OK here goes.
At 6.30am on Tuesday I felt my waters break. However, it wasn't a big gush but a steady stream that could be controlled using sanitary pads. I was 37 weeks and 4 days at this point. I rang the midwife who came round and immediately mentioned that the policy in Brighton and Hove hospitals was to induce if labour wasn't established within 36 hours due to the risk of infection. I was not impressed with this as I had been through this hideous experience with my first pregnancy and consequently was hoping for a home birth this time round. She then mentioned (when I made noises about not wanting to be induced again) that national guidelines stated that labour could be induced up to 96 hours after waters have broken. Anyway, she booked me to see the obstetrician this morning for advice. I went to see them and they basically agreed that I could go until Saturday morning if I wanted before being induced. They monitored the heartbeat and everything is fine. I am also due to go in tomorrow for monitoring again with a view to booking the induction for Saturday morning.
Anyway, 36 hours after my waters are still coming out but I am not feeling any kind of contractions at all. My dilemma is that whilst I realise there is a risk of infection I would like to try to go into labour naturally. Something that so far has eluded me. My experience of being induced first time round was so bad that I am very frightened of going through it again. (Not just the labour but the after effects as well). My instincts are telling me to just leave things for a few days and see how it goes but my head is saying what about this risk of infection? Can anyone offer me any advice or reassurance that leaving things 'up to nature' is not the ridiculous thing that everyone seems to think it is? Or am I being narrow minded and blinkered and should listen to the professionals? How much of a risk is the risk...IYSWIM?
I really hope you wonderful Mumsnetters can help, and I would especially appreciate any input from the midwives (Mears et al).
Thank you.