Breaking of waters experience

[Flossie333]

Hi ladies- I'm a FTM and am 41 + 1. My baby normally is a real wriggler and the last few days his movements have slowed. I've been in to see the midwife and also to day assessment for monitoring a couple of times and all has been fine, but they have said that they think the change in movements warrants having my waters broken (especially as I am booked for induction on Saturday anyway).

I've had three sweeps already, and they say my cervix is soft and can stretch to 2cm, so they wouldn't need to use the pessary before breaking my waters.

Of course would rather go into labour on my own accord, but baby is absolute priority and would now rather not chance anything.

Would love to hear people's experiences of having their waters broken, did your contractions then start pretty soon after? Did you find a long walk helped?

Thank you! Xxx

I had my waters broken as part of my induction. It was mildly unpleasant. Cervix hadn't opened much from the pessaries (it was an unusually quiet night, so I was brought down to delivery suite anyway), baby was very high still, and the membranes kept slipping away from the hook. A second midwife was brought in to push baby right down into my pelvis. Fortunately I had the gas and air throughout, so it wasn't too bad painwise, but I wouldn't want to go through it again.

Once they were broken though, I was put on continuous monitoring, so there was zero chance of going out and about for a walk. There was then a 2 hour pause to see if contractions would start on their own. I was only 37 weeks, so it was already unlikely they would, so it came as no surprise when they did not. I then went on the drip, which worked wonders. Active labour was slightly eventful (decelerations, monitoring slipping off + baby moving away, eventually requiring a scalp electrode), but no major crises, and once I got to the pushing phase it was textbook from then on.

Good luck with it all. ❤️

I had my waters broken, after going through the pessaries and the drip of an induction. It was the waters being broken that got everything moving - and quickly! Hadn't had a hint of a contraction but they came thick and fast after.

It was painful but the midwife soon saw I was in pain and gave me gas and air which totally relieved the pain. If I were doing it again I would ask to have the gas and air ready and in my hand.

I've had mine broken in all three labours and once they've gone that's when labour starts properly for me and contractions take on a new level.
Oh just so you know once they've been broken that's not always it. With baby two after they broke my waters every time I had a contraction for a good while after more and more kept coming out!! I was like where on earth is it all coming from!!!!
Good luck!! Exciting times

Had mine broken for my first two, mildly uncomfortable but nothing like labour pains. Both children born within 2 hours of waters being broken.

Had mine broken as I wasn't dilating. It didn't work

I was 42 plus with reduced fetal movements an beacuse DD was a wriggler they wouldn't do anything about it. ENded up on the castor oil (not recommended) as I was so worried. 5 hours into labour had waters broken and a baby 2 minutes later...

Didn't work for me. There was a lot of poking around. I had a c-section in the end, followed by a massive infection, which I believe was from the poking around 🤷‍♀️

With my first I was 5cm contractions but not strong. Just broke during a sweep. Not at all painful Contractions ramped up immediately.
With my second they were broken in active labour at 7 or 8 cm and it felt much better and progressed much quicker. It did take a few goes to break them but it wasn’t painful

I had my waters broken, what a relief it was. It felt great. Contractions started almost immediately and I had a very easy birth, delivered 5.5 hours later with no pain relief in the water

Had my waters broken after 24 hours of the gel, my contractions went from 0-100 straight away, had to wait 4 hours to have an epidural. I would advise if you know you want one, insist on having it before they break your waters or at least request one & get yourself in the queue to have it done. My induction failed after 60 hours & I had to have an emcs.