Water broke over 16 hrs ago and NOTHING is happening!!!!! Finally an UPDATE

[penstamon]

Getting really frustrated and disheartened here. My water broke at 3AM this morning and we have spent the entire day walking, doing acupressure, massage, nipple stim, etc. and I have HAD IT. I may have a few contrax here and there but they just peter out. I am leaking amniotic fluid a lot so it is hard to do much or go anywhere. I have lost plug and my body is cleansing, but no bloody show or regular contrax. Poor DS is stuck at a friend's for an unknown amount of time now and it bothers me. DH and my doula (midwife) keep pushing another walk and this and that but frankly I am tired. I have been up since 3AM!! I can't eat much (no appetite) and I am sure it will be another long night so I would like to just rest but I have tried and it is difficult to get beyond a short doze.

I am 38w1d, my first came at 39w. Nothing has been inside my vagina since 36w so it was not artificially ruptured. I started to lose plug two days ago and knew something would happen soon, but this wait is torture!  With DS my water broke about 9 hours before contrax started so I think that nice fast experience is making this worse.

Any advice, commiseration or good stories?

[dayiscoming2006]

From what I read, if you keep everything out of your vagina - including midwife fingers, then you should be able to go up to 96 hours before it's a real concern. Read that in a midwifery text. 

Just do your best to rest. I am rather sure things will start up for you soon. Hang in there! I know it sucks.

[Almamiel]

Hang in there - you're in my thoughts. With dd1, labour was 34 hours and so exhausting, but we made it through eventually. I'm rooting for you!

[PAgreenmama]

no advice... just hoping something starts for you soon!!

[ibusymomto5]

I hope things get going for you soon. I've had a labor before where my water broke and then nothing happened for several hours. It's such an antsy, unsettled feeling, but your body is probably doing exactly what it needs to for whatever reason. Getting too tired in labor is awful, so I'd keep trying to at least alternating rests in between walking. Even if you can't sleep it still helps to rest your muscles and bones. Don't forget to eat good protein and drink lots of water, juice or Emergen-c to keep your strength up too. Do you have any Hibiclens? Rinsing with some mixed in a peri-bottle could help ward off any infection, though I think as long as you keep things out of the area, skip exams, and don't have fever you should be fine for a long time. Best wishes, and I'll say a little prayer that things get going soon! Can't wait to read your story!

[penstamon]

Thank you everyone!  Good advice too- I have been doing hibiclens frequently and although I have no appetite I have gotten some small amounts of food down.  I have probably drank at least 3-4 liters of fluid too which is great to make more amniotic fluid.  I just got off the phone with the midwife who really helped me calm down.  Her advice was a bath, some wine and then sleep!  I feel more confident hearing that I just need to rest right now and not wait.  Poor DH and I were starting to argue before he left to get DS for the night but I am glad the decision was made and we can move on.

Can't wait to meet this LO!

[jr'smom]

Hope things picked up for you!  I just wanted to commiserate with you.  Yours was like my first labor, but I wasn't educated enough to resist my doctor's recommendation to check into the hospital and start pitocin which after 25 hours of going nowhere led to my 1st C/S.  Hang in there!  With my second, my water ruptured--a huge gush and smaller gushes after, but I found out later in labor at 6cm dilated after 23 hours of 2 min apart intense contractions, that I had two bags!  One was completely intact.  I guess that's not uncommon.

Wishing you the best and easy labor (once it starts!)  *hugs*

[anne1140]

I'm in the same position right now, except it's only been 5 hours for me. It is quite frustrating. It sounds like you're having a homebirth? Unfortunately for me, I'm having a hospital birth, so I'll have to head over sooner or later, and I'm afraid of being induced with Pitocin. Blah. 

[dayiscoming2006]

Anne, don't go to the hospital until it's time. Hold off until contractions start unless something seems off to you. As soon as you get to the hospital you get on their clock and you risk induction and possibly a c-section. Most labors that start with the water breaking - contractions should start up probably within 48 hours. Hang in there!

Also, don't go to the hospital until your contractions are strong. Going too early puts you on the clock still. I had 73 hours of labor with my first but water didn't break until they ruptured it when I was 6 cm. 

Another tip, don't let them know how long it's been since your water broke or their time limit will be cut much shorter. I"d recommend saying something like it broke a little while before you got to the hospital.

[penstamon]

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

Anne, don't go to the hospital until it's time. Hold off until contractions start unless something seems off to you. As soon as you get to the hospital you get on their clock and you risk induction and possibly a c-section. Most labors that start with the water breaking - contractions should start up probably within 48 hours. Hang in there!

Also, don't go to the hospital until your contractions are strong. Going too early puts you on the clock still. I had 73 hours of labor with my first but water didn't break until they ruptured it when I was 6 cm. 

Another tip, don't let them know how long it's been since your water broke or their time limit will be cut much shorter. I"d recommend saying something like it broke a little while before you got to the hospital.

These are all good suggestions and I definitely agree.  I am actually having a hospital birth- I have both a MW and OB but once I go to the hospital my MW is my doula.  My OB is a wonderful dr. but I will not be telling her the truth about timing either because if my body isn't ready to birth then pitocin is too dangerous.

It has now been 32 hours with no signs of labor whatsoever.  In fact I feel more normal today and I don't think I am leaking any more fluid.  My plan is to wait until tomorrow then go to the dr's office playing stupid that I may have had a leak this weekend...non-stress test I am fine with, but I won't let them induce me if everything is still fine.

Wow- two bags?

[dayiscoming2006]

penstamon,

I think everyone has 2 waters actually??? I think there is a fore water and a hind water. One of the bags can break and the other can be left intact. If the second one is intact, you are not at risk of infection. If you are no longer leaking fluid, then it's likely that this is what happened to you. Cuz you will continue to leak fluid until baby is born otherwise. 

[anne1140]

Unfortunately, when I was in the shower, DH was freaking out and already made the call to the hospital. So they know that my water broke. I called back and asked if I could wait for contractions to start at home for a few hours, and they said it was fine. But I'm thinking if I go in 24 hours, they are not going to be too pleased and will want to induce right away. They said they induce after 12 hours of no contractions. It's now been 7. 

[dayiscoming2006]

DH screwed that up. Sorry to hear that. I would decline to be induced though. It's your body. I'd wait however long you felt comfortable to. They can't induce you unless you are there. So, I'd still wait for your contractions to start up at a good interval. Explain to hubby that what is going on with you is normal and he doesn't need to worry. 

[BHappy]

Originally Posted by anne1140 

Unfortunately, when I was in the shower, DH was freaking out and already made the call to the hospital. So they know that my water broke. I called back and asked if I could wait for contractions to start at home for a few hours, and they said it was fine. But I'm thinking if I go in 24 hours, they are not going to be too pleased and will want to induce right away. They said they induce after 12 hours of no contractions. It's now been 7. 

can you get on the DTD and nipple stimulation train to help get things going?

i hope labor starts soon for you, mama. and remember, you are in charge and if you don't want to be induced (& there's no urgency, babe is fine), you don't have to be induced just according to their protocol. it is up to you to make the decision. connect in with your baby.

[gummibears]

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

DH screwed that up. Sorry to hear that. I would decline to be induced though. It's your body. I'd wait however long you felt comfortable to. They can't induce you unless you are there. So, I'd still wait for your contractions to start up at a good interval. Explain to hubby that what is going on with you is normal and he doesn't need to worry. 

I agree. Try to wait it out and tell him that if you feel the need to go in you will. You know your body better than anyone else. I'd also want to hold of induction for as long as possible and hope that things move along on their own instead. Good luck!

[sharita]

I just wanted to say that my water broke before my homebirth and it was 36 hours before contractions started.  Midwife thinks its because baby was posterior and just wasn't lined up right to put pressure on the cervix to get things going.  I had to wear a depends the whole time (and constantly change them as they soaked every few hours) kept monitoring my temp and well as baby's movements, and nothing in the vagina.  I drank tons of liquid which did the trick because I just kept gushing and gushing over that 36 hours so it definitely kept replenishing itself.

When the contractions did start though, it all happened super fast.  Just because you aren't having contrax, don't mean things arent going on.  Id be prepared for a possible super quick labor.

Try some lunges, birthballsittingg, pelvic rocks and hulahoop movements to get baby aligned better to apply to cervix.  Other than that, keep bladder empty, and rest up.  I was laying on my left side in bed playing playstation with my oldest son for 20 mins when the contractions started. 

Rest assured they will start.  INfection for prolonged membrane rupture is far less at home than in hospital when you are around all those strangers germs and them doing cervical checks. 

As long as you dont develop a fever, baby is still moving regularly (though it will probably be decreased as they are resting up for labor), and your gut tells you all is well, you should be fine.  I remember starting to think something was wrong or something but just when I relaxed and put my focus elsewhere, it kicked in.

[lizzie]

Possibly your bag resealed? I agree with all the waiting and hanging at home as long as possible if you're not getting any negative indications (things like fever or concern with the baby's movement, your own intuition telling you differently) and stay as hydrated as you can stand to be so your body can keep replenishing your fluid.

Big hugs, hope things got going for you overnight!!

[jldumm]

can i join the club. my water also broke at 3 am though last night.... still waiting for something to happen. Threw up around8

so something must be going on. Feel like i wasted all of that strong rrl tea and vitamins.

[penstamon]

56 hours after water broke and still nothing certain- no regular contrax although I have lost a good deal of mucus plug, possibly the whole thing (it was lost in the toilet pretty quickly but I felt it slide out).  I had no leaking yesterday but did have a small leak again at 6am this morning after having many bouts of diarrhea.  I decided to go to the dr cuz DH is getting antsy but I will not reveal the whole story to her, even though she is a fabulous OB.  The MW is supportive of a NST for peace of mind.  To complicate things I now have a head cold and slightly sore throat, no fever.  Only 3 hours of sleep last night...come on baby!  Please come on your own!  Still waiting to hear from the acupuncturist.

[sharita]

Hoping baby arrives soon!