Help - sweep broke my waters!

[FolkSongSweet]

I’m 39+6 today. Had my midwife appointment yesterday and she offered a sweep. I agreed and to my surprise was 2-3cm dilated (first baby was 2 weeks late and induced). To my even bigger surprise she accidentally broke my waters doing the sweep! They admitted me and wanted to induce immediately as I had a positive GBS test earlier in pregnancy, but I’ve said no (I retested for GBS at 37 weeks and it was negative - apparently 97% predictive of status at 40 weeks but hospital policy ignores that) so they’ve given me 24 hours for labour to start after which they’ll offer the drip.

I’ve been having period type pains overnight but no contractions yet. I know most women go into labour within 24 hrs of waters breaking but is that when it happens spontaneously or does it not matter? I’m really keen to avoid the drip as I wanted an active birth. I know it was an accident and is a known risk of sweeps (not that it was flagged to me beforehand) but I feel really sad that my labour has effectively accidentally been pushed down a path of increased interventions ☹️. If anyone has any advice/similar experiences I’d love to hear about it.

Hi, I had a fully induced labour. I don't want to cause you any further anxiety but I ended up being left over 24 hours after my original waters were broken (had hind waters broken 4 hours later) and I became septic and crash section. It probably wouldn't happen to everyone but just my experience.

Personally I would want to be induced. The chances of your baby getting an infection double when they're not surrounded by the fluid.

Contractions usually start within 12-24 hours after waters break. After 24 hours you are at more risk of infection, so will most likely be induced. Try not to worry, follow the advice of the medical experts and stay positive knowing that you’ll soon be holding your precious baby. Good luck and best wishes x

The same happened to me where the sweep broke my waters albeit at 40+4. I was given 24 hours for labour to start naturally...it didn't so I was admitted for induction. I didn't need the drip but my goodness it went from nothing to full on in a very short space of time so I had no time to get acclimatised to the contractions and ended up having an epidural. At least it was all very quick though! (FTM)

My waters broke on Tuesday evening (not during a sweep but about 10 hours after one). I went in to get checked out a few hours later, had another sweep, immediately started having contractions, and had a baby 6 hours later (yesterday morning!).

My waters were broken by a sweep but unbeknownst to me as I was just leaking a mucus like fluid for 2 days (later confirmed this must of been my waters). This resulted in me being septic with a pretty traumatic birth resulting in a post partum haemorrhage as well. We needed a week stay in hospital as baby was also septic & needed IV antibiotics. I don’t mean to alarm you as it doesn’t mean that would happen to you but I would take the induction over that any day!

Concentrate on a healthy baby rather than the birth you wanted. The birth is just one day, you will be a mother for the rest of your life.

My waters went naturally at 37 weeks but no contractions. Waited 2 days before induction but then had drip. With the risk of infection I would not wait, it’s not worth the risk.

@HollyBollyBooBoo

Personally I would want to be induced. The chances of your baby getting an infection double when they're not surrounded by the fluid.

That’s true but I’m pretty sure the risk goes from 0.5% to 1% so still very low. They are monitoring me and baby every 4 hours.

Has anyone had gel after their waters have broken or is the drip my only alternative?

My first labour, my waters went at 8am but I didnt have contractions so ended up getting induced at 10pm tgat night. I had the gel first then went on the drip.

Last week I had a sweep at lunch time, had some period pains and then went into labour about 9 30pm- delivered that night! It was rapid.

I hope that because you've not come back you're in labour

@FolkSongSweet I did!

Just wanted to say that first I understand your feelings about this not starting the way you'd hoped.

Second, my baby was late and I was going to be induced. I'd only ever heard horror stories about it so I asked on here if anybody had had a good experience and I got a lot of replies. It was years ago so I can't link. But just wanted to let you know because normally nobody would start a thread saying "I had a good birth experience with induction" if they did!

I had a sweep and went into labour within 24hrs.

my waters went naturally but contractions didn't start proper.
went to hospital for a check up and induction after 24 hours.
put on a drip.
baby born.
the end.

good luck!

@PolarBearStrength congratulations!

Hoping your in labour or had a baby by now

Nope neither 😭. I’m having some gel and hoping this gets things going without need for the drip 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I went in hospital to have an induction at 39 weeks and they broke my waters, I started having contractions 2 hours later after having my waters broken (never felt any pain like it, wow really painful) then an hour later I went into labour and was ready to push so thankfully I didn't need the drip.