Need Advice

[iluvmy4girls]

So we are planning a homebirth, partially UC. Our DEM will be here in another room, just in case. Otherwise we will be on our own.
Anyway, I did have an appt with her about 2 weeks ago. I asked her to check me because I was having a ton of pressure, but was only 35ish weeks. She said I was 2 cm 50% and 0 station. Probably getting pressure because of the low position.
So last night, 2 weeks later, I passed a few pea and corn size red clots. This am, I have a very snotty brown discharge and a few brown clots as well. Baby is moving. No contractions, Still a bit of pressure but no more than I have been having.
I decided to "check" myself and to me I feel exactly as I did 2 weeks ago when the midwife checked. Now I am worried. If I havn't progressed it can be plug right? Should I call the midwife, I really am not wanted to but I don't want to do anything that would hurt the baby or decrease the chance of our homebirth.
What would you all do?

[Snapdragon]

I think you should do whatever makes you feel the safest and most comfortable. there is nothing wrong with calling the midwife or asking for help if you feel you need it, or guidance! Whatever makes you feel the most comfortable, if that is having a mw or not in any manner, or asking for her opinion or not, do that for yourself!

[iluvmy4girls]

Thanks, I "think" it may just be some bloody show. I am having some contractions now. They aren't hurting and not regular but they are pretty frequent. We are just content at this point to ride it out and see what happens. Thanks for you advice. This is my 5th baby but my first homebirth, so I think I am lacking a bit in my patience as well as questioning everything. But she is still moving well and I feel fine, so we are just hanging out!

[claddaghmom]

What you described happened to me in a couple hours. So I think it is just your body's own timeline for this pregnancy. W/ movement and now some light contractions...I would not be worried. But at the same time, the important thing is to follow your instincts and not be afraid to ask for help.

[iluvmy4girls]

Thanks,
Well my water broke a few hours ago, havn't yet called anyone because the contractions are still so irregular.

[zoebird]

the main thing is to always follow your own intuition and instincts.

one of the things that many HBers and UCers fear is "failing" and sometimes that is the origin of "i don't want to get help." even if they think/feel that they really need it.

i'm not saying that you feel that you need it or not, but that this can be one of those areas that cloud one's own intuition.

no matter what, follow what you think and feel to be true. that way, you'll have the best possible outcome.

many blessings!

[iluvmy4girls]

I did call the midwife, she is not coming yet though. Just wanted to give her a heads up. My contractions are not coming though and I don't know what to do to get them regular. How long is it OK for your water to be broke without contractions?

[Tizzy]

FWIW I had a trickle leak for 69 hours. Ctx came off and on the entire time, sometimes I'd sleep, other times I'd WALK WALK WALK, went for a ride in the car, went out for breakfast at 56hrs and only once I had done a bunch of stretches and lunges to get baby in the right position did labor speed up. I just drank a LOT of fluids to stay hydrated, ate as much as I felt like and tried to be patient

[iluvmy4girls]

Thanks again. Still not having regular contractions. I did talk to the midwife again, and she reassured me that this is OK! She said that usually it will start at 12 hours but can take several days. I was worried she would push us to go to the hosp. But she said she is comfortable with us doing what ever we want since it is our birth and our baby. She gave me a few signs to watch out for and said otherwise remember that the baby and my body are working together to be born safely when it is her time. I feel great peace now and am going to take a nap! Thank you so very much for all your support!

[Mother Cake]

Originally Posted by iluvmy4girls

I did call the midwife, she is not coming yet though. Just wanted to give her a heads up. My contractions are not coming though and I don't know what to do to get them regular. How long is it OK for your water to be broke without contractions?

Not a medical professional here, but my understanding is that as long as you don't put anything in your vagina once your waters break the risk of infection is very low. It goes up every time something goes up there, so avoiding vag exams, etc is usually a good idea in this situation.

Also, everything the pp said about eating, and staying rested and hydrated.

[iluvmy4girls]

Just wanted to let you all know that Reagan is here. It was a long few days, but very quick once things got regular.
My water broke Sunday night. All day Monday I had some pretty strong but irregular contractions and was able to function pretty normally. I called our midiwfe to get some advice.The midwife suggested some quiet time and to lay on my left side, left leg straight and right leg bent up as high as I could. Then rolling over onto my stomach as far as I could. This was due to the my thoughts on the position of the baby (posterior as every contraction hurt my back so bad). So everyone left, including DH and the kids. I fell asleep in that position and about 2 hrs later 8pm ish I awoke to some major contractions, 4 minutes apart. I called everyone to return But decided that I still wasn't ready for the midwife. We walked the neighborhood, I got in the pool for a while, then just hung out. I decided to try and rest between contx and about 2 am fell asleep. At about 4:30am I awoke to a MAJOR contx. So I got up but again they were irregular and loosing strength. But by 8:30am I decided it was time to call the midwife. She got here about 9:10ish, and man then it just went BAM. She was great and really let us do our own thing. I so appreciated that. About 4 contractions after she got here I felt her drop into the birth canal. And I wanted to push. I climbed into the pool, but had NO desire to sit. So I stood and pushed her out. She took a while to crown and the last contraction before she came out she rotated completely, AHA- she was finally anterior. One more contraction and her head came. She was sucking her thumb at birth! It took about 3 more contx, to get the shoulders out. My best friend caught her, and passed her through my legs so I could have her right away. Took awhile for the placenta to come so the midwife came and checked on us for that, gave us a hand there. It was a beautiful birth, a lot of work but she is SO worth it. I am delighted that we had her at home. It was by far the most emotional birth of all of mine.

My Midwife was actually at another birth, so her backup came. BUT the one that came was great too! The original weight was 7Lb, But that was on my bathroom scale with someone holding her. The backup midwife forgot her scale. So my midwife came over last night after her birth and re-weighed her.
She was 6lb 6oz, 20 1/4 inches. Born 1-26-10 at 9:44am.
She is amazing and already a great nurser.