water breaking or labor first...

[Telle Bear]

How many woman actually had their water break BEFORE going into labor....or at least having steady contractions??

[spookymama]

With my first I had prodomonal labor for what felt like forever. However, my water broke first then a regular labor pattern followed after that.

This one I had/have a small leak. So I guess it's not really a break? Regular contractions have yet to follow, but I am hopeful!

[Organicavocado]

My water broke first but yes.. prodromal labor.

POP BAM WOOSH.

[ChristyH]

My water broke with my first 2 kiddos, first a pop and then more of a gush as I moved.
My water didn't break until almost the end of the birth with my 3rd

[johnsmom]

The first time my water broke in a big whoosh and was followed within 5 minutes by contractions that were 2-3 minutes apart.
I'm hoping it happens the same way this time, otherwise I'm afraid I won't know if it's the "real thing".

[Bella Luna]

SROM with both of my children. I had no prodromal labor except for some strong Braxton-Hicks. Within 40 minutes of the membranes releasing, I had active labor in each case. It will be interesting if this one is different, because that's the only labor pattern I know!

[s_kristina]

With my dd I had a slow leak and didn't think anything active was happening, but because I had an induction planned for later the next week I went in to see what was going on. I was very surprised to find I was already at 4 cm! With ds my mw broke my at 6cm after being stalled there for 2 hours. I'm not sure I'd make the same choice this time around, but it felt like a good choice at the time.

[All together ooky]

With my first my water broke (small trickle) and then contractions started 10 hours later.

[celestialdreamer]

This really surprises me to hear about as my MW says that only 10% of women start labor with their water breaking. With my last baby my water didn't really break until he was being born but started a small trickle at the height of contractions when I hit transition about 15 min earlier. She said that was a typical situation in her opinion. I have 2 friends that have both had their labors start with waters breaking...makes me think it must be more common than I've been lead to believe!

[KariM]

I've had one of each now.

With DD1 the water didn't break until her head passed through my cervix and we were pushing.

With DD2 the water broke first, then labor began.

Honestly, if I got to pick I'd pick labor first. The contractions were a whole lot more comfortable with that birth.

[Meche]

My water broke with my first and I had a faster labor, 12 hours compared to the 18 hours I had when labor started with contractions (and AROM at 17.5 hours--who knows how much longer it would have taken?).

So I am hoping that this time, my water will break on its own!

Among my clients, less than 10% have had their water break to start labor. Most of them start with contractions and their water breaks during transition or pushing.

[Bokoto]

Water broke first with my first and contractions were intense within half an hour. No real labor prior to that. She was born 3-1/2 hours later!

With my second, my midwife broke my water after 4 hours of hard labor and he was born 10 minutes later!

[rubyeta]

Mine broke during transition each time. I am sort of hoping it breaks before labor really starts this time, just for the different experience.

[Ironica]

I've heard that only 15% of women experience SROM before the onset of active labor... but it really seems more common than that anecdotally.

With my son, my water broke in a big gush, then NO contractions within the next 18 hours, at which point we finally gave in to pitocin. I'm hoping to stay all sealed up until labor is well under way this time!

[swiesz]

With both of my two my h20 didn't break until just before they popped out. With ds#1 i had about 8 and 1/2 hours of labor and about 12 minutes after water broke until he came out. With Ds#2 i had about 4 hours of labor until my water broke and DS #2 came flying out with or right after it. Hoping this one will be similar.

[ColoradanMom]

My water broke first then my first "real" contractions started an hour later.

[mkmama]

i had a "leak" that i thought was my water breaking...but contractions started IMMEDIATELY and intensified and became regular (for 25 hours...) then the midwife broke my real water (i guess the other was a hind water leak?) and that was a huge gush.

so i really don't know how to answer your question!

[sapientia]

With my first my water broke 40 hours before the first real contraction-then 10 hours later she was born. No problems.

[mama_ani]

I have had four babies. Only my second labour started with my water breaking. It took 5 hours after my water broke for me to get crampy and then another 9 before I had real contractions and she was born after four hours of real contractions.
For the rest of my labours my water broke during labour, near the end, right before pushing.

[Jacquie99]

With DS1 my water broke in bed, and then contractions started about 2-3 hours later (I got to go back to sleep!). With DS2 we were all prepared, had the bed covered in plastic, and he was almost born en cul (sp?). My MF broke the water bag as his head was emerging. We'll see what happens this time!