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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Breaking waters with or without pain relief...dc 4.

19 replies

louloubelle · 12/02/2010 13:42

For various reasons (very dodgy first birth being the main) I am likely to be augmented/induced for my 4th next week at 40 weeks (dd1 on time, ds1 40 +13, dd2 40+11). All looks favourable, cervix soft etc, so the preferred route from my consultant is to break my waters and get on with it. I shouldn't need a pessary. I have ended up with epidurals with all the other 3, despite trying not to. My dilemna is this...do I have an epi before they do the crochet hook thing, which means limited movement, or do I let them break my waters and see how I cope before an epidural is needed. Not sure how painful having waters broken is...I know it can then suddenly get quick and painful. My waters have always had to be broken just before the actual birth, never spontaneous.Any thoughts/experiences of this? Thanks!

OP posts:

malteser1981 · 12/02/2010 16:40

Just a thought...if you have your waters broken without an epidural you'll be able to be up and about in an attempt to start your contractions naturally with the aid of gravity and any position you find comfortable....do it with an epidural you increase the chances of syntocinon and all that entails (monitoring/drips/reduced mobility)to bring on the contractions.
You never know you might surprise yourself and manage really well without - and remember you can have one at anytime during labour anyway!

lilymolly · 12/02/2010 16:50

Hi I had waters broken at 42 weeks, as I was already 4 cms dilated but not in labour.

Nothing happened until about an hour later when I had about 3 contractions, lost the plot, begged for an epidural (refused) and had ds 10 mins later

So total labour was 1 hour.

I wished I had had an epidural at the time, but post birth was really easy as I was able to get up straight away and have a bath and breast feed etc, compared to dds birth where I had an epidural and was paralysed for 24 hours.

I Would run the risk of not having and epidural and see how you cope, bearing in mind it may be so quick it may be too late.

But if you are determined to have an epidural at any costs, then get one put in before they break your waters

urbanewarrior · 12/02/2010 16:56

had waters broken with DS - didn't hurt, was a bit uncomfortable but no where near as much as sweep. Took another couple of hours for labour to start - but that was DC1. DD waters broke and nothing happened for 2 days. don't think it necessarily speeds things up. Good luck

Loopymumsy · 12/02/2010 19:08

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Original poster

louloubelle · 12/02/2010 19:15

Thanks for the replies...I am loathe to be unable to move at all and be constantly monitored once things start if I have already had an epidural (I know technically I can move a bit with a mobile epidural) It all seems very weird after 3 naturally started births!

OP posts:

MustHaveaVeryShortMemory · 12/02/2010 19:43

I had ARM. The actual breaking didn't hurt at all. The labour was incredibly painful and I asked for and epi but there wasn't time because it was all over with very fast. Had it been longer I would have got the epidural. As it was I was glad I didn't have it. It took everything I had to push dd out and I doubt I'd have managed (had I had an epidural) without intervention. I was home a few hours later too and not sure I would have been after an epidural.

mspotatochip · 12/02/2010 20:56

I have had ARM with both births and remember it as extremely painful. definitely get at least gas and air and whatever you do do not let them let a student midwife do it as I stupidly did for ds.

bratnav · 12/02/2010 21:00

I had ARM to start labour with DS and needed G&A to get through it as my cervix was quite far back. Can't really comment on what the cx will be like after as I had none for 2 hours then they started me on the hormone drip.

mosschops30 · 12/02/2010 21:18

I had an ARM as a last ditch attempt to start labour after failure of prostin and propess.
It was uncomfortable, and they had to put me in the lithotomy position as sac was tight to ds2's head as i was T+15.
They offered me G&A and i put my ipod on to block it all out (I can cope with most things when Brandon Flowers is singing )
See how you get on with G&A, an epidural doesnt take long to site so just wait and see

mspotatochip · 13/02/2010 10:08

I forgot to say with DD (induced 35 weeks for pe) arm and prostin didn't lead to any progress and I needed the drip but that's not surprising as she was my first and needed to come out before she was ready.

DS was induced at 38 weeks as my bp was getting dodgy and they put in prostin after sweep at 12.30, I had contractions all afternoon that built slowly and manageable. I started on gas and air about 6 when the broke my waters (I was 3-4 cm). After that contractions went mad I had some pethidine and he was born by ventouse at 8 with 11 minute pushing. those two hours are a bit of a blur to be honest they were very strong contractions in retrospect it was all a bit too fast and I'm not sure why they were so keen to do ARM and why i let them?!

coffeeaddict · 13/02/2010 15:40

I had waters broken with DC3 and walked around. Didn't start anything so they put me on drip. Again, took a while and I had epidural once I got to about 3cms.

What I will say is the epidural was great and didn't stop me sitting on a birthing ball almost throughout. Also I was up having a shower almost at once, no catheter or anything. (Or stitches). If it's low-dose it doesn't have to mean you're paralysed, it just takes the edge off it all.

cakeandwine · 13/02/2010 20:01

I had waters broken with dc3, 4cm dilated but labour hadn't started, contractions started straight away but manageable and labour progressed steadily - dc born 1hr 30min later. with dc1 I was given prostin, 12 hours later waters broke naturally and contractions full on, horrible, pleading for epidural, which eventually got. I reckon I would do it without epidural if prostin not involved, and just breaking waters....DC4 just maybe quicker than your others loulou and recovery without epidural is so much quicker, it may be worth taking the gamble, hope all goes well though.

YoMoJo · 13/02/2010 20:34

I was induced with both of mine. Had ARM first with ds1, waited 2hrs but nothing happened so put on syntocin drip, Asked for epidural soon after! from ARM to delivery 12 hrs but 2nd stage about 45mins.

With DS2, I had ARM after prostin pessary (and couple very firm sweeps).

Was told to go for a walk to speed things up but only made it to the door of my room - straight on gas & air, no time for anything else! DS2 came an hour later! With 2nd stage only 9 mins - 2 pushes!

Both births very different but couldnt say one was easier than the other.

I dont think you would be able to have an epidural before you have ARM as you wouldnt be in labour as you are not having pessary or drip first. Also as it is your 4th i would be prepared for quick delivery.

Original poster

louloubelle · 14/02/2010 19:03

Thanks for the replies. From what you have all said, I will "aim" for waters to be broken and see how I cope I think. Every time I like to think I will manage without an epidural, maybe this time I will!!

OP posts:

mummyof2byapril · 17/02/2010 11:31

I had my water's broken as I was getting near 10 cms dilated and there was no sign of them breaking.
I didn't feel it at all.

I would recommend trying to do it naturally, just so you can say you've had that experience :-)
My previouses have been with epidurals, but with this one I'll try to go without, just so I can experience it at least once in my life..

mummyof2byapril · 17/02/2010 11:35

How awesome would it be to have a quick birth, where you don't have a nasty drip in your hand?
That drip spoilt my first few minutes with baby and made it so I had to wait hours and hours on that damn bed, not allowed to move/eat/do anything..

flybynight · 17/02/2010 11:55

I've had my waters broken during labour - probably about 4cm. Didn't need any pain relief for it as far as I remember, but nor was it a pleasant experience. It doesn't last long. Certainly got things moving along quickly! Good luck!

dulciejade · 18/02/2010 00:06

I had waters broken without pain relief(G&A made me sick!) Having them broken was MORE painful than giving birth! Was already 10cms dilated but was bleeding in labour,had to have drip too.I think it was down to having a useless doctor(bruised babys head doing it)she ended up being thrown out of room cos every procedure she did,she messed up and put me through agony every time. Thank god for the midwives!

Original poster

louloubelle · 20/02/2010 19:13

Well as an update, I had waters broken which was uncomfy but not painful at 9am, and then had 3 hours of nothing contraction wise, so went on drip at 12, caved in for an epidural at 2.30pm and about 6cm, baby born an hour later after 3 pushes. Glad I tried without epidural (again!) but also glad I had it in the end! Interestingly did not need to be catheterised and was up and in the shower by 7pm! So overall a good experience, although I always forget how painful labour is! Thanks for all the advice.

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