Induction vs. Breaking Your Water?

rohrs55 · June 2010

I was talking with my mom yesterday about my doctor wanting to schedule an induction at my appointment Monday. She said that with myself and three siblings, she was in 'light' labor, the doc broke her water, and all of us were born within 4 hours. I do plan to discuss this with my doc on Monday, but I was wondering if anyone was/is able to opt for getting their water broken instead of Pitocin. My mom last delivered a baby over 30 years ago, so I am sure practices have changed since then. But, I wonder if breaking water is a more natural way to induce. I really don't want to start my labor with drugs.

Ms.Wax · June 2010

If you are in labor, they sometimes break your water to help speed things along. They did this to me when my contraction slowed from every 3-4 minutes to every 5-7 minutes. However, I've never heard of a doctor breaking your water if you are not already having contractions.

klrobie · June 2010

nope, I did the pitocin for four hours and THEN they broke my water because my labor wasn't progressing. Ended up having a c-section at the end, anyway.

Good Luck!

southernsweetieal · June 2010

I think they can if your dialated some. But if they break your water they dont like you to go over 24hrs without delivering due to risk of infection. I think they rather induce you with pitocin rather than take a chance on you not progressing quick enough in the time zone if they where to break your water.

BlondiePhD · June 2010

Sounds like breaking the water isn't really the best option to get things started. Basically, I think breaking the water puts you on a restricted timeline that is not guaranteed to lead to active labor (due to the possibility of infection after the water has been broken). Maybe that is why they start with pitocin to make sure active labor is underway before breaking your water.

JKB1986 · June 2010

Sorry to intrude but I was 4cm when I went in for my induction. He broke my water and had me walk. They didn't start pitocin until I was like 8 cm just to keep things going and they only used a little bit. I started contracting hard on my own within about an hour of breaking my water. I'm very glad they broke my water and didn't start pitocin until way later. My labor lasted from 9 am to 6:20 pm when I delivered so it did take a bit. HTH!

Stef419 · June 2010

My doctor said she'd break my water if I was 4cm. She said it was more natural then petocin...

Coleslawcat · June 2010

I had my water broken for both of my inductions, but that was not the first step. The first time I had cervadil first and with my second induction I had a dose of cytotec first. Both times I had those put me into labor. With my first induction I had pitocin as well. My doctor broke my water around 4 cm to augment my labor. The contractions were 1000 times more intense once my water was broken. They were much harder to handle than the pitocin contractions were prior to my water breaking. The good news is that it worked well for me both times. I got my epidural within an hour or so both times and had successful inductions. My second induction I never needed pitocin at all. The cytotec to jump start my labor and then breaking the water was all it took.

trickywoo · June 2010

If you are dilated at all - even a fingertip, they can break your water. But most hospitals have the 24 hour/infection window, so I'm not sure they would do it just to see what happens.

When I was induced last time, they broke my water and started pitocin at the same time.

Good luck!

Want a personalized experience?

Induction vs. Breaking Your Water?

Re: Induction vs. Breaking Your Water?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards