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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

My waters have gone at 30 weeks

133 replies

BananaHammock23 · 07/06/2021 00:44

I'm currently on the labour ward, unable to sleep and worried. I've had a normal, easy pregnancy then today out of nowhere my waters broke, I'm 30+2. I'm being kept in for monitoring for now. Can anyone share any experience of this?

OP posts:
Sceptre86 · 07/06/2021 08:25

My waters started trickling at 34 weeks with both my dd and ds. With dd I was given steroids and monitored daily, induction failed and she was born small but perfect by csection at 37 weeks. With my ds I managed to get to 40 weeks with daily monitoring and he was born via a planned section. My dn was born at 32 weeks just over 2lb and is 7 years old now, you would never know now.

Keep faith, you are in the best possible place x

InpatientGardener · 07/06/2021 08:26

Mine went bang on 34 weeks and I was readmitted 2 days later because they'd turned green (meconium apparently). I was induced and had DD at 34+3. I was told that you can last without going into labour but for me once they saw the meconium they wanted to get her out. DD spent 2 weeks in SCBU. I also had steroids, they made me wide awake for 2 nights and have hot flushes, very pleasant! 30 weeks isn't catastrophic but obviously it isn't ideal. Have they sent the neonatal team to talk to you? I had a lovely nurse come and explain what would happen if/when baby was taken there. Flowers for you, its such a shock.

Lou573 · 07/06/2021 09:03

Mine went at 27, managed to hang on until 29 weeks. Not going to lie, it was a stressful 3 months in NNU but I have a happy healthy toddler now with no obvious effects from her early entrance.

sarah13xx · 07/06/2021 09:07

Aw bless you, I’m a day of a difference to you! Sending you love and I’m sure everything will be absolutely fine xx

Original poster
BananaHammock23 · 07/06/2021 09:15

Thanks for sharing all your tales of early water breaking! I've just had a scan and feel a bit more cheerful as there is still fluid there, albeit very little. It's still at the lower end of normal range but substantially less than there was at the last scan. I'm not having any cramping and feel pretty normal otherwise so I'm hoping with careful monitoring I might only be in here a night or two and get sent home.... if I could just keep baby in another few weeks I'd be happy. I'm not ready to meet them yet!

OP posts:
Smurf123 · 07/06/2021 09:16

@BananaHammock23 wishing you well from the August board also! Hope you are doing OK.
While no experience of this we did have nicu with ds when he was born and the staff there were amazing and really good at what they do. There were a couple of babies around ds in nicu who were around a similar gestation to you now. When we met them again at the nicu baby follow up clinic when they were all a few months old you would never have known.
Take care Thanks

TheFamousMrEd · 07/06/2021 09:23

I have no experience from the parent side of things, but I was born at 24 weeks and although it took a while, I have no long terms effects or issues from it!

October2020 · 07/06/2021 09:36

My waters went at 31+6 and my baby arrived the next morning. It was awful and scary and traumatic but she is now 9months and totally fine. There's a great Facebook group called parents of premies which will be a huge support to you.

Things I wish I had done/known when my waters went:
50% chance of going into labour within 24hrs. I felt that the drs thought she'd likely stay put so it was a bit of a shock.
Your milk won't come in quick enough to feed the needs of a prem baby. Your supply at day 2 would be fine for a full term baby as they have fat stores, but prems don't so they need more. You can ask for donor milk through their tube, or formula - it doesn't stop you breastfeeding.
Ask to meet with a nurse from the nicu team, they should do this as standard. They can talk to you about what to expect.
Nicu babies change within minutes. My baby went from being resuscitated to breathing on her own without any oxygen support within the hour. They're incredibly resilient and they bounce back stupidly fast.
If you get any cramping at all, ask if they'll bring your second steroid dose forward. I had mine 11hrs after the first, and 4hrs before she came, every minute helps them.
You're going to need a LOT of support from family and friends, but don't get into the habit of daily updates. I had loads of energy in the first few days and was sending loads of photos and updates etc. Within the week I was exhausted and everyone's expectations for updates was awful. We were there 5 weeks - it is a marathon, not a sprint.

Best of luck. Pm me if it would help.

Fruityfriday · 07/06/2021 09:39

Mine went at 30 weeks, baby born same day. He was tiny and in nice for 6 weeks but is now a very happy healthy 9 yr with no issues at all xx

Bin85 · 07/06/2021 09:46

Hi
Mine went at 32 weeks one morning and baby was born that evening.
This was over 30 years ago!
We only had minor problems at first and baby was in special care for 5 and a half weeks.
Is this your first?
Mine was my second and friends were amazing making a rota to look after my toddler .
Best of luck x

Inmypjsagain · 07/06/2021 10:24

Another one from the August thread, no experience just wanted to wish you well! Glad to hear there’s still fluid there. Good to be monitored and hope all continues to go well xx

Original poster
BananaHammock23 · 07/06/2021 10:24

Thanks @October2020 that's super helpful! Agree the doctors seem very certain it will all be ok which is great but not very reassuring when everything I'm reading on mumsnet and beyond is suggesting babies are born very fast!

Any of you who've also experienced this: do you remember how long it was after the waters that you felt anything? It's been over 12 hours now and I haven't felt anything other than super mild cramps.

Thanks for all your support ❤️

OP posts:
Girlmama3 · 07/06/2021 10:40

My nephew was born at 31 weeks and is a very healthy 10 year old now. You would never know he was early!

Don't worry, it is but early scbu's are absolutely amazing.

My nephew was actually born when swine flu was rife. There were babies in there born much earlier due to their mums having it.

Can you get some ear plugs so you can sleep?

fantastaballs · 07/06/2021 10:50

My babies were all very overdue so I can't offer any advice but just wanted to say good luck. My niece was born at 24 weeks weighing 1lb 11oz. That was back in 1989 and she was one of the smallest babies ever born at that time to survive. She had a Rocky start but is now a beautiful, happy phD candidate studying aerospace stuff. Other than asthma and a very mild case of cerebral palsy that wasn't diagnosed until teenage years she's absolutely great.

JeannieTheZebra · 07/06/2021 11:12

If it helps, I was born at 31 weeks 32 years ago almost and have no prem related health issues at all. Medicine is so much better now; hold onto that. Good luck but I’m sure everything will be fine 🙂

October2020 · 07/06/2021 11:40

My waters went at 5.45pm, I had my first period cramps at 8.30am the next day, was in labour by 10am and she was here by 3pm (after a super fast labour - but that wasn't because she was prem!).

As hard as it is, try not to second guess it. Deep breaths, do things that relax you and distract you (I watched the whole of the first season of the Fall the night my waters went 🤣). Take photos of your bump. You're going to be okay x

WolfMother326 · 07/06/2021 12:06

@BananaHammock23 I remember you from the August babies thread - just wanted to send good thoughts your way and say that I hope everything turns out ok. Good that you're being so closely monitored.

L1ttleb1t · 07/06/2021 13:11

I just wanted to say good luck. Get some really good ear plugs, your pregnancy pillow and a eye mask to try and get better sleep? If you're going to be in hospital a while you'll need to try and make it your nest where you can get sleep. The wards are awfully noisy and busy and it can be hard when your mind is whirlling too.

Dandelionstem · 07/06/2021 13:16

Mine went at 30 weeks exactly and baby was born an hour later via EMCS so you’ve already done better than me. Having steroids on board will really help. Good luck! I didn’t have time to worry he was here before I got the chance x

PineappleWilson · 07/06/2021 13:35

DS (11) is at school with a girl who was a 30 week delivery, caused by her cutting off the circulation to her umbilical cord. She's top of the class now, and you'd never realise she had a had a quick and bumpy start to life. Can you ask someone to bring you earplugs in so you can sleep better in hospital? You're in the right place for baby to arrive safely if they need to, but equally you may be keeping them warm for some days yet, so you need to get sleep where you can. Best of luck.

LunaDreams · 07/06/2021 14:47

I have no experience of waters going early but I am also a prem baby born at 30 weeks, 33 years ago! I spent a while in NICU but you wouldn't know now that I was prem so it is likely it will all be ok, although I can imagine it is a scary experience.

Sending lots of love and hugs x

October2020 · 07/06/2021 21:41

How are you getting on @BananaHammock23?

sarah13xx · 07/06/2021 21:43

Keep us updated, been thinking about you today. Fingers crossed baby will stay in a bit longer x

Wowcherarestalkingme · 07/06/2021 21:48

Mine went at 32 weeks and he was born 2 days later. He was in the nicu for four weeks and is doing really well now. I was on permanent monitoring and they could see I was having contractions even though I couldn’t feel them. The hospital was amazing and they were fully prepared for him when he did arrive as we had been in for two days. Good luck

olidora63 · 07/06/2021 21:50

I don’t have any advice but am really wishing you and your baby well .💐

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