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?

[Peachy]

Had a look up of this in the Nicky Wesson homebirth book.

The advice was to follow NICE guidelines, but:

Drink loads of water to replenish fluids

Check your temperature every 4 hours to ensure no fever

Avoid baths, sex, anything entering vagina

Take garlic perles (8) and one dose vitamin C a few times each day to reduce infection risk

Call Hospital immediately as an emergency if signs of infection, waters become discoloured or baby's movements reduce

[slinkiemalinki]

It is the infection reason that makes them induce. I showed no sign of infection, and baby was fine - but they induced anyway as I was 38+6. I think you might have a battle on your hands if you don't want to be induced, your waters go and labour doesn't follow, and you are full term.

[slinkiemalinki]

This happened to me (although it was a gradual loss of waters) - the hospital induced me within 48 hours. First a doctor scanned me to confirm this was necessary. I was not thrilled but aside of a couple of pessaries I had an entirely normal labour. I just had to argue a bit to be let off the monitor and allowed to move around.

[No19]

Thank you all. Have been in slight frenzy of what if this happens, what if that happens, and unable to calm self because of lack of knowledge. So thanks for all the good thoughts, advice and info, & for not saying Stop panicking! This hasn't even happened yet!

[Mintpurple]

Hi No19 - I think you will find it a bit easier with no 2 baby, you do know more and are probably a bit more assertive than you were 9 years ago, so you can definately keep control of your labour more this time. Remember that hospitals and drs can only advise you of what they think is the best option, it is up to you to decide what you want to do, if you want to follow their advice or not, so bookmark the NICE guidelines for later.

As far as baby is concerned, it will be ok to have broken the waters (at term), it will not damage baby, and as others have said, baby will keep on making more, its mostly babys wee after all

About half the women who break their waters will labour within 24 hours, and due to the increasing risk of infection, its recommended to be induced by 96 hours, but all hospitals have their own guidelines on this. Our hospital has stopped giving routine IV antibiotics for prolonged SRM now, unless there is a ^Temp or GBS.

Think positive thoughts about this birth and you will find that it will probably be much better than last time

Good luck.

[negril]

This is my third child im having and the only advice i can give you is to make sure you do gentle exercise everyday like yoga or walking is good enough because the body needs to be a little bit stronger to cope with the contractions and it gives you strength to push and to answer your question about after the waters break could the baby get stuck if your stressed the baby is not coming out you have to be strong at this moment to push out your child or if you have a small pelvis. I wish you luck.

[Elasticwoman]

When my waters broke before I had dd2, I had no contractions and they sent me home, because it was just the hind waters that had gone. Labour started properly the next day.

[BigBadMouse]

Saw a thread on here before about this.

I was taken in 24 hours after my waters broke to have IV antibiotics but practice seems to vary a lot from region to region.

They didn't induce me but wanted to give me the ABs as a precaution.

[Peachy]

Agree with go with the NICE guidelines as longa s Meconium not rpesents in your water and you have no signs of infection- if your temperature started to rise ro you felt hot / cold, you would be extremely wise to contact hospital and inform them, but hospitals that tell you 'you have to be induced within 24 hours'- er? sorry? or you'll do what, exactly?

[keevamum]

Don't know if this helps but 3 weeks before having DD2 I had an "accident" on my way to the bathroom...only didn't feel like I needed to pee or anything so I assumed it was my waters breaking. I didn't tell my hubby as I assumed baby was on the way then...nothing. 3 weeks later I was induced and the midwife was very confused and told me I had a 'dry' birth....ie no waters. The consultant was concerned enough to monitor my baby for the next 24 hours but she was fine and I got sent home the next day.

[mrsruffallo]

No. 19- It'll all be fine, I am sure. Has to come out someway now, and once you get into the groove of it it's an amazing experience, remember

[camillathechicken]

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

[BoysOnToast]

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

[No19]

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.

[mrsruffallo]

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

[pupuce]

Hi Lulu

[No19]

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.

[camillathechicken]

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

[mrsruffallo]

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

[3littlefrogs]

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.

[funnyhaha]

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.

[pupuce]

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)

[Simiantrousers]

Yes, I thought that. Fluid is continous.

[3littlefrogs]

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).

[camillathechicken]

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.