did your water break first?

[the janet]

You know...the cliche labor scene depicted in movies/TV, where the first sign of labor is the gush, and then all hell breaks loose?

Well, my water broke at 2am and it's been slowly leaking ever since (mainly b/c I've been sleeping and wasn't upright). I was Googling this in bed while trying to force myself to sleep (really hard when your adrenaline is pumping!) and it seems only 1 out of 10 women have their water break first.

Contractions haven't gotten going. There's the occasional uterine tightening...but nothing steady and not at all painful. I guess basically just BH. Now that I'm upright, I'm hoping they become productive.

Anyway, I've read enough birth stories where it seems that women who are in active labor with their bag intact have really intense/painful contractions after the water breaks. So I'm wondering what my contractions are going to feel like from the start! What have you 1 out of 10 ladies experienced? Also, would it make labor relatively shorter? (*fingers crossed*)

[swell_mel]

With dd1 my water broke before labor started. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling constipated and on the way to the bathroom it broke. Contractions started pretty much right away. Within 30 minutes they were taking my breath away. Labor from water breaking to giving birth was 7.5 hours. But from woman to woman labor will vary widely- even under seemingly similar circumstances! Your body knows what to do! It's programmed to get the baby out. Good luck!

[Aliy]

i had AROM with my first but my wter broke spontaneously with my second. The crazy contraction did NOT start right away. i went into labour shortly after but just kept moving around though... I have fast births my second was 5 hours from my water breaking to having my baby in arms.

Get up move around and relax. When you are stressed it is much harder for  your body to work the way it needs to. all the best mamam

[la mamita]

My water broke and that was the first sign I was in labor. I wasn't even sure if it was really the water breaking (first time freak out, not because I wasn't sure if I peed or something) and didn't call my midwife for a few hours. I had no contractions for a while, I think my water broke around 8 or 9pm, contractions started around maybe 1am and I was pushing by 6am. I didn't find the pain horrific by any means, I had a great homebirth, but I don't have a comparison as far as contractions with water intact and without....

I would say go out for a walk and see if you can get things going, but I see you are in Brooklyn and probably can expect to be trudging through the snow not easily walking along.

[the janet]

Thanx, ladies! I know not every labor will unfold the same, even with the same circumstances. But I'm just curious what this "rare" situation would normally entail.
 

Originally Posted by la mamita 

I would say go out for a walk and see if you can get things going, but I see you are in Brooklyn and probably can expect to be trudging through the snow not easily walking along.

I haven't been outside since the blizzard hit! Our sidewalk had 3' of snow until it got shoveled this morning. Fortunately, for Xmas my MIL sent us these traction things you put on the soles of your shoes so you don't fall on snowy/icy sidewalks.

[jcregan]

When my water broke with my first I did not start labor..  We waited about 16 hours and then did a pit. induction (which for a hospital midwife birth was not too bad- but wish I had waited a bit more).

The good news is that even though I was pretty much barely 1cm dialated when I started pit It was less then 8 hours until she was born!  So it can go fast... or not... who knows!

I wish you a good birth!

[Oregonicmama]

With both of my DDs I was in labor for 12 hours (DD1) and 8 hours (DD2) before my water broke.  Once that happened though they were both born within an hour.

[the janet]

Well, went into Manhattan to get the co-sleeper and walked around a bit. Nothing. Took some castor oil and will be trying hoku and nipple stim soon. Hopefully, that combo will get things moving!

Now the challenge is finding a way to get to the birthing center when it's time! Our beater car is blocked in by snow and might not make the 6 mile snowy trip...

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by the janet 

Well, went into Manhattan to get the co-sleeper and walked around a bit. Nothing. Took some castor oil and will be trying hoku and nipple stim soon. Hopefully, that combo will get things moving!

Now the challenge is finding a way to get to the birthing center when it's time! Our beater car is blocked in by snow and might not make the 6 mile snowy trip...

Just stay home :) Wouldn't wanna UC in a car in a blizzard. 

[Lillitu]

I was in labor for a total of 12 hours, and my water did not break first. The first sign I had was.... OW!

[nicolian]

My water broke on its own with my first. It broke shortly after 1pm. Hard contractions didn't start until around 5:30 and I had my son at 10:22. So, about 5 hours hard labor. It was intense!

With my second, I had my waters broken around 3:30 and had my son around 6:30. Contractions started coming hard maybe an hour after my water was broken... so 2 1/2 hours of hard labor! Now THAT was intense. lol

Good luck to you!!!

[lunarlady]

I had SROM before labor with both my kids. Crazy amount of fluid in there! Both labors were intense and short (5 hours or so) but i've nothing to compare it to. Hope this evening finds you in labor! With the first, it took about 36 hours for things to start. With the second it was only an hour or so later that things got going.

[the janet]

So...weird.

I just felt another pop, like the one at 2am when my water first broke. I've been leaking all day so I can't imagine why there would be another break!

Castor oil finally kicked in and contractions have been more regular. Hopefully, I'll be active in the next few hours or else I have to go to the hospital for cervadil in the morning.

[OkiMom]

Hopefully you are either holding a little one or in the middle of labor now!

My first I had AROM when I was 10 CMs dialated. She was born after 1 1/2 hours of pushing.

Second my water broke and she was born 5 minutes later. Funny, my water breaking actually was the last contraction I FELT. I don't remember another one, I didn't even feel the "ring of fire' most ladies experience. I went from "wow this is intense" to "umm the baby is coming now"

[the janet]

I'm definitely in full blown labor now! No denying it! These ain't no Braxton Hicks, my friends!

That second pop, whatever it was, must've brought the kid's head down. In conjunction w/the castor oil getting things moving, I've been having contractions from 3-5 minutes for at least an hour. Not quite 1 min apart but close.

Guess we're gonna have a baby on 12/30!

[Buddhamom]

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nicolian]

I hope all is going well for you!

[mclisa]

Good luck!

[FoxintheSnow]

Good luck! My water broke with dd at around 2am. I had very very mild contractions all night that werent productive. Eventually I did the Pit. They told me not to walk with dd because she was very very high and there was a danger of prolapse.

[hollytheteacher]

Unfortunately that happend to me and i don't wish it on anyone becuase i did NOT go into labor after my water broke so that led to inductions and interventions and a long labor resulting in exhaustion and and epidural that led to 4 hour pushing, etc..

I PRAY that my water does NOT break this time until i'm already IN labor!!!!