when water breaks, no labor follows

[hildare]

anyone have any insight into the particular mechanisms of this occurrence? LSS, I was past 40 weeks, waters broken for over 48 hours with no effacement or dialation. I haven't been very successful in my research, and was hoping to vbac next time around..

[XanaduMama]

This happened to me with #1, though I didn't wait as long as you did (18 hours, then got pit). My water broke to start labor with #2, despite all the vitamin C I took during pregnancy to strengthen my amniotic sac--but contractions started right away that time.

In both cases, I was at full term (40w2d with #1; 39w6d with #2), and both babies came out clearly ready to be born--no vernix, long fingernails, healthy as could be.

My theories are these:

1. undiagnosed BV. I was GBS+, so I sorta wonder whether that might have had something to do with it...

2. imperfect positioning--so things get started but then baby's head doesn't apply the right pressure to the cervix (though in my case I know they were both really well positioned. Once the pit kicked in, I dilated from 2 to 10 in 3 hours.)

3. Just one of those labor mysteries that sometimes happens

Interesting thread though!

[AustinMom]

I'm not sure if I really understand the question, but the only thing to worry about with broken water is infection, and that risk goes up 24 hrs after the first vaginal exam after your water has broken. So if your water breaks, don't have an exam and wait for labor. It's not a worry if your not dilating at that mark, it's just if you are not having contax.

Also, GBS+ can weaken the lining of the bag of water and cause it to rupture before labor. But of what I know only like 10% of mom's labors start with spontaneous water breaking, and 80-90% of those moms will go into labor on their on with in 24 hrs, and 70% or so of the remaining moms will go into labor within 72 hrs.

BUT, if you are going through an OB, and if they are listening to ACOG recs, they now are recommending induction after your water breaks if you have no contrax. Stupid, yes, backed up by research and data, no, but that's ACOG, they make stuff up all the time.

[OTMomma]

I don't know why this happens either. I do know that with my 3rd baby, my water broke, and contrax didn't start for another 12 hours- during that time my midwife suggested things to do to help things get going- drink Red Raspberry leaf tea, walk (I couldn't due to a leg injury), nipple stimulation and sex (yup, really). Labor started when the sun went down, and I think that's when Anna decided she felt ready to be born, as my labor then went very quickly. Anna was definately a 39 weeker- she was covered in tons of vernix and looked early- so maybe she wasn't as ready to be born as my body was ready to have her.

None of my births was like another-

peace and blessings,
Laura

[grumpybear]

I thought that sex was strongly discouraged AFTER water breaks (infection risk?)?
But anyway, this happened to me to. I was GBS+ then so maybe that played a part.
Once my water broke, we immediately went to the MW who then started me on the induction protocol of herbs, homeopathics, castor oil and nipple stim.
I think it helped my cervix ripen at least.
But past 24hrs, we decided on a hospital transfer for a Pit. induction.

[Kelly1101]

This happened with my first baby (and I did end up with pit), I was GBS+ and she was posterior-- so that may have something to do with the water breaking, and no contractions, perhaps.

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by grumpybear

I thought that sex was strongly discouraged AFTER water breaks (infection risk?)?

I have heard (and would follow, myself) that once anything goes in there, the clock starts for risk of infection.

[hildare]

maybe the pp means orgasm rather than sex?

[RedOakMomma]

I'm GBS positive, and it took about 12 hours with both of my previous labors for contractions to start & organize after my water breaking. I did a lot of walking (A LOT of walking) and drank RRL tea in the hopes of getting things going. I'm not sure if that's what did it, but something worked.

[ellairiesmom]

My VBAC with PROM birth

I think every birth is different but with me, I think head positioning/descent played a big part on both my original c section & then my water breaking with no labor starting.

With dd2, my water broke & labor started for a few hours but then stopped. I was 39 weeks exactly & 2 weeks prior had been neg GBS. I was also taking 1000 units/day EPO (500 oral/500 vag) & as my OB said "my cervix was soft as butter for weeks".

I waited 14 hours before heading in to meet with my OB at the hospital. (i was in a different situation than many-my Mom is an L&D nurse there & friends with my OB so I felt comfortable heading in & OB felt comfortable letting me wait awhile-it was very relaxed).

Anyway, I walked & squatted at my Mom's since we lived an hour from the hospital. After about 15 hours of nothing, she said she would let me continue with my VBAC plans no matter how long it took as long as I came to the hospital & let them monitor the baby externally & the baby showed no distress. She also wanted to have them check my temp to be safe but of course we were not overly concerned with infection. Just being careful.

I went 45 hours from water breaking till delivery. Once I introduced the hospital grade breast pump at 19 hours, labor really started & although it was slow, it never stopped. We stayed up all night walking & squatting & doing our Bradley stuff to make sure nothing stopped. At 25 hours, I agreed to some pit because i knew since i was a vbac, they couldn't go too high with pit & I really felt like I needed some help getting things moving along more. Pit worked but her head just wasn't coming down which is what happened w/ dd1. After 38 hours, even our Doula/Bradley Instructor was concerned about my lack of sleep & being able to push later. I ended up asking for an Epidural so I could relax & try & sleep. I slept 2 hours (best sleep I had in months) & when I woke up I was almost 10 cm & her head was there...a little while later, I pushed for 28 mins. No tearing or anything.

While I didn't go natural as planned, I also hadn't planned on my water breaking a week early & labor not starting for so darn long. My vbac was my ultimate goal so I rolled with the PROM punches & fought for the VBAC.