breaking water to start labor? need feedback!

[Mommy24]

My due date is tomorrow 5/12. My mom got here Sunday to help me with baby and kids. At ob appt on Monday, I was 4cm and over 50% effaced.This is my fifth child. My ob offered me the option of breaking the water to start labor on Friday. The only reason we are considering it is because I literally can hardly walk, or stand for very long and my mom is leaving in 3 weeks to go back to FL . Has anyone had this done and what happened? My fear is that labor won't start and they will want to put me on pit. My ob is confident that labor will start because this is my fifth pregnancy.

All my other labors started naturally and with three of them I had the midwife break the water after labor was well underway. Give me some feedback!!!

Thanks
Lesa

[twouglyducks]

Just keep in mind if they do break your water you will be on the clock. Most OBs will "allow" you to go 18-24 hours before they'll do a c/s. That's how I ended up getting cut last time.

[emmabella]

The 24 hour clock issue would definitely be a big deterrant to me along with a couple other things.... the risk of infection, cord compression and cord prolapse are high with AROM but even higher when AROM is performed before labor has been well established. I would definitely check to be sure that A. the baby is very well engaged in the pelvis (would lower chance of cord issues) and B. you are certain that the baby is in a favorable position (once the cushion of the fluid is gone, it is much harder for the baby to turn out of posterior). If it were me, I would probably try some other things first like nipple stimulation, etc. Good luck momma... your body and baby are doing great!

[leosmama20]

Um, DO NOT DO THIS!!!! Sorry, I saw your post on the main board and just had to give my 2 cents. I was dialated for WEEKS with my first and at 40wk3days went in to have my water broken to induce. I too was MISERABLE. I had thrown up literally HUNDREDS of times during my pregnancy and was still disabled, housebound, and vomitting up to the time I delivered. So, I understand misery. I was 6 cm when they broke my water and about 20 minutes later, I began having contractions right on top of eachother that never ended. Because of this, the baby was stressed, I was put on constant monitoring and after 2 hours, consented to an epidural which led to a ton of interventions. I would seriously try everything else first. I have since learned having contractions like that is fairly common if your water is broken.

Good luck!!!!!

[WitherB]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend it either, unless you feel induction is absolutely necessary. I was induced this way with my first one, and while it labor did start right away, it was incredibley painful. As the other poster said, I literally had contractions non-stop and ended up having an epidural after the first three hours. Once the epidural was in place, my OB started the pitocin to "keep things moving." Now that I know much more about childbirth, I would also be very concerned about the risk of infection.

I hope things work out for you. I understand how important it is to have your mother (or other help) around at this time.

[MamaFae]

Be careful with this one hon. There are a lot of other things you can do to jump start labor before AROM (artificial rupture of membranes). I would suggest finding someone to do Cranial Sacral on you to make sure the baby is in a good position before you even consider AROM. There is also acupuncture, nipple stim, cohosh (look it up on gentlebirth.org) and a few other "tricks" to try. AROM should be in my opinion the last option.

Question: did your OB "strip" your membranes? If not this is less risky that AROM and can often start labor in 24-48 hours (that stat taken off of midwifery.org and gentlebirth.org btw) Many if not most (not all of course) midwives would much rather do that then break the waters.

HTH!
Blessings,
Nichol

[Len]

Having my waters broken (AROM) is probably the one decision I've most regretted during the past 6 years.... That not only did not make labor progress but as above posters said, made it worse, beginning a chain of interventions that ended of course in a C/S with a grand finale of infection in the baby..... so, I wouldn't do it again....

[Mommy24]

Guess what?? We already decided not to break the water (thanks in part to your reponses!)!!! And this morning my mucus plug came out with some bood! I m so happy! I am really hoping that labor and the birth our our baby is very soon!!


Lesa

[onlyboys]

Good for you!

I hope you are holding your baby soon!

[MamaFae]

Lesa,

Sending you happy labor vibes and peaceful labor blessings!

I really hope all goes well. I am glad to hear you decided against the AROM.

Blessings,
N~

[Mommy24]

Thank you all!! I have more news! I'll share it on a new thread!

Lesa