If your water broke on its own come in...

mrsdahamm · March 2014

I keep thinking back on my own labor/delivery experience and something is really bothering me. Since my water had broken they did not want me out of bed moving around because they said the baby could shift and compress his cord. I have seen several birth stories of moms whose water broke and they were still able to move around. What was your experience?
(I'm curious because I ended up with a c section due to failure to progress and while the experience was fine, I'm still a little bummed and feel like it somehow could have or should have gone differently.)

nblondheim · March 2014

I had a water break with a leak at 26 weeks. Due to constant monitoring they knew there was no cord issues. I had bathroom privileges but that was it.

BrideNamedMeg · March 2014

My water broke while pushing both times, so I couldn't say from my own experience - I wasn't in the mood to move around at that point.

The thought process there doesn't make all that much sense to me....was he really high up? If his head was engaged I would think there's almost no chance he could compress his cord since it would be above him anyway.

benevolentforce · March 2014

They told me even though baby is engaged that there is still some water (up to a cup they said) between her head and the exit. This is the space they're worried about the cord getting stuck in and compressed once that cushion leaks/breaks away. I'm actually sitting at the hospital about to be checked now because they're concerned I'm leaking, and this is one of the possible issues (another being infection apparently).

Edited because mobile typos.

nlane0723 · March 2014

My water broke and I was able to move around until I got my epi (about 12 hours between water breakage and back candy). I progressed very slowly, but my IV's kept infiltrating and there was a 3 hour period that I wasn't receiving Pitocin because they couldn't find a new vein. If I hadn't been so adamant about a vaginal delivery, I would have been whisked away to the OR.

KariB509 · March 2014

Hmm my water broke on its on, before I even got to the hospital. I wasn't told I wasn't allowed to move around but I didn't want to either. I made several trips to the restroom though.

PinupMomma08 · March 2014

My water broke at 9am and I didn't go in until 430. When I called they didn't say anything about not moving around.

ndpoole · March 2014

My water broke as I was pushing.

BabiesFTW · March 2014

KariB509 said:
Hmm my water broke on its on, before I even got to the hospital. I wasn't told I wasn't allowed to move around but I didn't want to either. I made several trips to the restroom though.

This for DD#1

Kewii · March 2014

My water broke as well. I was allowed to move around, but ended up with a c section for failure to progress as well. I'm having similar thoughts as you. I'm really disappointed and being in so much pain and having such a long recovery ahead doesn't help me feel better.

DTNZ4Ever · March 2014

My water broke at home. I got to the hospital and was not contracting and barely 1/2cm. DS was not engaged and very high still. I was not allowed out of bed because of cord concerns. I couldn't even go to the bathroom.

Hdhtk4 · March 2014

My water broke at work. I was admitted to the hospital 2 hours later and they actually told me to walk the halls to encourage labor progression. Of course that was before my epidural.

jennybean80 · March 2014

It depends on the type of leak (in front of or behind baby's head) and how high baby is. I wasn't allowed out of bed except to go to the bathroom because the babies' were still high after my water broke.

PerkyErky · March 2014

My water broke at home and once I got the hospital I wasn't restricted at all. I didn't have a gush though, just a constant leak. Dr also knew how engaged baby was and he was way down in there. I ended up with a c-section due to fetal distress after pushing for awhile.

memo9 · March 2014

My water broke before labor started. I was encouraged to move around and do whatever I needed to do. I gave birth with a mw at a birth center.

Natty13umppo · March 2014

My water broke first (with no contractions until hours later) and they had me walking the halls awhile to try to get labor going.

That said, I have heard that you should be careful with movement depending on HOW your water breaks. If you have a sudden big gush, the risk of cord prolapse is a lot greater, I think. I think you are supposed to lie down right away and even lie down in the car on the way to the hospital (????) if you can. I could be remembering it wrong, but I thought I read that somewhere...

elliebean14 · March 2014

I had the sudden gush in my home town, about 1.5 hours from our hospital. My midwife told me to get to the hospital as soon as possible and once there I was told to stay in bed except to go to the bathroom because the midwife/OB team thought constant fetal monitoring was best. Baby was born vaginally 29 hours after my water broke. I had a very patient midwife who knew my wish was to have a vaginal birth if circumstances allowed and she helped me do everything possible to move things along naturally despite being stuck in bed/the rocking chair in the room.

braintree · March 2014

I walked the halls after my water broke.

*Naea* · March 2014

My water broke that morning at 8am and I was encouraged to walk, and allowed to bounce on a yoga ball even while on a pitocin drip. Didn't need to lie down until I requested the epi finally. I had her 2 hours later.

megs68 · March 2014

Mine broke and I was confined to bed with DS because he was floating so high still and there was a risk of prolapse. Definitely a real risk if the baby isn't engaged. (I ended up with a c/s too and I still have a lot of what-ifs about the entire experience.)

lindsey1031 · March 2014

Mine broke on it's own, but I was encouraged to stay up and moving to try and get labor started. It never started on its own, so I had to have pitocin. While confined to the labor room, I was still able to get up, go the bathroom and try various laboring positions while working through contractions and pushing. The hospital I was at was baby friendly and very willing to work with me to help me have as natural a labor as possible. I still ended up with a c-section because the baby was stuck and it had been well over 24 hours since my water broke.

dannie2011 · March 2014

My water broke at 11am, no contraction at all till after 5pm. Lucas was up high so my OB did worry about the cord possibly coming out before baby. She said if it happened it would be an emergency c-section. I was allowed to walk the halls, shower, and bounce on the yoga ball the whole time. I was GSB+ so I did have to get back in bed every 4 hours for anti biotics, and they put the monitors on me while I was there. The OB was comfortable with me going 12 hours with no contractions but said I could go up to 24 before she really started worrying.

jjt616 · March 2014

My water broke and had meconium in it so I had to be monitored the whole time. I was able to be out of bed, be on the birthing ball as far as the cords to the monitors would allow. Once every hour I had to Lay on bed for ten minutes so they could get a solid read on how the baby was doing. It was only because of the meconium that The baby needed to be monitored.

helenalcoble · March 2014

My water broke on its on and doctor's also didnt want me to move (:| but I had friends who were able to walk around.. but im not sure if they didnt want me up and about cause of the pain meds or if it was cause my water had broken.

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DEL14 · March 2014

Mine broke before labor. A couple medium gushes but no active leaking so I actually wAited 6 hours before even going in and even then I wasn't 100% sure it broke. It had and once at the hospital I was encouraged to walk and use a yoga ball. Baby and i were monitered via a wireless monitor. I eventually got too tired and the contractions to intense to walk. I gave in to an epidural and once that happened no more walking. Baby came 28 hours after my water broke.

mhilpisch10 · March 2014

My water broke at home ( pretty big gush.) waited a few hours before going to the hospital when I got there I labored in bed, on the birthing ball, in the tub and back to the bed. They said I could walk the halls if I wanted. Changing positions I feel really helped my labor progress.

karacakes98 · March 2014

Mine broke in a gush. Once I was initially checked and baby was briefly monitored, I was allowed to do as I pleased. I was actually encouraged to walk to move things along.

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