OMG I'm so excited for my friend. Can anyone answer a quick question about ruptured membranes?

[crunch]

Hi, my friend, who's expecting twins just arrived in hospital (thank god for text messaging!) Her membranes ruptured naturally within the last hour and she lost lots of water on the journey in.

She's almost 38weeks but is not having any contraction type pain just huge pressure down below. She's also had a very obvious 'show'.

Having lost quite a bit of amniotic fluid (gushing) how likely do you think it would be before she starts contracting? Do you think medical staff will leave her to progress herself or intervene?

TIA

Don't know how long it is likely to take - think it's that piece of string analogy - but afaik, NICE guidelines suggest 72 - 96 hours, with careful monitoring (maternal temp, I think) to check there's no infection brewing. It does depend on individual hospital protocol though, some get twitchy after 24 hours. The fact that it's twins may alter things too.

So that's a very definite answer to all your questions, isn't it ?

Let us know how she gets on though, how exciting!

cant answer those - "who knows" would be the wisest thing to say!! Hope all oges well for her though

xx

NICE guidelines suggest 72 - 96 hours, with careful monitoring (maternal temp, I think) to check there's no infection brewing, before any intervention is necessary.

According to NICE:

? 86% of women with ruptured membranes at term will be in spontaneous labour within 23 hours
? 91% will be in spontaneous labour within 47 hours
? 94% will be in spontaneous labour within 95 hours

Many hospitals have a "policy" of intervening after 24 hours, though.

with both of my last two I ruptured before labour - the first I was allowed to go 3.7 days before they believed I was in labour. With DD I was in labour within 3 hours and she was born within 8 or less

Hi Olihan, yes very definate

Seriously, thank you. 72hrs is only three days which would be brilliant because she was told a few days ago that they'd let her go another fortnight before considering induction.

I was worrying a little because I thought 'hey babies will have no water but they get all they need through the umbilical cord don't they? Need to go back to biology class!

Thanks for your post.

They really won't let her go much over 72 hours

Thanks Herts, Norma and Port (smile)

I feel really silly - when I first read Olihans post I didn't realise NICE was an Acronym (or whatever you call them thingys) and I was thinking 'yes, that would be nice'

Hi all, just a little update.

Boy and girl, GORGEOUS

I've only seen phone pictures because I've been in work but I'll hopefully get to see them tomorrow. They are so yummy

Mum and babies are fine, Dad is wrecked

Wow, I guess she went into labour spontaneously, then! Hope it all went well for her, that's lovely news .

Can leave up to 96 hours in low risk cases but twins is high risk so will prob intervene sooner.

Oh fab. Congratulations to her from us

Hi

Yes, I forgot to say it was spontaneous.

Thanks again for your posts and congratulations.