Stupid birth question but it's not a wind-up

[No19]

Does time start ticking for the baby once the waters have broken, ie does the baby have to be born within a certain time after that has happened?

when you say "have to be", what do you mean?
Some hospitals I think have a limit (24 or 48 hours) by which time if you haven't gone into labour you will be induced because of the risk of infection. But do you mean naturally?

yes i think they always want to know and keep an eye.. and i think they taek time into account. depends on circs, possibility of infection etc

The Drs will get pretty itchy to induce you if you haven't gone into labour within 48 hours after your waters breaking, though there's no reason not to wait longer as long as there's no sign of infection (elevated temperature, baby in distress etc.) Also, many women's don't break until after labour has already started.

What I mean is does the waters having broken, and the baby not being in amniotic fluid any more, mean that things get difficult for the baby? I know that hospitals try to get you in and out in a certain time but I presume that's for their own convenience. I am pg with no2 but with no1 was induced & waters broken by nurse/midwife.

I am confused with the biology. Once sac is ruptured, fluid seeps away. Baby continues to feed/get oxygen via cord. Is fluid simply for cushioning?

yeah i think so... but also keeps the baby 'sealed' from infection etc.

So what would cause the baby to be "distressed" during labour?

As that is one of reasons given for possible c section.

ooh lots of things. 'ditress' can be indicated by all manner of things; heartbeat slowing/speeding up mainly i think

getting stuck might cause distress, or labour taking 'too long' or mum getting distressed, or infection or cord being round neck...

im not medical tho. you need a good mw/doctor/doula to asnwer this one.

Yes it's the too-long labour I was thinking about & that's why I was wondering about the waters breaking, did you have to get it done before it went on too long, what is too long & what happens to the baby while it's going on too long!

God you would never think I had already had a baby. Was 9 years ago though!

i never had my waters broken and my labours progressed naturally and at a pretty fast pace, so im afraid im not really much of one to ask about long labours!

i suppose if youre looking for ways to avoid the intervention you can look at ways to increase chances fo helping labour along naturally... walking about, acupuncture, birthing ball... lots of things to look into

NICE guidelines advise induction within 96 hours , AFAIK, but if you lose dark fluid or feel unwell or run a temperature, tehn you would be indcued sooner

also, AFAIK, fluid is produced continously until baby is delviered, so it is still cushioned IIRC.

It is really down to the risk of infection, which increases the longer the baby is not "sealed in".

The only reason for a C Section specific to prolonged rupture of membranes would be if induction of labour - with a drip - for example didn't work. But IME this is quite rare. (Infection is the big worry nowadays).

Yes, I thought that. Fluid is continous.

NICE says that is PERFECTLY safe to wait 96 hours before inducing! Most hospitals have not adapted their protocols to reflect that. Most women end up being induced after 24 hours (whilst they would probably have gone into spontaneous labour after 48 or 72 hours)... and this leads to more difficult labours.
Also a sac can actually stop leaking... and you cna carry on being pregnant for weeks as the amniotic fluid that is being lost is constantly being replaced.
Have a look here for some good info:
www.radmid.demon.co.uk/prom.htm

or this:
NICE/RCOG guidelines on induction of labour (short form)
(www.nice.org.uk/article.asp?a=17321)

Iirc, aminotic fluid keeps being produced - ie even if water break (esp if just a trickle) the body keeps making enough water to keep the baby comfortable. I think.
I had a mate whose water went very early - although just a trickle, not the full on mains burst . They monitored her for infection, but as long as all was clear, wanted to give the baby maximum possible time in utero. I think she went 3/4 weeks from when the waters broke before she had the baby (& even then, she hadn't got an infection)

I think she was very lucky, but it is possible for the baby to stay inside happily once waters have broken.

Agree pupuce. Inducing labour too early when the body isn't really ready just increases the risk of failed induction.

I suspect much depends on bedspace and whether the Trust policy is to allow women to go home with ruptured membranes, or whether they are kept in for observation. That, in turn depends on other factors such as the position of the baby, engagement of the head etc. It isn't good or right, but perhaps the trend for earlier induction has something to do with not "blocking a bed" for 96 hours.

They usually give you 24 hours then start to worry re infection

hello pupuce ! lulumama here! nice to 'see' you !

OK. Thanks for all the info.

I am trying to gather as much information as possible because of feeling that my last delivery (induction, rupture, epidural) was very much out of my control. I'd like this one to be more controlled but am finding it hard to get all the info out of the hospital or the books I've bought. Also because it's number 2 I think everyone thinks I know all about it when actually I haven't a clue & am quite nervous.

Hi Lulu

No.19- I was more nervous with no.2- I wish I had relaxed and enjoyed it more now...

I keep saying that to myself.

I didn't enjoy first time round (though DS obv is complete gift from the gods) and DO want to enjoy it now.

aw no19 -- i wish you luck on your quest for info to enable you to have the birth you want, circs allowing... best of luck and congrats in advance

well, you can ask anything you want here! between us all on MN, we seem to cover all bases!