.

Hana - it is not unusual to push for an hour or more, especially when you have an epidural because it often takes longer because of it's effect.

hana - I pushed for 2 hours - same problem with meconium in water - I nearly escaped a ventouse - but then coz ds' cord was round his neck they wanted him out as soon as

Thanks Mears
Think i'll request for them to be left next tiem.
Thankyou too Jane for starting this thread. It's been really interesting and an eye opener.
Good luck+++

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I had mine broken when I was in the early satges of induced labour with ds1. They had problems breaking the sac. There was ALOT of fluid. It was a quick labour but that was down to the drugs. It was a very emotional and scary moment and I wanted it to happen naturally second time around.
However at 8cm into my second labour and first 'natural' birth I could feel everything slowing down. The mw had been saying for 8 hours that the waters were ready to go. After all that anticipation I became v.scared of them breaking and that leading to a break in concentration which would have made me out of control. I felt myself holding onto them during a contraction. Another two hours and another check and yet again apparently they were ready to burst. And another hour went by and nothing. My mw were very much routing for a natural birth and they were hesitant about breaking my waters but I asked and they obeyed. They spent 5 mins trying to break the sac another tough one! When they ruptured it the mw said we definatley did the right thing there. I'm not sure what they meant by that but immediatley I went into natural pushing and baby was born in a few mins.
So I'm still unsure why my waters cause me so much aggrovation and why I'm so worried about them rupturing but its not all bad, sometimes it can be the best decision you can make.

A bit late to this thread but I recently found out that most independent midwives never (or very rarely) brake waters.... yet in hospital they often offer it or WORSE do it without consent!
If Ind. MW don't need to do it... why do hospitals ?????

No time to read all the way through and I am sure someone has already said this, but, having had my waters broken in one of my labours, I wanted to say, it makes the subsequent labour very PAINFUL! But perhaps that would happen anyway, as labour progressed.
Sorry to be traditionalist, but I think if they recommend breaking your waters, you should go along with it. It happens eventually anyway, and it does speed up labour so you get the thing over and done with quicker!

Lonelymum.... maybe you should read Mears' post below though