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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

How does the waters part work with labour?

56 replies

highheavenn · 09/06/2023 14:15

With both my children:

First baby I was induced but my waters broke naturally not long after.

Second baby his waters broke early at 37 +4 weeks due to a E.coli infection.

I'm seeing people on TikTok live who are waiting for their waters to be broken by the midwives. They have to do this on the birth unit.

I thought labour could take a while after waters break? My first contractions started shortly after and my second the contractions started maybe 4/5 hours after!

Confused as I see people saying there baby was born 10 minutes after there waters broke (by midwives) or some people say a hour. How does your body get to 10cm that quick it's confusing x

OP posts:
BIWI · 09/06/2023 14:16

DC1 - waters broke. 10 days later I went into labour.

Original poster
highheavenn · 09/06/2023 14:19

BIWI · 09/06/2023 14:16

DC1 - waters broke. 10 days later I went into labour.

Oh wow that's a long time! I thought it's not safe for baby if they are left too long? I had a dry labour with second as my waters were non stop leaking!

OP posts:
JustFrustrated · 09/06/2023 14:19

My understanding is waters breaking is no indication of labour progression.
A midwife won't break your waters until you're at least 3cm any way (mine waited until 3 for both births)

You can give birth to a baby still in it's waters after all

BIWI · 09/06/2023 14:22

@highheavenn that's true - but as they went at 36 weeks, the consultant said that as long as there was no sign of infection, it was better for the baby to remain inside, as this is the last stage of maturation of the lungs. So I was in hospital for ten very long and boring days!

Original poster
highheavenn · 09/06/2023 14:24

BIWI · 09/06/2023 14:22

@highheavenn that's true - but as they went at 36 weeks, the consultant said that as long as there was no sign of infection, it was better for the baby to remain inside, as this is the last stage of maturation of the lungs. So I was in hospital for ten very long and boring days!

Aw ok I see! At least they looked after you during that time! I guess if your waters broke at 38 weeks plus they probably would induce you if labour didn't start! My waters were green because baby 💩 inside me and it took the midwives hours to even notice so dangerous

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 09/06/2023 14:29

I had my waters broken with dd as part of my induction.
With ds they went by themself in bed in the middle of the night

feathers7 · 09/06/2023 14:29

Artificially breaking the waters is part of the induction of labour process. If a labour is progressing and there are no concerns about the mother or baby's wellbeing, there is no reason to have your waters broken.
It can be offered if contractions decrease in strength and frequency, but breaking the waters without a clear indication can lead to further intervention. It may not, but it can!

Highlyflavouredgravy · 09/06/2023 14:32

My waters didn't break until i was pushing my babies out. The longer they stay in the water, the safer they are.

PurBal · 09/06/2023 14:32

Waters can break at any point before or during labour. The baby can be born in the sac too, it’s rare and called en caul.

Original poster
highheavenn · 09/06/2023 14:33

Highlyflavouredgravy · 09/06/2023 14:32

My waters didn't break until i was pushing my babies out. The longer they stay in the water, the safer they are.

Wow that's amazing! I guess all the water helps baby come out too? I had a dry labour with second baby. Well not that dry he 💩 inside me hours before

OP posts:
Toomuchleopard · 09/06/2023 14:38

With all 3 of mine the waters broke naturally about an hour before the baby was born. I was about 8-9cm with all of them and in vet established labour but it definitely ramped up after the waters broke each time.

MAREMCKENNA · 09/06/2023 14:40

Highlyflavouredgravy · 09/06/2023 14:32

My waters didn't break until i was pushing my babies out. The longer they stay in the water, the safer they are.

Same. I remember the pop and hating the way it felt!

Monikkas · 09/06/2023 14:42

My DC was born in their waters, it’s suppose to be really lucky. The midwife had to break the membrane after I had given birth

sexnotgenders · 09/06/2023 14:42

Waters went 15 minutes before DD was born (had been in active labour for 5 hours beforehand)

Moni81 · 09/06/2023 15:04

With my first waters broke as I was pushing baby out, midwife got bit of shower 🤣 Second one i would say 10 min before delievery, it literally paralysed me waist down I couldn't move. As I was in waiting ward midwife had to rush me on wheelchair to delievery room with baby head coming lol...I wonder what kind of drama will be this time round😁 Each birth is different but with my experience I would panic if my waters broke at home.

NoLostCause · 09/06/2023 15:04

First time around my midwife broke my waters when I was in the birthing centre, at least 4cm I think.

Spottypineapple · 09/06/2023 15:05

Waters can break at any point during labour. Waters breaking is indeed a sign that labour is on the way, but labour can also begin before waters break.

My waters were broken by midwives after 10hours of labour (to help speed things along)

For some women, the waters never break! The baby is born 'en caul' still in their amniotic sack, although this is quite rare

LamentedHelicopter · 09/06/2023 15:08

With no medical basis, I think the waters not going til the end reduced tearing, it has to be gentler to push out something squidgy than something hard.

Roundandnour · 09/06/2023 15:16

First one waters broke at home, 7 hours later he was born

Second, waters broke whilst shopping, well partially as still leaking water. Fully broke by staff in hospital. 27 hours later baby born

Third, 24 hours, 10 minutes after waters broke. Remember the extra minutes cos back then over 24 hours in Labour meant staying a week in hospital and already been there with number 2.

Fourth 36 hours after waters broke. Meconium nearly resulted in C-Section. Hadn’t it been for that would have been home in hours instead of days.

MendedDrum · 09/06/2023 15:23

I've no idea when my waters broke. I know they were still intact when I was admitted to the delivery unit at 4 cm dilated and presume they had broken by the time DS was born 80 minutes later, but I have no idea when and it wasn't in my notes!

eddiemairswife · 09/06/2023 15:23

A baby's caul is said to bring good luck to sailors if they carry one with them.

pricklythistles · 09/06/2023 15:23

Mine both broke minutes before delivering.

The babies that are born within the sac, the membrane is considered very lucky. It's supposed to prevent that person (ie the baby ) from drowning if ever in peril in water. The membranes themselves when dried out were often sold to sailors to help them stay safe at sea.

katmarie · 09/06/2023 15:24

With my first, they broke my waters as a way to try to move labour along, I'd been in slow labour for several days and wasn't progressing. They broke my waters and then catheterised me at the same time. It turned out my bladder was swollen and blocking progression, so things moved along a bit after that although I still had to have oxytocin. I think I was 2cm when they broke my waters, but I had to be transfered to a consultant unit to do it as it was intervention above what the midwife led unit was set up to manage. DS was born about 11 hours after they broke my waters.

Second baby, I was actively pushing when they broke my waters, they thought DD might have been born en caul, but I was struggling a bit with the pushing so the midwife suggested breaking waters to help, which it did. She arrived a few minutes later, probably about 10-15 minutes after they broke my waters.

ShadowPuppets · 09/06/2023 15:27

I remember everyone telling me that waters hardly ever went in a super dramatic way like on TV, that more often than not it was a bit of leakage. So I was really caught off guard by the pop and explosion as I got out of bed to go to the loo the night before DD was born! It was like someone had lobbed a water balloon out of me!

FrazzledMCPremenopausalWoman · 09/06/2023 15:29

DC1 - waters broke ~18h before first contractions
DC2 - waters broke as baby came out, after a very short labour

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