bag of water breaks... go to hospital??? - Page 2

[Boizalynne]

It took almost 40 hours for me to have my baby after my water broke. I was not rushed to the hospital, nor did I get an infection. My midwife told me risk of infection is low when there is only one person checking you and you are in your own environment

[shannon_na_gig]

thanks!

Thanks ladies for all the wonderful posts! I feel much more reassured and confident. I agree that the nurse was probably just passing on what she was taught, and I'll definitely follow up on this question with my midwife.

thankies!
shannon:

[Jilian]

It is pretty uncommon to have your water break before labor starts. The media makes it seem like that is always how labor goes but usually your water will remain intact until well into labor. Some moms do have their water break before labor starts but in most cases labor will start on its own within 12 hours. The only reason you'd want to head to the hospital would be if your water breaks and it is visibly green (stained with meconium) because that can be a sign that your baby is in distress. But your MW will know what to look for. If your water breaks and labor does not start your MW can help you with gentle suggestions to try to get labor going.

[AutumnAir]

Originally Posted by shannon_na_gig

The one piece of advice the head OB nurse gave me was "if your water breaks, you HAVE to come to the hospital. It's very serious."

Yes, it is serious - it means you're going to have your baby soon!!!

[Belle]

My water broke around 4 or so in the afternoon on a Thursday. I didn't go into labor until 3:30 in the Morning on Saturday. My baby was born at 7:17 Saturday morning.

If I'd gone to the hospital she'd have been forced out with pit or I'd have been sectioned. As it was I had an easy labor that was just shy of four hours.

And Surprise! My baby turned out just fine.

[angelapittman]

Awww congrats on the new baby!!:

[Amber Lion]

My water broke at 12:30 on my due date and our midwives did come right over and listen to the baby and wanted to know if the water had been clear. They just wanted to make sure baby wasn't squeezing her cord and there'd been no mec. But no way did we need to go to a hospital! Once they knew everything was fine they told us to take it easy and that labor may start today or days from now, but if it didn't start that day to start boosting my immune system and they'd monitor for infection. I ended up having my first contrx at about 5 pm that night and had my little girl about 25 hours after that... so if I'd been in a hospital I would have been sectioned at the 24hrs-since-rupture mark, roughly 6 hours before I had her... no thank you!! I did labor and birth her in water and it was awesome.

[jessielove]

Originally Posted by shannon_na_gig

The one piece of advice the head OB nurse gave me was "if your water breaks, you HAVE to come to the hospital. It's very serious."

If you're having a homebirth, why would you go to the hospital after your water breaks? That was silly of them. Sure, it's serious ~ it means you're having a baby soon It's a completely natural and normal part of childbirth, not some weird complication.

ETA: Unless maybe the nurse meant to go to the hospital if your water breaks before 36 weeks? That can be serious.

[Viola]

My water broke before labor or at the onset of labor both times for me, and both times there was meconium in the water. The first time I was having a hospital birth, so I went to the hospital. The second time I was having a homebirth, so I stayed home.

[Kirsten]

Originally Posted by HennyPenny

I can think of abut 15 nurses I know from L&D where I worked who had NO idea you could labour without an IV...

Isn't that just sad? I've had SO many people shocked that I've never had an IV - because I have three kids. "Oh, you mean other than when your babies were born, right? 'Cause you HAVE to have an IV for that!" Uh, no you don't. Not even in the hospital. They WANT you to, but you don't HAVE to. Politely decline. Sign the AMA form. Done.

And as to going directly to the hospital once your water has broken - phooey! So they can hook you up to machines and start the avalanche of interventions that are bad for both you AND the baby? No, thanks.

Our first was the only of our three born in a hospital. We were in their midwife department though - so it went pretty darn well all things considered. My water actually DID break first, and contractions started an hour and a half later. We stayed home for 14 hours, walking and drinking water and having a grand old time. Finally went in when things were getting so intense that I didn't really know when one contraction was ending and another was starting. Get to the hospital, and they ask if my water broke. Yes, it did. When? 14 hours ago. They FLIPPED. You can't DO that! Oh, yes I can. And shock of all shocks, both mom and baby were fine.

I'd get medical help if your water broke and it wasn't clear, or if there was a prolapsed cord in which case we were taught to get on our hands and knees with our butt up and head down on the ground and call 911. Other than that, I'd happily stay home - and did. Doctors sticking their hands in to check you every 30 minutes is what INTRODUCES infection. Stay home and you are fine.

[KBinSATX]

If I remember right my MWs policy was to call them if the water breaks and then they wait 24 hours after that. If there's still no baby by that time they'd come out and do some kind of vaginal rinse periodically which appears to be more effective anyway.

Have a great birth!

[Equuskia]

Goodness, what did women do 200 years ago when their water broke and there was no hospital to rush to? I guess they all died!

Honestly, I think that sometimes they don't think through what they say before saying it. It just makes no sense.

But I think staying home is your best course of action to avoid infection and complications.

[BethandLC]

Originally Posted by Equuskia

But I think staying home is your best course of action to avoid infection and complications.

This exactly! Have a great birth mama!