What is it like having your waters broken?

[highheavenn]

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

I also ruled epidural out and would again because I managed fine with gas and air for most of it just the last bit I needed more. It was always my plan to do it at 8 because I hated my first midwife and knew I’d end up with different the night shift.

I always feel a bit sad when I hear women saying they managed just fine with gas and air.

Where I live the vast majority of women choose an epidural because they want to have as pain free a labour as possible. Gas and air isn't even used because they take the view that there's no real need for it when proper anaesthesia is available.

My waters broke at home, I felt a lot of pressure so went to the toilet and felt a pop and lots of gushing and they continued to pour. I had to be induced as labour didn't start and I was positive for group B strep. I had the drip and after a few hours nothing had happened so the midwife examined me at 1cm and said she would pop the rest of the waters, I did actually find this painful but it was manageable and over quickly. Contractions did start and were coming very quickly soon 3 contractions every 10 mins, but that was the drip not the breaking of the waters, or what was left of them.

I also didn't want an epidural due to the increased chances of assisted delivery, but I found the drip really tough and after 6 hours of 3/4 contractions every 10 mins and gas and air not really helping and no progression past 3-4cm I accepted it and it was great, I relaxed and went from 4-10cm in 3 hours! I could still move my legs and told the midwife I needed to push, she said no she'll be back in one hour but 10 mins later I got my partner to ring the buzzer and she came back and said oh I see the babies head! I could move to a better position and gave birth with no intervention and only internal grazes thank fully

Please get them to be sure you are a few cm dilated before they break them. They broke mine with my 1st at only 1cm dilated and it was the worst part of either of labour's. The midwife even apologised on the doctors behalf and said she should have stopped trying to pop them if she was struggling so much.

If you are dilated though it sounds ike its fine judging by everyone else