Do you have to have your waters broken if they don't go on their own?

[BarrelOfMonkeys]

Just wondered, if your waters don't go naturally, can you refuse to have them broken artifically, and if so, are there any risks involved in not having them broken? I had an unpleasant "crochet hook" experience last time... and I am sure I have heard of some babies being born in the sac...

With my DD2 the sac was coming out before she was. Somehow the sac burst as she came out though. Was at home though with no help but DH as it was a surprise home birth on the toilet , so not much help. Sorry.

Hello BOM. My waters didn't go until DD was born. The MW discussed with me about breaking them with the "crochet hook" and I decided no, as she suggested that it could be very sore and if I was happy not have them broken could carry on as I was. I am convinced that DD being born in her waters meant a lot less pain for me and my sore bits weren't sore for very long afterwards. Mind you she was quite wee, only 6lb 3oz. Being born in your waters is lucky too

DD's waters broke spontaneously after some hours of contractions.

Ds1 was born in his sac. I sometimes wonder whether the waters breaking would have provided more lubrication (!) but can't really compare dd's actual delivery with ds1's because I had an epidural with her. No probs with actually birthing him though, even though he was much bigger than her.

DS2's waters broke before contractions started. Delivery was fine.

I had mine broken during both births in order to speed up the process, they were very loooong births!

Thanks all. So looks like I could argue against it this time, but it might make for a longer labour... hmm, dilemma...

To give the other side of the coin, mine went just as DS was born. But he was prem though and therefore a very quick labour

im interested what your unpleasent hook experience was?

I had mine broken at 8 cm and it went from hell to super constant hell and DD born 15 minutes later!!

You can refuse anything you don't want. Never had mine broken. With dd they went at 36 weeks then I went into labour, ds1 they went during labour when I was about 8 cms (felt exactly the same after they went and was never even asked if I wanted them broken was very fast labour), ds2 they went at 22 weeks but ended up resealing around 34 weeks and then went properly at 39 weeks and I went into labour.

I had mine broken in an attempt to speed things up (was 7cm but not having established ie regular contractions).

It didn't hurt at all but it did do the trick and I went into transition about an hour later - having previously taken 18hours to go from 5cm to 7cm.

My experience last time was that I had a small gush of waters go in the morning at home, and then a large gush in the labour room but the midwife wasn't there at that point and DH had mopped up (bless him, there really was no point) and she insisted my waters hadn't gone and jabbed away with the crochet hook and it was really just added another level of discomfort I could have done without - especially as it was a back to back labour and she made me get on my back while she poked around. I don't know if it actually made the whole thing more painful or if it was just coincidence that it seemed to ramp up the pain after that point! Thinking about it, labour continued for several hours after that so it didn't obviously speed things up last time...

I had mine broken to speed things up twice, but the last time I didn't and DC4 was also born in the bag.

I think it makes for a less stressful birth for the baby, and the MWs were delighted.

It was quite special.

Well in terms of lengthening the process - ds1 was born 45mins after we got to hospital and 3 hrs after first painful contraction. Despite being born in the sac.

I was wondering about this, because it's meant to reduce the risk of GB strep, which my 1st DC was born with. They broke my waters with him as he was being born. I didn't know that they could be born in their waters. If it happens again, I might refuse to have them broken. BTW, my birth was relatively quick for a first labour and the pain wasn't that bad. I heard the contractions aren't as intense if the waters dont break

After 2 days (over 1 day at 4cm) I was very grateful when they broke mine. 5 hours later and she was there (though it was 2.5 of pushing stage).

I think if everything is going fine and your happy then there's no reason to break them. Though annoyingly one of the MWs said I wasn't in proper labour if my waters hadn't broken.

CC, I'm with you. After 40 hours, I was glad for all the help I was offered. But even after that time, it was offered as a choice.