Waters broken before contractions!

[Nicknamegoeshere]

I'm 39 + 1 and mine started to go at 6 am this morning. Lots now, lovely and clear. But no contractions as yet! Did similar happen to anyone else? My midwife (home birth) says just to chill but that is easier said than done!!!

Me too @Bobbiepin! Thanks for checking in.

Still absolutely nothing

My midwife just called to check up on me and has reassured me there's nothing to worry about.

It's just soooooo frustrating!

How you doing @Nicknamegoeshere? Try to relax, things will start when they are ready. Hopefully you'll be on your way soon!

Yep. This happened with my 2&3. Proper soap opera births. Waters broke, went straight into active labour and popped the babies out soon after

How are you doing op?

Still nothing really, I'm trying not to let it stress me out but I'm so anti-induction and pro home birth that I can't help it. It's been 14 hours now since waters started to go!

Hope things get moving soon.

I had the same thing with my son but naive and young and went along with the induction 24 hours later thinking that the HCPs knew better.

Now I am older and also a midwife and would hold off for longer if it happened again which is likely as I have hypermobility. Check my own temperature and monitor the colour of the waters and movements.

Easier said than done but try and get the oxytocin flowing, funny film or stand up, massage, cuddles. Try not to stress out too much as that sometimes stop the contractions starting. Rest too as if it does start then you will need the energy.

Sounds like you have a supportive midwife so keeping my fingers crossed for you.

@00deed1988 Thank you. I'm feeling incredibly down and cross at my body - third baby and I still can't get it right!

My IM is superb which is so reassuring but I suffer with anxiety and this isn't helping. Trying to relax but just wish my labour was progressing normally!

For #1 my waters broke and nothing happened for days. 3 days later she appeared and she is perfectly normal. Sleep while you can. The contractions will wake you. x

@Unescorted Thank you. This is the first time in labour my waters have gone spontaneously without intervention so it's all been a bit of a shock!

There’s no such thing as a normal labour op. My 2nd and 3rd were Hollywood movie births. My first I lost my waters during an appointment with the midwife. She said I’d have a baby by that time the next day. The next week I was still pregnant and my waters had replenished. As it was when I finally went into labour after that, I phoned the hospital as my contractions were immediately 3 minutes apart. They refused to admit me, refused to send me an ambulance as I apparently had hours to go. I ended up popping him out within an hour and 45 minutes and had to phone 999 for assistance as the midwives wouldn’t believe or help me. Ignore all you’ve read or been told about labour, have no expectations. Focus on your own symptoms and take each day/hour/minute at a time

@nicknamegoeshere

It is nothing to do with you getting it right. The third babies are always the wildcard ones! Every pregnancy is different even with the same woman. So try not to blame yourself.

My mum had 4 babies. 1st (me) was a long labour with a 3rd degree tear. 2nd was a 10 minute labour and gave birth in a shop with no tear, 3rd was a long latent phase but quick active labour and turned up at hospital 9cm dilated and 4th was breech with a section. No one knows how it is going to go and very little you can do to change it. But I know it can be worrying and anxiety inducing. Try and get some sleep. Hopefully you will wake up and things will kick off!

Yep this happened to me. Good luck!

My waters popped with a gush, but had to be induced 8hrs later as nothing had happened, but I was 34+9 so quite early and I was really stressed and panicking so I don't think that helped me, try and relax any tension will mean your body works against you

My waters went at 3.30 on a Sunday morning and contractions started 24 hours later, was sent home from the hospital with thermometers and had to regularly take my temp and was told to try and move around go for walks. When he was born I was told I needed to stay in hospital for 24 hours so they could keep an eye on him for infections but around 10 hours later they said I could home.

My waters went in bed, contractions started immediately, phoned midwife and they sent an ambulance. They thought I would give birth en route, but he hung on and was born less than 3 hours later. This was my second, first was induced.

Mine went at 39 weeks. Totally unexpected in the middle of the night. My husband told me to go back to sleep as I'd most likely just wet myself!! When I stood and he saw the torrent he changed his mind.

I walked for 4 miles the next day and drove over all the bumpy roads I could and nothing in the way of contractions. I went in the next day for an induction. I was very lucky and had quite a quick and straightforward birth which isn't everyone's experience with an induction but mine was positive.

As my waters had gone I was placed straight onto a drip as a pessary would have carried a risk of infection. I was in active labour for 4.5 hrs and whilst it was intense it was no worse really than when I went into natural labour with my second child.

Wishing you all the best xx

In the 12 hours it took for my contractions to start after my waters went I'd got a whopping infection. Just be cautious of your temperature and how you feel as my midwife dismissed the fact my waters had gone and it wasn't until I mentioned to her I had a headache that they realised I was poorly and baby too. All worked out fine in the end but had to go in for an induction.

Thanks all. I'm obviously hoping to go into labour son but will ask for advice of my IM tomorrow if I hadn't. She's happy for me to go over 24 hours providing no temp, waters stay relatively clear etc. I am determined to avoid being induced again or having a medicalised birth!

Is baby moving like normal?

Please dont leave it to long OP

agree with JustStayHome. good luck.

Yes she's very active. My midwife is up to date with progress (or lack of!) She's an hour away so I know to tell her if anything changes. Can't sleep

Over 24 hours now since waters started to go - I'm at my wits end!

Induction of a 3rd labour likely to be much easier than a first if it comes to it. I had "augmented" labour with #3 just to regulate contractions. It was bearable with gas and air.

Fx things start soon for you. The same happened to me, contractions did start eventually but didn’t progress so I ended up needed a EMCS 48 hours after waters went. Hope you have a better outcome than me!

My mental health honestly won't allow me to be induced - especially as I'll be on my own. I just can't do it.