Waters broke 36 hours ago and no sign of anything happening, getting v. despondant

[GemBean]

I guess the title says it all! I am hoping for a VBAC but have to go into hospital first thing tomorrow morning to be induced due to risk of infection if nothing happens in the meantime. I can't believe nothing is happening, I'm trying to be positive but am struggling. Keep getting twinges but nothing painful or consistant. Has this happened to anyone else or can anyone offer any words of wisdom please?

you poor thing - have you tried a long walk/bouncing, nipple stimulation etc? No experience myself I'm afraid but I'm sure someone wiswer than me will be along shortly

Walk, walk and walk some more! That worked for me. Mine went at about 6pm on a Thursday. Rang maternity unit who told me to come in the next morning if nothing more had happened. Did so but contractions were too irregular and mild to be real labour apparently. Monitored on and off for hours. Finally went into hospital at about 4pm Friday and was threatened with induction the next morning. So I walked the ward and the corridors and he was born uninduced next morning at 7am.

And btw there might well be something happening but you can't feel it. I couldn't feel most of my contractions until after I went into hospital.

walk or bounce on a swiss ball
it took a 2 mile walk to get my first labour going

each twinge will be helping

stay positive!

thanks the two of you, good to hear Im not the only one Orm!
Right am off for a walk.....

x posts the blonde, thanks to you too

"Keep getting twinges but nothing painful or consistant" just reread your OP and that is exactly what I was getting. Something is happening. Keeping upright and moving will help.

Gem. Are you eating, drinking, using the toilet and resting regularly?

I'm sure something is happening. Those twinges aren't for nothing darling.

Start to visualise your baby coming down and out. Talk to bean and say how much you're looking forward to holding her/him.

Try a bit of sideways stair walking.

get with the nipple stim ! and a good strong positive visualisation of the birth.. imagine lots of good strong contractions starting, your cervix soft and opening, your baby moving down ready to enter the world....

try to keep positive...

twinges are good

means things are under starters orders

stay strong !

this happened to me on second baby after waters broke nothing happened and was due to go in for inductionon the wed due to infection then went to bed tues night woke up feeling funny and an hour later i was holding ds !! so you never know might just be the same for you {wink}

thank you so much for the tips, have been for a walk and am feeling more positive and happy, my body is definitely up to something so I just need go with it. Have been eating and so on. Mars and Lulu you make me feel so much better!
Cant believe you had your baby in an hour ELR, Good Lord!!!!

don't rush when the contractions start. Still aim to stay home as long as things feel okay.

You need to wee at least 2 hourly. Eat and drink regularly. Sort your photo album. Watch a comedy (laughter relaxes you and opens you up). Will check back after my an classes.

I have a good feeling about this

i shall start knitting, that often helps !!

i shall send you all my positive VBAC vibes

take the positive feelings with you

When I get back I'll bring cake!

oh - and NICE recommends you can wait 72hrs after waters break before being induced

I was given the full 72hrs with DS2 - but nothing happened - was induced and he was born VBAC.

DS3 - well I'm still in shock 6 months on - didn't realise my body could do that

WHO gives you 96 hours.

Gem - I forgot to add 2 miles is possibly a bit long for the walk, you don't want to feel too tired once things get going properly!

hi everyone. Am off to bed now, been having contractions (I think!) for about the last hour or so, every 10 mins or so but they don't last too long and I can still talk through them. Might end up just pacing the bedroom but am feeling quite excited and full of anticipation! thanks for all the lovely messages. fingers crossed........

i did start labour a few days after water breaking and had a vbac!

arent they scaring you re infection... i had very cautious consultants talking me into another c-section (they wont induce in UCH after a c-section). But they didnt have room to operate for 2 days...and by then i had it naturally!

With ds my waters started to leak about 2am on the Wed morning & they were going to give 'til 8:30 Sat morning before induction. I was just getting very irregular twinges 'til late Thurs/early Friday & he was born at 8:45 Fri morning. The mw just put me on an AB drip during active labour & we were monitored for the first few days but everything was fine.

Good luck GemBean

I still wasn't in labour 5 days after waters breaking-- got tired of waiting and opted for the induction. You don't automatically have to have an induction after 72 or 96 or any number of hours but it is important to monitor your temperature in case of infection. The junior doctors were very nervous about it but the consultant was happy to let me wait as long as I went in for a FHM every day. They waited to examine me until just before I was about to have the induction and they (and I!) were pleasantly surprised to discover that I was already a few centimeters dilated, so all those twinges are doing something.

Feeling all nostalgic now as that was almost exactly a year ago and how I discovered MN in the first place!

Whatever you decide to do, best of luck!