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!!!

How would you feel about an ELCS as opposed to an induction?

Fingers crossed for some progress though obviously!

Another one here who was still sitting twiddling my thumbs after waters went with a gush, at teen, in the street. I developed an infection shortly after and had to be induced. I was quite distressed at the thought but it was a potentially life saving intervention for my daughter.

Take care OP. I can't imagine what a tough time it is to be going through this.

I'm surprised at that, when my waters broke they said I had to go in within 20 hours to be induced to reduce chance of infection, good luck with everything, how exciting!

Sorry, doh! You're having a home birth so she's obvs coming to you! Sounds like you're on the right track :-)

Induction is so horrendous and with my anxiety I can't do it. I just thought being my third baby it would be so much easier.

I feel faulty.

nickname induction isn't always so horrendous. As I said it was much easier for me with #3 than #1 as my body knew what to do, I only needed a very small amount of the pitocin (?) To get things moving. A very different experience from my first induced labour. Can you ring the department to take advice?

@Callimanco I'm not under NHS care because I'm absolutely terrified of hospitals after my last hospital birth went very badly wrong. And my nearest hospital is awful

@Callimanco I'm also a VE and monitoring refuser!

Totally normal. Happened to me at about 9pm and I started contracting around 1am.

Just let the hospital know as they will give you a time to come in. They like you to have the baby within 24 hours of waters going as risk of infection rises after that

I mean this in the kindest way possible OP but your mental health won’t have the choice on wether to be induced or not. If that’s something that ends up being required then I’d start trying to get used to the idea round about now.

I hope things start moving for you.

Sending you lots of positive thoughts. You sound understandably stressed out which won’t be helping labour get started. I know it’s really hard but is there anything you can do this morning to really relax and almost put the fact that your waters have gone out of your head. Have a nice bath with relaxing music and candles, watch a feel good film, bake and eat something yummy. Anything to take your mind off it for a while, it may help the right hormones get things going.

@Stacey21x The choice is mine ultimately and that's what I'm hanging on to. Just that I wish things would hurry up!

@Incrediblytired I'd have been OK with that but it's been over 24 hours now. My IM is coming out this afternoon.

I hope you are ok OP, but what would you do if something is wrong, would you agree to go to hospital? Have you had any checks through this pregnancy?

@notasillysausage I'd love to do those things but my anxiety has taken over sadly. There's a lot of horrendous stuff going in in my life currently and I had dared to hope this birth would be the one thing that was straightforward after a normal pregnancy! Partner is getting cross as it's his first baby and he just thinks things will happen naturally which I disagree with him on!

@ineedaholidaynow Yes I've paid for an IM as my NHS Trust pulled all home births and antenatal care was appalling. So my IM has been doing all of my antenatal care (and in great detail). She's been superb and I guess that's another reason I feel so angry at my body as I hoped she would be there to deliver my baby after building up so much trust with me.

I would keep monitoring your temperature and being very aware of signs of infection. The risk with your waters being broken for such a long period of time is sepsis.

I am pleased that your midwife is coming this afternoon. You never know you might be in labour by then.

What are your plans if Labour doesn’t start naturally though? Or something goes wrong? You need to start trying to prepare yourself that a hospital trip may be necessary. Of course it’s your choice but your unborn baby doesn’t have a choice and you need to put his/hers safety first regardless of what your preferences are. Hope things get going soon.

How exciting op - I completely understand you not wanting a medical birth, you need to get out of the mindset that your body can't do this and get proactive and get those happy hormones working- get up and moving- go for a walk or up the stairs a few times, listen to some favourite music and look at photos that make you feel happy, good luck

Of course I want what's best for baby but ultimately I know it will make me very poorly and that's what I'm scared of (esp post birth). If she's born ok then I've got three kids to look after and OH is a key worker so will be on my own and in a bad place.

Mine went, and no contractions at all.

I was booked into be induced as I was told you couldn't go longer 48 hours after the wagers have gone. I went into labour about 12 hours before I was booked in.

I was also told 48 hours so you have another whole day really as long as you and the baby are ok.

Is your anxiety around induction specifically or being in hospital in general? If it comes to it would you feel better about a section over induction? Like a @GreenWillowTree said you have another 24 hrs yet so hopefully won’t be necessary

@Littlepoppet1 Both, especially with Covid-19 and restrictions on partners. I'm basically telling myself now baby is going to die