You'll need to stay in hospital for at least 12 hours after the birth so your baby can be checked for signs of infection.
It is safe for you to go home after your waters have broken, to wait for your labour to start. You may find that you are not at home for a long time before you start contracting regularly and need to return to the hospital.
You may stay in the hospital until you give birth. If your water breaks before 23 weeks, the doctor will talk to you about the dangers and benefits of continuing the pregnancy. Babies born after such an early water break are less likely to live.
If your water breaks, whether you're experiencing contractions or not, go to the hospital. This will help reduce the risk of infection. Note the color, odor and amount of fluid when your water broke.
Waiting longer than 72 hours
95 women in every 100 will give birth within 4-5 days of their waters breaking however the risk of infection in your womb increases significantly after 24 hours. This is the reason we recommend planning an induction after 36 hours.
Most women go into labour on their own within 24 hours. If this doesn't happen your midwife will offer to induce labour and you'll be advised to give birth in hospital, if you're not there already. This is because your waters breaking before labour starts increases your baby's risk of infection.
If your water (aka “amniotic sac,” “bag of waters” or “membranes”) hasn't broken on its own when you arrive at the hospital, and you're five or more centimeters dilated, your OB might recommend bursting the bag by hand—especially if your cervix seems to be making slow (or no) progress.
In most cases, your healthcare provider will want to deliver your baby within 48 hours of your water breaking, although the timing can vary depending on your medical history and how many weeks you are in pregnancy.
Typically, after your water breaks at term, labor soon follows — if it hasn't already begun. Sometimes, however, labor doesn't start. If you experience prelabor rupture of membranes, your doctor might stimulate uterine contractions before labor begins on its own (labor induction).
Does it hurt when your doctor artificially ruptures your membranes? Most people don't feel anything, especially if you are already in labor or got an epidural to manage painful contractions. Your baby also doesn't feel an amniotomy, and it doesn't hurt them in any way.
Once your water has broken your baby is no longer as protected from infection as he was inside the fluid-filled sac. To be on the safe side, your provider may recommend you avoid having a bath or using tampons. After your water breaks, you may still have some time to kill before active labor begins.
What if my water breaks but I don't have any contractions? It's likely that labor's on the way, and soon. Most women whose membranes rupture before labor begins can expect to feel the first contractions within 12 hours of that initial trickle, while others can expect them to start within 24 hours.
In most cases, however, an epidural will not be given until the mother is at least 3-4 centimeters dilated. Once the mother is fully dilated most doctors and hospitals will consider it too late for an epidural to be given.
The cervix generally needs to be dilated to 10 centimeters before it's ready for the baby to pass through. Your cervix can be dilated to a couple of centimeters for a few weeks before delivery. This softening can cause the mucus plug to be dislodged and come out.
Labor usually follows soon after your water breaks – regular contractions often start before this, but in some cases, the water breaks first. If your water breaks when you're full term but you're not in labor (not having contractions), it's called premature rupture of membranes (PROM).
If your cervix has opened up to at least 2-3 centimetres dilated and the baby's head is well engaged (low down in your pelvis), your waters will be broken (see below under Artifical Rupture of Membranes). If it is not possible to break your waters a second Propess pessary may be inserted if appropriate.
Can a baby live without amniotic fluid? No. A fetus needs some amniotic fluid in the uterus to survive. However, the exact amount of amniotic fluid it needs depends on its gestational age and other factors.
But if you're close to 10 centimeters dilated the research suggests it's not an issue. Evidence suggests it's more of a theoretical fear that just adds additional stress and in some cases results in an epidural (or a higher dose of epidural) to mask that urge.
The potential for a quicker labor, delivery and recovery – For some people, a natural birth may go more quickly. While it depends on several different factors, like how relaxed you may be, in some cases medications can interfere with contractions and prolong labor.
Answer: No, not everyone is required to have a urinary catheter during labor. Clarification: Depending on what you choose for pain relief and if you have a cesarean will affect whether or not you receive a catheter during labor. For example, most people who have an epidural during labor and birth will have a catheter.
You may opt to stimulate labor using natural means. You can try nipple stimulation using your hands, or a breast pump. This helps produce oxytocin, which can help start contractions. 4 If you don't have a breast pump, you can usually get one from a hospital lactation consultant.
Rupture Of Membranes: Your Water Breaks
Usually the doctor, midwife, or nurse will break your water before you become completely dilated, if it hasn't broken by then. This allows them to learn if you have any problems that would impede the baby's safe delivery.
When your water breaks, you may feel a gush of amniotic fluid, or you might only notice a slow trickle. The amount depends on whether you have a tear or gross rupture. "If the amniotic sac is rupturing below the baby's head, then fluid has built up and will gush out," says Brichter.
However, if your water breaks, the best thing you can do is to call your healthcare provider or head to your delivery facility right away. Your doctor may perform a physical exam to check if you're leaking amniotic fluid. An ultrasound may also be helpful if they want to check your amniotic volume fluid.
For example, you have a right to refuse induction, decide whether or not to get an epidural, eat and drink during labor, and give birth in the position of your choice. You have the right to choose where to labor and give birth and leave the hospital or birth center against medical advice.