Dumb Question...

dbertagni

If your water breaks, that does not necessarily mean you will start having contractions right? I swear I've heard of peoples water breaking and them going to the hospital and still needing pitocin, etc.

I'm just curious because today was my 36 week apt and I am 2cm and 50% effaced and she said the head was *right there*...I really don't want to go into labor and feel contractions! I know that all doesn't mean much, and I could not progress any further, but I am just thinking of the what ifs.

Mrs.LLG

My water broke prior to any contractions. I called the Dr. they said to go to L&D since my water had broken and it was 11:45pm. After 3 hrs I still wasn't having contractions so they gave me pitocin. Kick started those bad boys with vengeance. Even with pitocin I was in labor for 16 hrs before he made his arrival into the world. I had been 4 cm dilated for 3 weeks prior to my water breaking

jenhum

My water broke at about 1am one night, and contractions didn't start until maybe 7 or 8 am, and they weren't that strong. So if I hadn't had to do a c/s, I'm not sure how much longer they would have let me labor before putting me on pitocin. All I know is that they don't like the baby to be in there for more than 24 hours after your water breaks.

dbertagni

That is what I thought. I know my neighbors water broke and she didn't go to the hospital for like 6 hours or more because she had stuff to do!

I am just hoping if the baby does decide to come early (like Jocelyn did) that I won't be in active labor, that my water will just break or something. With Jocelyn I never had the need for pitocin or anything, my contractions were so strong and 5min apart when I woke up in labor the day she was born.

mrsmikey

It was about 7 hours between my water breaking and contractions that I could feel.

flamencogal

My water broke first both times prior to contractions.  But both times contractions came on strong within an hour of my water breaking.  With DS2 they weren't believing me that the contractions were THAT strong--they were taking their time prepping me for the c/s since he was breech.  I was trying to hurry them up--I wanted my spinal!  Finally the doc came in and checked me and announced that we needed to get to the OR NOW--we couldn't wait for bloodwork from the lab to come back.

VivianLee

I was just the opposite with Naomi.  I was 10cm and 100%, crazy strong contractions with a strong urge to push when I got to the hospital and my water had yet to break (it was buldging though).  I hope it all goes the way you want it to!

cmbrown

Yes, very true.  My water broke at 12:30am and then contractions really didn't start for another 8 hours.  Lol.  Then I was in labor for another 12 hours then had the csection.

nark

I know plenty of people who had their waters break and didn't start contractions for hours.

I, on the other hand, had painful BH for like 3 weeks, 2-8 minutes apart, while I hung out at 3-4 cm & 50% effaced. And then on D-day had "real" contractions for about 7 hours before my water broke at 6-7 cm. She was born 5 hours later. I kind of wish I wasn't thinking about that right now...

I hope it goes the way you're hoping!

ETA: Even though I was dilated, she didn't drop until the very end, so I'd think you have more of a chance of your water breaking if she's squishing down there already. Just a thought.