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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

waters gone but no contractions - what will they do?

22 replies

ConnorTraceptive · 02/03/2008 18:04

Have been checked over and told to return tomorrow if nothing happens in the mean time.

I really want things to get going naturally - what should I do?

What will thaey do if nothing happens?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

CarGirl · 02/03/2008 18:05

some expert will come along soon but I think the NICE guidelines are that you can wait 3 days safely before induction.

cece · 02/03/2008 18:07

Oh I had this with DS. I went in and was checked, sent home. Told I had to be induced after 24 hours. I said no. They monitored me so was at hospital a lont and then contractions started after about 36 hours. They told me I had to be induced after 48 hours....

Lulumama · 02/03/2008 18:12

IIRC it is 72 hours , maybe 96, before NICE recommends induction... in the meantime, keep an eye on any loss, make sure it is not green or dark, no smell, no fever , no feeling ill

nipple stimulation , orgasm ( DIY, don;t think you can have sex once waters gone ) , visualisation can all help

think positive ! no need to be petrified....

slinkiemalinki · 02/03/2008 18:12

I assume you are full term?

If so - this happened to me at 38+6 - I was told 48hrs was the limit and induced just within that time after the consultant had given me a scan to check there were no waters left.

My daughter was given antibiotics for 48h when born (but no indications of any infection). They told me to relax, have a warm bath etc - whatever you do don't have sex or swim or do anything that could cause infection (that's the fear once waters have gone). I was told to take my temp regularly to check for infections. I assume they've told you all this?

Induction wasn't too bad - I just had a pessary and did not need the syntocinon drip (though the constant monitoring was stressful and held early labour up significantly as I couldn't move around - I had to argue to be let off it and things moved very quickly once I was allowed an active labour).

Lulumama · 02/03/2008 18:12

when you go back tomorrow, you do not have to be induced, you can be monitored

Original poster

ConnorTraceptive · 02/03/2008 18:18

Yup full term.

I didn't feel well in the night and that made me panic I did mention it to midwife but she didn't seem concerned as have been down with a cold this week anyway. Am also feeling better since I had a sleep this sfternoon so would presume if that I wouldn't be feeling better if it was an infection?

OP posts:

cece · 02/03/2008 18:20

I seem to remember they told me to come back straight away if my temperature went up...

Original poster

ConnorTraceptive · 02/03/2008 18:22

Will keep an eye on temp - it was normal last night even though I felt unwell and was normal when midwife checked.

OP posts:

nooka · 02/03/2008 18:33

I went three days after my waters broke with dd and I had no contractons. We went into hospital every day for a check and then on the third day they induced me (with syntocin - was offered an immediate c-section as the alternative, which I should have gone for, but that's another story). My waters also broke with ds, but they were meconium stained and it turned out he was transverse oblique, so went straight to c-section.

Original poster

ConnorTraceptive · 02/03/2008 18:36

Need to chill out a bit I guess but struggling - feeling off colour is making me panicky.

OP posts:

Lulumama · 02/03/2008 18:42

eat well, stay hydrated, think positive, and rest as much as you can......

OneHandedTypist · 02/03/2008 18:44

What lulumama said.

96 hours is limit NICE suggest, I think that's deadline 4 induction not just baby must b out by then.

But NICE guideline is almost irrelevant as ur hospital will have its own guidelines.

AND u can refuse 2 go along w/ it, whatever their guideline, u can wait if u prefer.

Good luck. Friend waited a week after waters broke 4 labour 2 start (baby was born fine).

Original poster

ConnorTraceptive · 02/03/2008 18:46

OK will try to be braver. Am going to make something to eat, then have a shower and then try to chill out. Thank you all.

OP posts:

pickie · 02/03/2008 18:47

my waters went and nothing happened as well. Very surreal feeling I found as you know with in 24-48 hours (then 4 years ago) you will have a baby!

MW suggested acupuncture to help contractions started and within 30 minutes of her starting to 'work' on me I was in labour. 8hours after DS was born

other suggestions I had (from a Dutch MW) was to take a warm bath with a nice glass of wine and relax and it would start...

Hope is all goes well!!!

maxbear · 02/03/2008 19:13

You have had a baby before haven't you? Try to relax and enjoy peace and quiet. Get your dh to give you a nice relaxing massage, start to worry if you are not in labour this time tomorrow. Keep an eye on your temp. You are probably feeling off colour due to nerves/ excitement though. Have a lovely baby, look forward to hearing the news

blondiep14 · 02/03/2008 19:38

This happened to me - i went in to be monitored just to check bubba was fine 9he was), and then was booked for an induction if i didn't go in to labour within 24 hours of them breaking - i did!!

GOOD LUCK x

micegg · 02/03/2008 20:06

This happened to me on a friday night. I was monitored and told to return in 48 hours if labour had not started. Labour started of its own accord 6 hours later.

Doingitallagain · 02/03/2008 21:19

Please don't worry. This has happened to me with both dcs so far. Both times my hospital induced after 36 hours with no contractions starting.

First time the pessary worked straight away, I laboured normally (I think, altho who knows seeing as it was my first), with just gas and air, dd1 born about 8 hours after receiving pessary.

Second time the pessary didn't work, had to be put on a drip, at which time they also gave me an epidural, which was just bliss - I slept as I dilated, then it wore off at the end for me to do 20 mins of pushing. Dd2 born about 5 hours after drip started.

Would love another birth like dd2 this time (due in 4 weeks), so induction can't be too bad. Maybe I was just lucky. Neither time did I need intervention, so that doesn't also follow either.

Both times I had to be kept in with baby for 36 hours afterwards, so they could keep checking temps for any sign of infection.

Honestly, just look forward to having your baby one way or another within the next couple of days.

mejon · 02/03/2008 22:13

Mine went in the early hours of a Wednesday morning and I was a bit stumped as to what to do (DH had just turned over and gone back to sleep!) Spoke to the maternity unit and was told to go in by lunchtime to be monitored. Everything was fine and I was then asked to telephone by mid-afternoon on the Thursday to come in to be induced (which would have been 36 hours after the original waters going).

Luckily my contractions started quite strongly and close together late morning on the Thursday and despite being told by midwife I was still in the early stages, I luckily spoke to the one I'd seen the previous day and who'd monitored me who told me to come in as soon as I liked. I gave birth at 7.11pm. I wasn't given any antibiotics (neither was DD) but we were kept in for an additional 24 hours (so 2 nights in hospital) just to make sure neither of us had an infection. Chances are you will start naturally - very best of luck!

Ledodgy · 02/03/2008 22:16

This happened to me and I managed to bring contractions on with nipple tweaking seriously it works especially when your waters have already broken. I tweaked both nipples at the same time and looked a fool but it did work.

BigBadMouse · 02/03/2008 22:36

It's quite possible that being worried about you feeling of being slightly unwell is stopping things from progressing. It's amazing what a huge effect that sort of thing can have. If your body senses you don't feel ready it can stop things apparently.

btw happened to me, 24 hours later got dragged into hospital for antibiotics - sounds like every place has it's own ideas on what to do though.

Good luck

Ledodgy · 04/03/2008 09:39

How are you? I hope you have your baby in your arms by now.

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