waters went 2 hours ago, no contractions, how to get started and anyone had this?

[Gemzooks]

I'm on DC2, with DS I had contractions before waters went, this time we were in the park this afternoon and the waters just went whoompf. Midwife has been to check me (planning home birth), and doula coming later to do labour-inducing reflexology,

any other tips most welcome! I'm just worried because it shouldn't apparently happen this way round.

Who told you it shouldn't happen this way?! What a load of twaddle. There is a higher chance of infection etc etc, but I didn't realise there was a 'going into labour' textbook

Walking up stairs sideways
Lunges with your foot on the bottom stair
Nipple stimulation
Orgasm (but not sex because of the infection risk)

Good luck, I'm sure those contractions will start soon.

Oh, and if you've got a birthing ball. Lots of bouncing and hip circles

Bounce rock on a birthing ball

midwife said it's not a problem but only happens in 5% of labours, made me worry! will try lunges...

relax !! most women will start contracting within a few hours of the waters breaking

it is more usual the waters break when labour is established BUT about 15 - 20 % of women do have their waters go before contractions start, so nowt to worry about

bit of nipple stim should help

no sex if your waters have fully gone though

Good luck Btw

Iliketomoveit you type fast

thanks! will try.. Have ball! DH urging me to rest because had 36 hour labour with DS, but I'm too anxious, just want to start at least having contractions..

also DS is not in bed yet, midwife said just wait till he's in bed and it's night time and it will all start, in her experience.. hope she's right!

yes, when you are able to 'let go' you might well find things start going.

sip some raspberry leaf tea and wait!

get him to bed then

My waters broke at midnight with DS so I went in, but nothing happened at all until about 9 the next morning - they wouldn't let me go home because of the infection risk, but they sent DH home & I actually went to sleep till about 7 next morning.

hi! my waters broke with dd2 and contractions didn't start for another 5 hrs, after that was another 5 hrs til birth, you'll be there soon! try to relax! my number 3 due tomorrow, mild on off contrax all dat, so think i will be rocking on my ball tonite too! good luck xx

My waters went both times before I started labour. With DD it took a few hours, with DS it was shorter. It might nor be as common as waters going during labour, but it's still perfectly normal.

How exciting, you're going to have your baby in your arms soon! Good luck!

don't worry - it happened to me that way round - my contractions began spontaneously about 18 hrs after waters broke and everything went smoothly.

i had a curry and went to bed!

With ds1 my waters went 14 hours before labour kicked off. Was at 2 am, so went to bed. Spoke to hospital in morning who then checked me over. Went home watched telly, walked into town, had nice meal and labour kicked in while we were pottering around the shops. So basically we were just relaxing and trying to think of something other than impending arrival of the baby. Anyway you can distract yourself?

Don't worry about rupture of membranes, it happened with my son and it was almost 24 hours before I went into labour. My son was absoulutly fine. I would not worry too much about the risk of infection. I was allowed to go home until my contractions started and I was not induced.

I was given a list of precuations to prevent infection. For example I was told not to take a bath or have sex. (Although I was allowed in the bath when in strong labour.)

I believe it becomes a serious issue if the baby is not born within 72 hours of your water breaking. The hospital where I gave birth to my son had a policy of inducing after 48 hours.

I suggest that you have a nice meal with a glass of wine and try and get some sleep afterwards.

thanks all! will try not to worry.. I am probably strep b positive so midwife said basically I have 24 hours, then I go to hospital (am having homebirth in Holland, they don't test for strep b but I was pos in last preg). so just worried because the clock is ticking as it were..

oh, i sunk a couple of glasses of red too - helped me stop obsessing and get to sleep!

My clock was ticking too for strep B - try not to worry...but if they do induce you in hospital demand a simultaneous epidural!

GOOD LUCK!

Gemzooks - my waters went before contractions with DS2 too. I found rolling around (forwards and backwards and hip circles) on my birth ball helped the ctx kick in (and when they did, they were already 45 secs long and coming less than 5 minutes apart; it was a quick labour) - also, get some food in you now as you wont want to eat once the ctx start in earnest and try to relax and not worry about the clock ticking. If nothing happens by 9.30 go to bed and try to get some sleep - you're pretty much guaranteed they'll start as soon as you try to sleep... Good luck.

good luck Gemzooks, hopefully hear good news from you soon

Get to bed early, after a soak in the shower and back/head/foot/hand massage from dh.

NICE guidelines state that you can go 96 hours between waters breaking and induction of labour starting. If your contractions don't start soon then you will need to check your temperature regularly to check it isn't raised which can indicate an infection.