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Original poster

What is it like having your waters broken?

29 replies

highheavenn · 30/06/2023 15:04

I'm 41 weeks and I'm 24 hours into my induction via process pessary.

Clearly hasn't worked. Although my bits feel sore and I have tightenings with slight discomfort!!

I think they may try another pessary and if that fails they will break my waters. I am so so scared of them breaking my waters because I know that's throwing me in the deep end?!!! I want to avoid a epidural at all costs!! Surely with them breaking my waters it's going to be hella painful?

Can anyone share there stories thank you xx

OP posts:
FrodisCapering · 30/06/2023 15:07

It's all ok. Just roll with whatever happens.
Please don't rule out an epidural. Just see how you feel as you go. Best of luck!

WhamBamThankU · 30/06/2023 15:09

You don't actually feel them Nick the waters, you just feel the gush. Contractions are more painful after that but hopefully you're further along in labour aswell. Plenty of gas and air and you'll be fine!

Iminpatchinghell · 30/06/2023 15:10

I was induced and they broke my waters after two lots of the pessary. I’d had some gas and air by the time they broke the waters and also was dreading it hurting. It was one of those moments where you’re waiting for the ‘pain’ and then realise they’ve already done it! No pain at all for me. I hope you get to meet baby soon!

Tdcp · 30/06/2023 15:12

apart from a small popping feel, I didn't feel anything else when they broke my waters, it'll be okay!

ItsNotFairLois · 30/06/2023 15:13

I've had my waters broken twice and it didn't hurt them actually doing it. It seemed to make me progress quicker though, was already having contractions so it just seemed to speed everything up for me. Both times they were out within an hour and a half of waters going. Good luck and have the epidural if needed, you know your own body.

MargotBamborough · 30/06/2023 15:16

For me it was like Niagara Falls. I couldn't believe it was possible for that much liquid to gush out of me and it just kept coming. But my baby's head never descended so I guess there was nothing blocking the plughole, so to speak.

It was completely different to my next labour, where my waters went spontaneously and slowly leaked out while I was in the bath and I didn't even realise it had happened.

Why are you desperate to avoid an epidural? Epidurals are fantastic.

LillyLeaf · 30/06/2023 15:19

I don't remember it hurting it's just really strange and so much water come out, then continues throughout labour.

Cdoc · 30/06/2023 15:23

It definitely didn’t hurt at all having them broken, just felt like I was wetting myself. Contractions did start quite quickly after though and were very intense! I took an epidural after 4 hours and it was the best decision I made :)

PR96 · 30/06/2023 15:26

When they popped my firsts it was literally a little pop then a gush.. then woth each contraction after more came out! Didn't hurt being popped, but did ramp up the contractions. Good luck!

StillWantingADog · 30/06/2023 15:28

They won’t push an epidural on you. It depends on anaesthetist availability and they’re always busy

but I would take any pain relief offered. I realised after having my first dc with nothing other than gas and air you don’t get a medal for having a baby without pain relief. Second dc had remifentanyl and was a a much more pleasant experience.

Anonymoususer456 · 30/06/2023 15:29

The only thing I felt when my waters were broken was a warm trickling feeling like I had piddled myself, from then the contractions did get stronger but I was already having back labour so my back was just on fire anyway. I didn’t even feel anything down there when I gave birth!
the Pethedine might of helped 😂

ArrrMeHearties · 30/06/2023 15:31

It's not painful. I had them broken with my 1st, my 2nd they didn't burst and baby was born en caul and my 3rd most recent they broke themselves for a change. I also had the 24hr pessary and it didn't do much so got a 6hr gel and 15mins before the 6hrs was up my waters broke themselves.

OneMoreCookieMonster · 30/06/2023 15:36

Both times it was different. First time there was a pop and a gush. Also, feels strange how hot they are when they come out. Feels a bit uncomfortable with their hand up there but the more dilated you are I think the less uncomfortable. I was 3 cm that time. Contractions built stradily had pithidine and gas and air. I tore and needed an episiotomy. That was the worst bit. No time for epidural. But managed fine with out it.

Second time very recently. Was hell. Pop and huge gush and then kept leaking. I had trainee (I did consent ) and she forgot to pull her finger into her palm so on her way out the spike scraped me. And then no contractions for around 40 mins and then all of sudden they were fucking rolling on top of each other. My body was literally being bent backwards with the force of them. Had pethidine again ( I was a very stretchy 4cm dilated) but because the contractions came on so quickly the pethidine did sweet fa. I asked for an epidural and was denied as I was at 9.5cm and pushing started mins after. Pushing phase lasted 8 mins with the third phase (placental delivery) lasting 15 mins. Second degree tear and into recovery within a couple of hours. From monitoring and waters breaking to holding my baby was less than 3 hours.

Both times I asked to have a shower after they broke my waters which I was allowed and as soon as I was able to after birth (2 hrs ish) I had another shower. The shower is the best bit.

For all of that, I think I preferred that I has them broken for me. It felt safe and controlled even though both times, alarms went off and baby was in distress with heart rate dropping. It was faultless and flawless care given. It eas the labour itself that wasn't fun but the waters breaking was fine just uncomfortable.

CoffeeChocolateWine · 30/06/2023 18:42

I had my waters broken with my first. I wasn't induced, but after several hours of contractions they hadn't broken. It didn't hurt at all but I feel a definite pop and then gush. And yes, my contractions felt a lot more intense afterwards. I did have an epidural and it was fine. You'll be fine. Just go with it and don't rule out anything. Births never go according to your plans!

PurBal · 30/06/2023 18:50

Any particular reason to avoid the epidural? I was induced, ARM and then drip, and I flippantly declined the epidural (four times) despite having it with my first. It ramped up quickly: I went from 8cm to baby in my arms in less than 15 minutes. They eventually attempted an epidural but it failed and it was too late to recite it. My labour was short lived and quickly forgotten (baby not even two weeks), but ARM isn’t the thing I’d say was the most painful. Though I did birth a huge baby (the largest the midwife had ever delivered vaginally) so maybe that had something to do with it.

PurBal · 30/06/2023 18:51

You’ll be fine by the way!

birdsongismyfave · 30/06/2023 18:57

I had my waters broken with my second and the worst thing about it was having to lie on my back while they did it. After I got back in the pool, I had contractions for less than an hour and pushed for five minutes or so then she was out.
We are all different and a lot will depend on your baby's position in your womb. Take on board what your midwife has to say, rest and eat as often as you can and baby will be here soon. Good luck xxx

Doje · 30/06/2023 19:31

Woah, this is interesting... I had my waters broken and it hurt like hell!!

Sounds like you'll be fine though OP and either something weird happened with mine or I'm just a big ol' wimp!

Werewolfnotswearwolf · 30/06/2023 19:34

I agree, don’t rule out an epidural. Similar to you, pessaries did nothing, finally mild contractions, broke my waters at 1cm (!!!) then still nothing progressed so had the drip…went from ‘can I still have a pool and ball please’ to ‘actually I need a paracetamol’ to ‘oh this hurts, I’ll try codeine’ to swearing and vomiting and willing to sell my soul for an epidural in probably around half an hour.

go with it. You’ll have your baby soon and you’ll remember none of it!!

Diddykong · 30/06/2023 19:35

First was fine, second was agony, they had to kind of reach under his head which was stuck in a weird position and he was back to back. I was crawling up the bed with the midwives hand inside me it was hurting like hell. Hopefully yours will be like the first.

Werewolfnotswearwolf · 30/06/2023 19:35

And waters breaking didn’t hurt, the poking around was uncomfortable but manageable with gas and air.

Jusmakingit · 30/06/2023 19:39

Go with the flow, dont rule an epidural out. My waters were broken, just feels warm coming out. i thought all mine had gone but after walking from the bed to the table more came out and literally just missed my partners foot lol

I had an epidural cause i had severe seperated pelvis and that was painful enough, i literally slept through my labour it was pure bliss until the final hour the epidural had unbalanced and i had a weird pain in my inner thigh... of all places? but was fine and i really enjoyed the birth. very controlled and relaxed

ElmTree22 · 30/06/2023 19:40

I didn't feel them break the waters. I felt the water come out. And the contractions definitely got more intense after, almost like the waters were cushioning the muscles and then it almost felt more raw. It's hard to explain.

Justputitdown · 30/06/2023 19:40

Why are you so against an epidural? Obviously a personal choice but is there anything specific?

Tbh the first time it was pretty awful and lying on my back was intense. But the second time, I had an epidural before they did it and felt a million dollars frankly. Slept for a few hours, woke up fully dilated and then pushed.

firsttimemum1230 · 30/06/2023 19:43

My pessary didn’t work either, I’d ask for gas and air when they want to manually break your waters I did and it helped loadsss. I found it absolutely fine once that was done and managed like 4.5 hours on just gas and air with the hormone drip gone up too. I had pethidine at 8pm and gave birth at 21:46! Try and remain calm dokt stress the baby has to come out either way and it will!! I am anxiety ridden but it didn’t even get hold of me because I wouldn’t let it. You’ve got this!!