Any way to help prevent rupture of membranes without labor?

vszapp

With DD my NB plans were shot when I had strong BH contractions after going pee in the middle of the night at 38w2d. I won't rehash my sob story, but in spite of walking, castor oil, and a few other things, I had only very mild contractions until 36h later, and was only 1cm dilated, so the MW sent me to be induced. How common is it to have this happen again? Is there anything (nutrition, otherwise) I can do to stack the odds in my favor this time?

sschwege

I have heard that vitamin C can help to strengthen your bag of water, not sure how well it's been studied though or if there's any truth to it.  I take a vitamin C tablet every day (pregnant or not) in addition to my prenatal vitamin.  Both times my bag stayed intact until right before crowning when my MWs broke the bag.  But I pushed for an hour with my first and it just kept looking like a balloon about to burst, but it never broke.  Who knows if it was the vitamin C or not though.

rooftop

I've heard vitamin c as well. It's worth a shot and it won't harm you. GL. Also, do you know if there was any reason you failed to progress that you might focus on? Withy m LO I had a very slow dilation because of positioning. Just something to think about.

vszapp

rooftop said:

I've heard vitamin c as well. It's worth a shot and it won't harm you. GL. Also, do you know if there was any reason you failed to progress that you might focus on? Withy m LO I had a very slow dilation because of positioning. Just something to think about.

I would actually LOVE to know why things didn't progress. I had a ridiculous amount of BH in the months leading up to her birth, I thought for sure she was just going to fly right out of me! It may very well have been positioning. I don't know exactly how she was positioned, but I do remember the MW saying after the birth that she wasn't quite in the optimal orientation. I had an extremely painful induced labor where it took me 8 hours after induction to get to 3cm dilated (thought I was in transition and almost passed out it was so painful, then had to get an epi) and the pain was completely centered right on my pubic bone like I was being crushed under a truck. Anyway, I guess I didn't realize that positioning in itself could slow labor... interesting.

noraraeuc

Why not just wait it out? It can take days for labor to start, the amniotic sac can even re-seal. As long as no one is shoving their hands in your vagina to introduce foreign bacteria, learn the signs of infection and you stay hydrated there is actually little concern with broken waters. The fluid is constantly being replenished and flushing bacteria down and out.

CDMay2006

Good nutrition helps ensure building and maintaining a healthy/strong amniotic sac, too.
Eta: oops, didn't see this already mentioned in op.

vszapp

noraraeuc said:

Why not just wait it out? It can take days for labor to start, the amniotic sac can even re-seal. As long as no one is shoving their hands in your vagina to introduce foreign bacteria, learn the signs of infection and you stay hydrated there is actually little concern with broken waters. The fluid is constantly being replenished and flushing bacteria down and out.

I wish - I used a natural birthing center that was located in a university hospital. Their policy is to induce after 24 hours, but I convinced them to wait until 36...