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!!!

My waters broke 9 days before my youngest was born so I'm in support of watching and waiting. However I had a lot of ctg monitoring (3 times a day for an hour each time at one point but every 2 days for 2 hours minimum) and I was on antibiotics. I still ended up with an infection and sepsis. I was 35 weeks pregnant when my waters broke, with a previous experience of a baby born at 35 weeks who has suffered long term complications from being early. I would be asking for a c-section at the earliest opportunity if I were you, the least risky option for baby in the circumstances.

@elliejjtiny I understand, but I think my situation is different to yours in that I'm term. My mw did say she wouldn't be able to support with home birth at all before 36 weeks due to risk. I think PPROM is dealt with differently to PROM?

Here is one example of an article on still births @Nicknamegoeshere

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190702152815.htm

I am sure you can pick holes in it. But I am sure people can pick holes in the studies about scans causing people to be left handed.

@ineedaholidaynow Not a significant increase in risk, and certainly not enough for me to opt for induction and all of its potential complications. Also does mention issues re confounding variables and definitions of "low risk."

For example, a lot of people assumed I was in a "higher risk" category due to my age (39, 38 at time of conception). But actually not the case until I turn 40. Also because I'd had three previous miscarriages (not consecutive) but again, no higher risk.

OP, are you and your IM absolutely sure it's your waters? Is the fluid continuing to trickle?

Also have you discussed taking castor oil with your midwife? It works like a hot damn to start labour when there are ruptured membranes.

Did your IM recommend the garlic capsules instead of antibiotics to help with infection risk?

How are you getting on this morning?

Castor oil can be dangerous it could cause baby to pass meconium before being born.

How are you this morning OP?

For example, a lot of people assumed I was in a "higher risk" category due to my age (39, 38 at time of conception). But actually not the case until I turn 40.

What do you think happens on your 40th birthday that suddenly makes you high-risk when you weren't the day before?

@LisaSimpsonsbff That's how the NHS work - see green maternity notes.

NHS low vs higher risk categories...

Yes, there has to be a cut-off for clinical purposes, but weren't you talking about your own assessment of whether or not you're high risk and so whether it's fine to just wait until Wednesday? It's pretty clear that we have very different attitudes to risk assessment in pregnancy in general, and I'm not saying that I'm right and you're wrong, but it seems mad to say that you don't need to follow guidance as it's too generic and then say 'ah, but I'm 39.5 not 40, so I can just disregard that as a risk factor'.

Hope you are ok. Shouldn't be long now!

@LisaSimpsonsbff But the reality is based on this (and most of you seem keen to follow NHS guidelines) is that these statements put me current "low risk" in all areas.
Having said that, it is up to the individual mother to make her own mind up of course. For example, she may still choose to home birth if one, or several, of these risk factors was present because for her benefits still outweigh risks. Would I still request a home birth at 40? Absolutely! Would I be induced at 42 weeks if baby was well? No!
It's about choice ateotd and every woman has the absolute right to choose how she births.

@BrandNewHair I'm good thanks. A few tightenings but nothing much else yet! Off to do a birthing ball workout as that's supposed to be helpful!

If you have no checks on the baby how do you know it’s well?

You appear to have had 2 complicated births before, which is why I assume you are not under NHS as I assume they would not have supported a home birth.

@ineedaholidaynow I was under NHS initially but my Trust suspended home births due to Covid-19. Anyone can request a home birth on the NHS and they have a duty to support.

The great news is that they're now back up running and fully operational.
Unsurprisingly the demand for home births has significantly increased recently

Good to hear you are starting to have some tightenings. I hope the baby is on its way now.

How’s it going @Nicknamegoeshere?

@Hiphopopotamus Thanks for asking. A few little contractions so mw just on her way to check up on me.

Castor oil can be dangerous it could cause baby to pass meconium before being born.

The evidence doesn't support this at all. It's just a statement that keeps getting repeated. Anyway doesn't sound as if the OP is considering it.

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-using-castor-oil-to-induce-labor/

Spillthetea My GP is fantastic. I only see someone else in the practice if he is on holiday. He prints out from Patient UK because he knows not everyone remembers everything from a consultation and the information from a reliable source is better than someone googling or asking for medical opinions on mumsnet.

Stonesourfan thanks. I am sure they might briefly read to confirm their findings especially if no colleagues to discuss a case are available. His main reason is to provide correct information for the patient to take home.

GP’s can’t be expected to know everything. My friend’s granddaughter has a condition that not one doctor in their practice or the hospital has ever seen. She was transferred to a large hospital where the consultant to a wide area had only seen the condition in three others and he rang a hospital in London to discuss it with other doctors.
Likewise we lost a dear friend last year from a very rare form of leukaemia. Only four cases in the large teaching hospital ever known.

Don’t bother with the old wives tales Nickname I tried a lot and none worked. I walked up and down the hill behind my mum’s house and although contractions started when I went back in they stopped.

I do hope that you progress more tonight and look forward to hearing about your lovely baby.
Can some posters please stop worrying OP as she already has anxiety I think her midwife is more qualified unless you are a midwife who can prescribe without seeing the patient.

@PhoenixBuchanan Thankyou interesting read, I'm now wondering why midwives are dead against it!

@Nicknamegoeshere Exciting that you're having some contractions, I hope midwife reaches you soon.