Hey! I'm a FTM, due in about 3wks. I have a question about getting your water broken... I know that not everyone's water breaks. What are the reasons for having the OB or midwife break your water? What are the risks of.having your water broken? Because I've read some people say that it's actually less stress on the baby if the water bag stays intact? I'm confused about all of this! TIA!
Re: Breaking Water
Engaged 10/2/1202
BFP (a lil quicker than expected) 12/7/2012
Married to my best friend 12/24/2012
Beautiful baby girl arrived 8/15/2013
BFP #2 3/13/2016
All of this. From what I learned in my Bradley class it is very rare to medically need your water broken. It is better to let it break on its own during labor.
I had the same mindset for my delivery as well. I was at 9 cm and moving along nicely and the labor nurse suggested that if we broke my water, I'd probably deliver within the hour. I agreed figuring we were close to the end anyway so the "clock" wasn't going to be an issue. While waiting for the doctor to come, I stood up and my water broke itself. The rest of labor was very quick and LO was out after only 12 minutes of pushing. I would make the same decision again.
I typically have my membranes artificially broken at 9cm dilation. It's not medically necessary strictly, but I always have my bag of waters bulging through my dilated cervix, which is preventing baby's head from laying on it. Having baby's head on the cervix increases effectiveness of contractions towards dilation, since the baby's head and gravity are also now applying pressure to the cervix and stretching it. At 9cm, my OB will offer to break my waters for pain management purposes - it seems contradictory, since the contractions intensify after ROM, but it speeds up the dilation process significantly, so you spend less time in transition and more time in 2nd stage labor.
So, while I get some people wouldn't do it, I would say that having them artificially ruptured when you are in transition/active labor is fine. I don't like it when hospitals rupture membranes as part of an induction, since one doesn't know if the induction will take, and OBs are generally uppity to perform a CS for 'failure to progress' once ROM has occurred.
With both my babies my bag stayed intact even while pushing. Both times my MW broke the bags right before crowning. After I had my first I asked why they didn't just let the baby be born in the sac and my MW said that some people theorize that the baby's lungs might not fully clear. She went on to say that plenty of babies are born in their sac without issue, but that's just a possible concern.
I can honestly say that while labor was intense, I really didn't think it was that bad, never entertained an epi, I have always wondered if leaving the bag intact was the reason.
My Ovulation Chart
My labor got super intense after my water was broken with both my kids. I would labor as long as possible w/o AROM.However, if my labor stalled or something, I would consider it as an option before pit.
And just to share my experience, I dilated to an 8 and still wasn't in labor with Dd. My MW's were over at my house, so we decided to break my bag and begin labor so I would be certain to have them there and not deliver unassisted! Had my baby in my arms soon after. So in some circumstances, I think AROM could be beneficial. GL mama
Also, it is much harder for babies to turn once the water has broken. That means if baby is posterior when your water breaks, it will be harder for him or her to turn anterior.
Of course, you also looks the cushion for your contractions and also more opportunity for an infection to develop.
With my first, a nurse checked me, said I was at 9cm and they called the OB. He came in, "offered" to break my water, which I agreed to since I thought I was at 9cm. He broke my water, then told me it turns out I was actually only at 7cm. I don't know if he knew that before he broke the water or not... I had a water birth, so that helped ease the contractions, at least. I am hesitant this time to let the OB break my water before I'm actually pushing in order to avoid that kind of situation again.