Waters gone at 35 weeks - what now?

[sammielouise]

Hi all!
Just looking for hand hold and the experience of others really.

I'm currently 35+6 and my waters broke last night. No contractions other than dull backache at times. Not dilated. Hospital are monitoring, having to have steroid injections and if no sign of labour, I can go home tomorrow morning?! They hope to keep baby inside until 37 weeks if possible.

I was always under the (possibly wrong?) impression that baby should be out within 24 hours after water breaking? I'm confused.

Also rather panicking about NOTHING being ready!!!!

Thanks in advance!

My waters broke at 35+6 but my labour started straight away and he was here 5 hours later. I didn't need steroids or anything like that. He didn't need any special care and was a decent weight.

I was also under the same impression as you that baby needs to be here after 24 hours of your waters breaking!

Good luck

Thank you!
I'm due to have a planned section so I'll speak with them more today. Thank you, that's great to hear about your little one

I was always under the (possibly wrong?) impression that baby should be out within 24 hours after water breaking? I'm confused.

This is not always the case, if your waters go before 37 weeks (this is called preterm premature rupture of membranes) due to the risks to baby from being born prematurely it’s often safer to continue the pregnancy, rather than intervene if you don’t go into labour on your own. It all depends on your personal situation though, and you should be monitored closely to make sure you’re not developing an infection. There’s some more info here which you might find helpful: www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/when-your-waters-break-prematurely/

Is this your first?

I'm currently 28 week pregnant with my second and expecting a planned section this time!

Hope you get some answers later on and you might have baby in your arms by the end of the day!

[quote OnOldOlympus]I was always under the (possibly wrong?) impression that baby should be out within 24 hours after water breaking? I'm confused.

This is not always the case, if your waters go before 37 weeks (this is called preterm premature rupture of membranes) due to the risks to baby from being born prematurely it’s often safer to continue the pregnancy, rather than intervene if you don’t go into labour on your own. It all depends on your personal situation though, and you should be monitored closely to make sure you’re not developing an infection. There’s some more info here which you might find helpful: www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/when-your-waters-break-prematurely/[/quote]
Thank you that's relent interesting and similar to what they've been saying.

She's my second, first was planned c-section at 39 weeks so wasn't expecting this to happen this early! I have a bicornate uterus though so there was always the risk of it happening. We'll see what happens! Thanks all.
(Seriously though - why don't they warn how bloody painful steroid injections are?!)

Yes if your waters have broken too early and labour hasn't happened naturally, they will monitor you and try to keep the baby in for longer.

This happened to me and several others I know. I was sent home and asked to take my temperature 4 x daily to check for signs of infection.

My waters broke at 36 weeks and I didn’t go into labour straight away. The doctors said if labour started on its own they’d let it continue but if not I’d have my planned section at 37 weeks. I then had to remain in hospital and be monitored closely until 37 weeks, if there had been any sign of infection baby would have been taken straight out. I had the steroids too, I could not believe how much they hurt! baby was fine!

One other thing, we had to stay in hospital a little longer than usual after baby was born because they wanted to be absolutely sure there was no infection, and baby was on antibiotics as a precaution until the results came back. That might have been specific to me because they had no idea why my waters went early but it might mean the hospital want to do extra checks on baby.

Exactly the same thing happened to me. I was kept in hospital for 5 days, they were trying to get me to 36 weeks but I ended up with an infection and babys heart rate dipping so they induced me. Baby was absolutely fine and husband and family ran around getting everything organised. Hope all goes well for you. X

My waters went at 35 weeks, there was a discussion about sending me home but then did my temperature and it was slightly raised so induced me instead. Me and baby were both put on IV antibiotics as a precaution as they were unsure why my waters went.

My waters broke on the 20th, I was induced on the 22nd at 7pm as the risk of infection, but I was term. I think it should have been sooner but apparently there were no rooms and I was just having minor contractions

I had PPROM at 34 weeks. I was monitored for a few days in hospital and had steroid injections. I went into labour naturally at 35 +6 and dc was born 36 weeks to the day.

My waters were gone two days before they did csection, they knew I didn't want it so were giving me as long as possible to go naturally, just monitored me regularly over the time in hospital.

Steroid injections hurt depending on how the person does them! I've had them in 2 pregnancies, so 4 injections, and twice it was painful, twice it wasn't at all!

36ish weeks is pretty good, baby should usually be fine at that stage, lungs are well developed as it's not far off term.

Thanks everyone! I'm home now, hoping to keep baby in for another week with planned c-section at 37 weeks, but who knows what will happen. Really didn't think you could leave it after waters breaking so learned something new!

My waters broke at 33+6 at 7am but no contractions. They debated giving me steroids as they only give it before 34 weeks but decided against it due my diabetes. They said they'd keep me in hospital for 72 hours and if no natural labour sent me home. I did go into labour at 2am on 34+1 and she was here by 7am. She weighed 4lbs 11oz. They had two pediatricians with me as they were concerned she wouldn't be able to breathe but she came out screaming her lungs out. They whisked her off to nicu but she came back an hour later and didn't leave my side after that. Bar some jaundice needing a uv lamp and a bit of an infection which meant the first 5 days in hospital having some antibiotics she was perfect.

She had her six week check on Thurs and bar being small you would never even know she was premature.

Hope your baby stays happy and healthy x

Hi everyone, thought I'd update as hate not knowing outcomes to threads! I was discharged two days after my waters broke, but the following morning started contracting and had EMCS a few hours later! Little girl - 5lb 15oz. All healthy 😊 had a nightmare with weight gain but getting there and she's now 6 weeks! Thanks all that contributed

I didn’t see your thread before but congratulations!! Glad all went well in the end

Congratulations 🥳 Xx

Glad all went well, congratulations!

Ah lovely news, thought it was odd u had back pain and they sent you home. Congrats