Third baby - if your waters break...

[HildaSnibbs]

...and you're already having contractions, the baby is likely to come VERY quickly?!

I've just had DD3 and my midwife mentioned this to me at my last couple of appointments. We live 20-25 minutes drive from the hospital and she advised if you're having contractions and your waters break while you're still at home, you probably won't have time to make it to the hospital.

And she was right! We went to the hospital when contractions were 4-5 mins apart and I was only 5 cm on arrival. Ten minutes later my waters broke... ten minutes after that DD3 was born, to the surprise even of the midwife who delivered her!

I'm glad I was forewarned and thought I'd share this with anyone else expecting DC3.

I've had the same in both previous pregnancies, "normal" labour until my waters break and then very fast after that. First I was being induced, had been in labour for about 7 hours, I got to 4-5cm they broke my waters for me and I had a baby in less than 40 mins from then. Second baby, I wasn't being induced but was examined and said I was about 7cm, this was after about 5 hours, next contraction waters broke on their own, baby arrived within two or three contractions. The poor midwife didnt believe me and then didnt manage to get the second midwife in in time when she realised I really was pushing out a baby, I think there are meant to be two at point of delivery. I'm pregnant with my third, and think I'll be okay if my waters stay in tact but if they go first all bets are off!