Normal length of time after water breaks? - Page 2

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Here they say you have to go into labour by 48 hours after waters break but luckily i've never had this with my ds my contractions start 1/2 hour after my waters broke and he was born another 4 1/2 hours later

[pamamidwife]

Originally Posted by GoddessKristie

Ok, so to be more specific I'm wondering about my situation. My water broke and 12 hours later I was in active labor, but not dilating very quickly. I was GBS+ and had IV antibiotics starting around 1pm. At 4pm, which was the 12 hour mark I was only dilated a "wiggly 1cm" so I was convinced I needed pitocin to speed up my labor. Basically they scared me into it, so in retrospect I'm wondering if that was the best decision or not. DS wasn't showing any signs of distress, and since I was abx I now wonder if there really was a risk of infection.
What do you think?

well the problem with your scenario is they kept checking your cervix. that increases the rate of infection GREATLY - but I have even heard of homebirth mws doing this. I just think that we need to throw out these "progress charts" of what women's bodies SHOULD be doing and honor what it IS doing.

you didn't "need" pitocin to speed up your labor. your providers needed it.

[crysmomofthree]

I had my water break with baby #2 at 33 weeks, no known gbs status no contractions, 10 hours later contractions started, 12 hours later I was offered iv antibiotics and 14 hours later baby was born very sick with a gbs infections and in the nicu for 2 weeks.

with #3 my water broke 35 weeks, no known gbs status (previous experience) I got the antibiotics immediately contractions started on their own 20 hours later baby born healthy 4 hours later

#4 I ruptured at 36 weeks gbs- stayed home had no exams waited 40 hours for contractions to start on their own and had a phenomenal birth

My midwife told me that if there is no internal exam, no temp, and gbs- she is comfortable waiting a minimum of 72 hours for labor to start on its own (providing the baby is doing well) she cited some study done but I"m not sure where I could find it

[pamamidwife]

Originally Posted by crysmomofthree

I had my water break with baby #2 at 33 weeks, no known gbs status no contractions, 10 hours later contractions started, 12 hours later I was offered iv antibiotics and 14 hours later baby was born very sick with a gbs infections and in the nicu for 2 weeks.

Preterm babies are the ones at biggest risk for GBS infection...and infection in general.

I think that rather than assume that GBS is so powerful to hit all healthy, full term infants we need to look at what makes some babies so susceptible. I believe that GBS antibodies do cross the placenta for the baby - and there has to be reasons why some babies get sick while others, even with higher levels of bacteria colonization, do not.

[crysmomofthree]

Originally Posted by pamamidwife

Preterm babies are the ones at biggest risk for GBS infection...and infection in general.

I think that rather than assume that GBS is so powerful to hit all healthy, full term infants we need to look at what makes some babies so susceptible. I believe that GBS antibodies do cross the placenta for the baby - and there has to be reasons why some babies get sick while others, even with higher levels of bacteria colonization, do not.

Perhaps stress and poor nutrition, because I feel those are two massive factors that were involved in my case above with my 33 weeker

[ericswifey27]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Problem is, you're looking for a length of time, but the time itself is irrelevant.

You're looking out for infection, which could happen quickly or might not happen at all.

Tips:

1) Don't put ANYTHING in your vagina, not even fingers - and ESPECIALLY not a care provider's fingers.

2) Take your temperature every few hours.

3) Drink lots of water (to help replenish amniotic fluid, which is still replenishing even though the bag has broken).