Water Broke But No Contractions. What To Do Next?
We often connect with labor. Water breaking means that the amniotic fluid has leaked, which indicates oncoming contractions and that you're ready to deliver. However, water can occasionally break before labor starts. This is referred to as premature rupture of membranes (PROM). Should your water break before you get to the 37th week of pregnancy, this is referred to as preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). What should be your next step? ?
If water breaks before your labor contractions start, your midwife or doctor will offer you several alternatives, depending on your medical history and other symptoms. Together, you can choose what's best for you. While some recommendations are safe, you may fail to respond to them. Others may also be unsafe, given your medical history. It is also essential to discuss when to visit the hospital, doctor's office, or birth center. Or, if you're planning a home birth, your midwife will inform you when they'll come to check on you and the baby. Read on for more.
What Does This Mean For Mom and the Baby?
According to , your baby should be delivered within 96 hours of your water breaking because there's a higher risk of an infection developing in the womb and the baby catching an infection. 5 in 1000 pregnant women whose waters haven't broken will get an infection. Women beyond 37 weeks of pregnancy whose waters have broken but labor hasn't started are advised to go home and wait for labor to start. 6 out of 10 women naturally go into labor in the next 24 hours after the water has broken, and most labor within 48 hours. This means that you prevent the
However, if your baby isn't born within the next 24 hours after your water breaks, she will need to stay in hospital for 12 hours after delivery so that she can be closely monitored for any infection signs. A few women won't go into labor within 48 hours, and they'll be advised to have their labor induced. How soon a woman is induced is dependent on their individual circumstances. If your water has been leaking for over 48 hours, but you want your labor to be induced, doctors will monitor you and your baby closely for any signs of infection. This involves checking your blood pressure and pulse, examining your tummy to check your baby's position, listening to their heartbeat, and conducting an internal examination with a speculum.
What To Do While You Wait
Labor will sometimes take a few hours to kick in. If you and your practitioner are okay with it, waiting for some time may be suitable, assuming that you and the baby are doing fine. It generally means no sex, no baths, and nothing goes into your vagina. At this point, you're also wondering whether care should be given in the hospital or at home. According to , there isn't adequate data presently to say that one leads to a better outcome.
For most, it's a personal preference, and it is typically safe to stay at home long as you don't have any signs of infection: foul smell, fever, or discolored fluid.
Also, antibiotics aren't recommended for pregnant women who experience PROM. If you don't have an infection, there are no benefits to using antibiotics, and there are potential risks linked to their use.
Ways To Induce Labor
1. include:
Waiting until you start to have contractions.
Walking heightens pressure on the cervix, which causes contractions.
Nipple stimulation- you can use hands or a pump to stimulate the nipples, which increases the chances of oxytocin production, which may help start contractions.
Acupuncture and acupressure
2. Medical interventions: states that your doctor can administer Pitocin to help start contractions.
What If My Water Breaks Too Early?
PPROM is a pregnancy complication that happens when the . This can increase the chances of infection and stillbirth.
Several factors that can cause PPROM include:
Being underweight with poor nutrition.
Women who've already had a preterm birth.
Women with a short cervical length.
Vaginal bleeding during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
Pregnant women who are at least 37 weeks pregnant may be recommended to proceed to delivery based on their medical history. However, for women between 24 and 34 weeks, their doctor may delay labor and delivery until the baby develops. A healthcare provider may recommend:
Taking antibiotics to help prevent infections
Magnesium sulfate protects your child's nervous system and lowers the risk for neurological impairment.
Corticosteroids to help your child's lungs mature.
Sources
, ,
