breaking bag of water?

[mariamamaof5]

With a couple of my births I had a bulging bag of water which they would break and the baby came right after. Will I need to break my water if it is bulging or will it break on it's own?

[ElizabethE]

Mama, are you perhaps over-thinking it? :) You won't *need* to break your bag of water. It will most likely break on its own, or your baby may even be born in it.

Remember, birth is simple, and just happens!  :)

[mariamamaof5]

Haha yeah I tend to over think things! I pretty much know by using common sense but then I over analyze and just have to ask :) 

[Sharlla]

My water broke as she was coming out

[justamama]

With my second dd (unplanned UC), my water broke just before she was born. With my 3rd dd (mw attended hb, but I did everything myself), my water broke as her shoulders were born. No need to break the bag of waters artificially, it'll happen on its own. And if it doesn't and baby is born in the caul, that's good luck!

[Logan]

My water never broke until pretty close to the end. I wouldn't ever artificially break the water actually, unless there was some kind of emergency where I thought I needed to get the baby out NOW and that would help. If it ain't broke.....don't break it 

[ElizabethE]

  Listen to your intuition. There isn't really a need to break it yourself, but your body and your instinct may take over in that department, so just be present and honor what you are hearing.

[mariamamaof5]

Thanks ladies! I figured as much but just wanted to see if anyone had done it. 

[ElizabethE]

Maria, I did. :) I broke my bag. And I surprised myself when doing it.

[Logan]

Elizabeth, what did you use to break it? 

[Multimomma]

I've broken my bag each time...it's quite tough and actually it was VERY painful to me once I hit 10cm to keep laboring with it intact. The bag itself was hard to break, tough like pleather, is what dh says. Once it was broken, the pain eased up and birth followed within 45 minutes. 

I will say that I'm very careful, like i said, completely dilated, head fully engaged (it's usually in the canal and bulging bag present) There is a risk of prolapsed cord if there is any space. 

Hugs mama, i don't think you're overthinking it. I think you're addressing things that have come up in common culture, and mindfully choosing what works for you.

[mariamamaof5]

Originally Posted by Multimomma 

I've broken my bag each time...it's quite tough and actually it was VERY painful to me once I hit 10cm to keep laboring with it intact. The bag itself was hard to break, tough like pleather, is what dh says. Once it was broken, the pain eased up and birth followed within 45 minutes. 

I will say that I'm very careful, like i said, completely dilated, head fully engaged (it's usually in the canal and bulging bag present) There is a risk of prolapsed cord if there is any space. 

Hugs mama, i don't think you're overthinking it. I think you're addressing things that have come up in common culture, and mindfully choosing what works for you.

Thanks multimomma! I do feel silly asking certain questions and sometimes I do over think, but if I don't ask I will never know! I love learning how other people do things and the pros and cons. I just remember with my last couple of births the bag was bulging and they broke it and my baby came just like that! I really wouldn't feel comfortable trying to break it myself but I guess if for some reason I felt I wanted too I could. What did you use to break it?
 

[moonfirefaery]

Either it will break on its own, or your baby will be born "in the caul" and you'll break it after the birth, but I hear that doesn't happen too frequently. With my oldest they broke my bag during labor to speed it up. With my youngest, the bag broke when I was pushing, just before my son emerged. You could break it if you wanted to, but I don't recommend it.

[MittensKittens]

When I was giving birth to my son, my bag of waters broke at the very end of labor. It had been bulging out like you describe for a while - it was quite interesting to see vernix floating around in there when I looked at it with a mirror. I second the other poster who said that labor becomes more painful after the waters break. Breaking the waters early in labor can increase your risk of a cord prolapse, which is a dangerous medical emergency. I would leave it be!

[mariamamaof5]

Originally Posted by MittensKittens 

When I was giving birth to my son, my bag of waters broke at the very end of labor. It had been bulging out like you describe for a while - it was quite interesting to see vernix floating around in there when I looked at it with a mirror. I second the other poster who said that labor becomes more painful after the waters break. Breaking the waters early in labor can increase your risk of a cord prolapse, which is a dangerous medical emergency. I would leave it be!

Thanks I'm sure I will just leave it alone :) I wouldn't be comfortable trying to poke around down there.

[ElizabethE]

Yes, I definitely recommend leaving it alone. I fully intended to, myself. I changed my plan after I listened to my body, though.

Logan, I used my fingernails.

Remember, simplicity is key! It's normal for us to over-think things out of being curious and careful, but deep down we will know what is right. And of course there is no such thing as a stupid question. :)

[moonfirefaery]

Originally Posted by ElizabethE 

Yes, I definitely recommend leaving it alone.

[gothesshalja]

This is my 4th pregnancy. First 2 babies were born in hospital where they artificially ruptured my bag of waters both times without permission!! without even telling me or warning me of what they were doing. Just innocent dilation checks (eyeroll).

For my 3rd baby I had an unassisted home water birth. My son's head was emerging in the bag of waters. At the time I instinctually reached down without thinking at all and ripped the sac with my hand and then his entire head was born, followed very quickly by his body on the next contraction. Since then I have seen a lot of youtube videos where the baby is born entirely in the bag and I don't think there is any problem with that if it doesn't rupture on its own while the baby is being born. On autopilot when I ripped the sac with my son, I think maybe I knew deep down he might be born faster if the bag of waters were broken.....but at the moment I really did not think at all, I just did it. 

Now I am pregnant again and planning an unassisted home water birth in august and I am thinking if she emerges in the bag of waters i will try not to break it, unless i really feel another strong instinctual urge to do so in the moment. 

[greenmama66]

I broke mine with my third just as he was crowing- used my fingernails- it was a tough bag and took some doing. he had light mec but was totally fine .