Waters breaking - 38 weeks

[Yorkie]

My waters broke this morning, went to the MAU at Kings and all is well so am back home monitoring temp and hoping to go into labour naturally. Apparently 1 in 10 women experience this and labour should start within 24 hrs. I'd really rather not be induced but if nothing's happened by Thursday I'll have to be. I don't know whether to sit back and wait or try all those things they recommend to get labour moving (except sex, I know that's off) and just wondered if it had happened to anyone else out there? I know they induce when you're late but didn't realise they did it when waters broke before everything else started.

[Belle]

Hi Yorkie,

my waters broke in the morning and I too did the (bloody hours long!) stint in MAU and went home. For me, my contractions started slowly and then worked up fairly quickly in the evening so I was in established labour by 9pmish and baby was born 8am next day. I didn't do anything to hurry the process, was too busy t hinking about whether my bag was packed etc! Sorry, not all that useful but didn't want to read and not post, know too well that weird waiting feeling!

B

[Yorkie]

Thanks for replying Belle, I spent the afternoon writing my birth plan and phoning a friend with a long list of things to buy in Mothercare. Even though they tell you not to leave everything to the last minute of course we have! Feeling a bit calmer now, have had some twinges in last hour or so, here's hoping nature will take over. Off to have a lie-down - might be my last one for a long time...

[sillywoman]

Don't lie down! It might slow the process. Rest, but keep upright, kneel leaning forward over a beanbag, or birthball, or the arm of a sofa piled up with cushions.

Fingers crossed for you.

SW.

[BellendenBear]

Happened to me at 37 weeks, I was planning a homebirth so at least didn't have to go to MAU for swab etc. I spent 3 days pacing, kneeling, cleaning stairs, eating hot curry, having acupuncture and walking miles. Nothing happened. In the end I got a call from Kings in the evening to say I had group B strep so had to go that evening to be induced. After all I'd done I was absolutely knackered! 30 exhausting hours later my baby was born.

My advice is to do what Sillywoman says but do rest. And if you end up being induced have an epidural.

Good Luck!

[Helen GV]

my waters broke at 36+2 and I had to stay in the hospital until they finally induced me three days later. I was dreading the induction but it was fine in the end, from the first little contraction to birth it was 4 hours (By which time I had asked for an epidural but was told I was already too far along...)

Good luck :))

[curlykaren]

I went and walked my dog, you can borrow him if you want to :)),

all the best, the baby is ON ITS WAY!!!

[The Nappy Lady]

No good advice, but just to say GOOD LUCK, and keep us posted if you can....sending positive labour vibes your way :))

Molly

[jctg]

Hello,

I'm Yorkie's partner. We had a beautiful baby girl called Rosalind at 8.26 yesterday morning. She was 6lb 12oz. The contractions started on Monday evening and by midnight were getting stronger and more frequent. Advised to go in by King's at 5am yesterday she was examined when we got there and was told she was fully dilated! So straight through to the birthing suite and an hour and a quarter of actual pushing and she was born. The two midwives, Clemmie and Rachel, were absolutely fantastic. Mother and baby fine both fine but being kept in for 48 hours as baby on antibiotics as precaution due to waters breaking before labour started. The last 48 hours has been the most amazing two days of my life!

John

[sillywoman]

OOh, John, Congratulations!

I'm so glad it was such a good experience for you & that you had such lovely midwives. Well done. And such a pretty name too ('Rosalind', not 'John'!)

SW

[KalamityKel]

Congratulations to you both! :)-D

[sophiesofa]

Congratulations to the 2 +1 of you.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Many congratulations. Beautiful name.

[Fuschia]

Aww. Congratulations.

[The Nappy Lady]

Hurrah - congratulations to both of you and thank you for the update...been thinking of you and wondering...

Molly

[Moos]

Congratulations - what happy news, and what a pretty name.

[FatherJack]

Many many congratulations!!!!

[BellendenBear]

Many congratlations! You've made me go all emotional. Savour every sleepless minute of this wonderful time.

[KatsuQueen]

Oh how wonderful (and lovely name too)..brought a tear to my eye. Congratulations, happy days!

[Ann]

Congratulations to you both . Enjoy your lovely new daughter.

[Helen GV]

yes, congratulations! The antibiotics are not nice, my little boy needed them as well and his tiny feet looked like pin cushions! And I felt like a horrible mother wheeling him towards those massive (not really) needles at midnight...

But better to be sure there is no infection, and over soon enough.

congrats again, and love the name!

[Ko]

well done to you both! what lovely news! :)):)):))

[EmmaG]

Congratulations - wonderful news and a beautiful name. I do hope everything continues to go well.

[Yorkie]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say thanks for your advice and good wishes last week. It really didn't take that long for things to get rolling and the labour was really good. We had a horrible scare when Group Strep B was belatedly discovered on Wednesday, especially as I'd delivered before they could get the full course of anti-biotics into me, but baby R was cleared on Friday morning.

We're now home from hospital, safe and well. Getting used to being parents of a newborn, blimey!

[Belle]

Ah, congrats Yorkie! Was really nice to hear that things went well from your husband. Great that the labour went well, good luck with the newborn bit and take it easy when you can!