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1123420 tn?1350561158

water breaking

I was just wondering how many woman actually have there water break before actual labor starts or anything...  Please explain ur expeirence with me also.  and will i know for sure when my water breaks or when i have a contraction.. im due in 4 days and starting to worry that i wont know im in labor, and since I live an hour away from the hospital i will be delievering at, im very worried.
32 Responses
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1262373 tn?1281543782
my 2nd child was an induction so I only counted my first.  I got up at 6am and thought that I had to pee.  My water broke while sitting on the toilet but I didn't know it at first.  I went back to bed and kept "wetting" myself so I went back and forth to the bathroom several times - then I started getting angry that I was "peeing" myself and couldn't control it.  I called my mom and explained the situation and she said that it sounded like my water had broke. I called my doc and they said to come to the hospital and my water had indeed broken. I didn't have any contractions and they acutally had to induce the rest of the labor.
Helpful - 0
1163675 tn?1274627512
Trust me, you WILL know when you are in labor.  Even after your water breaks, you will have plenty of time to grab your things and make it to the hospital so drive safe!

btw...a doctor never HAS to break water.  Its only for their convenience.  Studies show it only reduced labor by about 10 minutes but increases your chances of infection or c-section by 700%.  The longer you can keep it intact, the better off for your baby.  Its your body, your birth, take control of things that happen.
Helpful - 0
719902 tn?1334165183
WIth 4 pregnancies, mine has never broke before I went into the hopsital.  (Since I'm a middle school teacher, it was one of my biggest fears, LOL How embarrassing would THAT be?!?)  Anyway, the doctor broke it three of the four times, to "speed things up", and the fourth time it did break on it's own, just after I got settled into my hosiptal room.  
You willl know when/if it happens!!
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Avatar universal
Oh, ps.  Doctor had to break water on the second one, too, right before delivery.
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Avatar universal
With my first I went 2 weeks over before I was finally induced.  I remember feeling like I just wanted him to get here, too.  My water broke on top, so it trickled out.  I felt it. Like all the other ladies say, it felt like I peed, but I knew I didn't pee.  So I went to the hospital and they did the litmus test, they said my water didn't break and sent me home.  I went to the doctor 3 days later and he did a litmus test and said my water definetly did break but was so slowly leaking it wasn't noticeable.  Then I was induced, they had to re-break my waters right as I was pushing and had my son 16 hours later.
With my second I also lived about 45 mins from the hospital.  I went into labor at night on Tuesday, then labored on and off all day on Weds, by the end of the night I started walking around and left for the hospital when the contractions were 5 mins apart (probably should have gone a little sooner).  I got to the hospital and they were 2.5 mins apart but I was only 5 cm dialated.  Labor was so hard and painful that I got an epidural that time and an hour later I felt pressure.  The nurse checked me and told me not to sit up because the baby was coming.  Two pushes and she was out before the doctor could get into the room.  The resident delivered the baby and did great.

I hope you have your baby soon.  I know it's sooooo awful having to wait with that first one.  Mine also got up into my ribs and I kinda pushed them and moved them out of there by laying on the opposite side so they would slide down to the other side. lol.  I'm not sure if you're supposed to do that, though.
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Avatar universal
You'll be fine! The norm for first time mommies is that labor lasts several hours if not a couple days. And if you DID have your baby on the side of the road it really won't be a big ordeal. ;-) They'll be fine and so will you! Women have been having babies for a very long time, long before there were men in white coats catching the babies.

I remember my babies laying on one side of my stomach like that! Awwww! You guys are making me baby hungry (or I guess pregnancy hungry, LOL)!
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1123420 tn?1350561158
yea i asked my doctor about induction, and he wasnt for it at all.. hes not leineant at all. and yes i worry constantly.  my fiancee lost his first baby at birth 2 years ago with his ex. so this wholepregnancy had been nothing but worries.  Im so ready for my baby to get here healthy. i would feel soooo much better.  and be able to sleep at night without nightmares
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1298204 tn?1277420085
And one more thing...she was not a worrier. Sounds like you are ( like myself) You will KNOW when it's time to go to the hospital:)  If your that worried (like I was) you could always ask to be induced so you don't have to worry about it and since your so far from the hospital?
Helpful - 0
1298204 tn?1277420085
OH I'm sorry!!!! That IS NOT normal! You will be fine and in my opinion, labor is wonderful!!! Even my friend who had her baby in the car said it was scary but a wonderful experience and she felt like she could run a marithon afterwards;)
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1123420 tn?1350561158
Omg thats a scary story..  Woo im kinda freaked out now, since my hospital is so far away and this is my first pregnancy, i have no idea what im feeling or looking for!!!
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1298204 tn?1277420085
a girlfriend of mine had some fluid leaking on Sat and she called the hospital to ask if it was her water and should she come in. The nurse told her that it probably wasnt and if she came in they would just send her home. Nurse told her to take a shower, eat and lay down. After a few hours her pain was so intence that they headed to the hosital. On the way there, her body started shaking and pushing the baby out. She had the baby in the car about a mile from the hospital and her husband stopped long enough to take the baby out of her pants and hand him to her! Mommy and baby are fine but what a story!!  Sorry, i had to share because it just happened and I still can't believe I know someone that had her baby in the car!!!!!
Helpful - 0
1012334 tn?1283702979
I have had 3 babies and am currently pregnant with #4. with my first baby I went into labor at 28 weeks, i did'nt know it I just knew i was having a lot of discharge, went inot the Dr and I was 3 cm dialated and contracting every 3 minutes, I went to the hospital and they checked me for fluid and i was leaking amniotic fluid, but my water had not actually broken. they slowed down my labor for 3 days and my leak resealed its self (I did'nt even know it could do that at the time) then they could'nt slow it down any more and let me go into labor my water did not break. I was fully dialated and ready to push and it still had not broke, when I started to push it broke on it's own, but I thought they probably should have broke my water before that! with baby #2 when I got to the hospital I was already 7cm dialated and my water had not broke, I got stuck at a 7 for a while, so then the Dr broke my water and I delivered within an hour. with baby #3 I wanted to be induced since I had already been dialated to 3 1/2 cm for a month, when I went in for the induction I asked the Dr if we could just break my water and let me walk to get things started, instead of starting my on pitocin right away, he agreed and broke my water and I walked had him 5 hours later with no pitocin needed. this time when I have the baby I plan to ask them to break my water right away since it really seems to speed things up for me! Good luck! I know how hard those last few days of waiting can be my first 2 were early, so i did'nt have to wait, but the last one seemed to take forever and I was induced 4 days early!
Helpful - 0
1123420 tn?1350561158
I already read statistics, i wanted to hear stories from the ladies on here. I love hearing birthing stories!
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Avatar universal
you can read online for statistics. One out of four.
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1123420 tn?1350561158
Wow these are all very informational, thanks ladies...  I started losing my mucus plug 3 weeks ago, but only on a few occassions, but then when i got examined last week, for 6 days straight now ive been losing mucus everytime i pee.  Theres sooo much of it, but only the night of my exam i had brown lining in it, for the rest of the 5 days is been clear or alil green color.  and i have been having a couple cramps here and there but nothing strong or consistant. I really feel like hes never gonna come, Im sure every mother feels that way. lol..  Just recently he has been in my ribs, i was just bragging the other day to a friend that Ive never had a problem with him in my ribs, but now hes always there, its like he shifts his whole body to my right side and up in my ribs, ill feel my right side and its hard as a rock, and then my left side is all squishy so i know hes all in my right side, makes me wonder what he is doing over there.. lol..  but it hurts so bad, i thought i knew pain from all his strong movements and kicks and punches, but I have to say nothing compares to the pain of him in my ribs..  I never thought I would say this, but now im ready to feel the pain of labor!  tomorrow is my 40 week checkup i really hope something has happend down there
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202436 tn?1326474333
I didn't vote becuase I have too many kids and it won't let me vote more than once LOL so here are my experiences:

Baby1:  emergency c-section, no labor, no contractions, no nothing
Baby2:  woke up with really intense contractions, LOTS of mucus, didn't go to the hospital til that night, water broke as I was walking down the hall to L & D
Baby3: Water broke at midnight, then contractions started immediately, she was born at 6:27 am
Baby4: woke with moderate contractions, leaking fluid, l & d said it wasn't fluid, I was only 2cm and 50%, they sent me home, called my ob she said to go back becuase my contractions were increasing, got back at 3:30, was leaking fluid, 5 cm, fully effaced, water broke at 5:30 and he was born at 6:54
Baby5: Induction, started pitocin at 2 pm, contractions started and began to increase, water broke around 7, contractions got much worse, he was born at 8:28 pm
Helpful - 0
1039620 tn?1272594004
Both my labors were quite short and my water didn't break with either of them before labor started. With my first, my doctor broke my water when I was 8 cm. I was in labor for four hours before it was broke. With my second, my water broke on it's own, but not until I was fully dilated and ready to push.
Helpful - 0
736293 tn?1316517842
My water didn't break until I was in labor for 9 hours and I was 7 cm dilated.  Like everyone else says, you will know when it happens.  I had just gotten to the hospital and I vomited which caused my water break.  I have a freind though that was fully dilated when she got to the hospital and her still hadn't broke, so it is different for everyone.  I had my daughter last May and I only missed having her on Mother's Day by 2 hours.  It would be very special for you, so I am hoping you can get your wish.  Good luck and I hope you get to hold your baby soon!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
my water broke at 5am the day before my due date. i was rolling out of bed to go pee when i felt it. i still had to pee so i knew that my water had broke. this was my 1st pregnancy/ delivery. i had my dd at 1:02 that afternoon. i found by 7am i was having pretty regular contractions, right after my water broke i had a bowel movement which i was told was my body getting ready for labour. my labour went very fast, my dr said usually if your water breaks on its on labout comes faster.

hope this helps!  good luck
Helpful - 0
1211078 tn?1277494569
I was induced with my first and with my second my water broke, but not all the way. You will most likely know what when you are in labor. I live 45 min from my hospital and my doc tells me to leave when my contractions are 5 min apart. You will probably be safe if you are on your way when your contractions are about 7 min apart, but of course if your water breaks first, then you should leave immediately and then you won't have to worry about making it on time. Good luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
with my one and only pregnancy my water broke. i was 34 weeks (with twin boys) and just got out of the shower when there was a gush. i yelled for my mom (i was a high risk pregnancy so dh and i decided it would be best that i stay with mom, we were stationed in d.c...he was the marine...me the wife...and it was a good thing too. he was on 24 hr duty when my water broke..thank god he had another marine with him so he could leave) and when she came in i looked at her and said "i think i peed on the floor. i didn't know i had to pee.." she laughed and said "honey...that wasn't pee, your water broke." me: "no way. i still have 6 more weeks to go. they're not done in there yet." mom: "apparently they disagree." me: "well, i have to shower again...i feel gross."


i got in the shower....45 minutes later we left. we stopped for something to eat on the way to the hospital ( i was starving). my contractions started 20 minutes after i got to the hospital and started pushing 2 hours after that. within 45 minutes later my boys were born.
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Avatar universal
I voted based on my most current birth. My water broke at home. Believe me- YOU WILL KNOW! It is nothing like peeing your pants. It almost feels like a balloon gently popping (doesn't hurt and SOME women hear a sound but I don't recall hearing anything). It's a hard sensation to describe but it was like I felt like my bag of waters popped and then fluid just came out.

I was laying down when I felt all this liquid and felt that weird "deflating" sensation in my stomach and KNEW my water broke. So when I stood up I did have a gush (she also wasn't fully engaged; when their head is fully engaged it acts as a plug so you won't always have a gush, maybe just a trickle).

I started shaking immediately. Your water breaking causes a hormonal reaction. You will shake/shiver in labor at some point and that is completely normal. My teeth were chattering horribly and I just felt shaky. It passed after several minutes. Then the contractions started and got stronger and stronger by the time we reached the hospital.

Before my water broke I didn't have consistent contractions and I was 40 weeks 3 days so I felt like, "WHEN am I ever going to go into labor?!" She was born 5 hours after my water broke.

***

My previous two births; I was already at the hospital for contractions and to help things progress they broke my water. Both times they broke my water it only took about 3 hours until I was pushing and had a baby in my arms. So my water did NOT break at home with those two.

I don't know if it is more common for women who've already given birth to have their water break or what.
Helpful - 0
432779 tn?1364494875
I was 37 weeks and was sleeping downstairs on the couch as this was the only place I was comfortable at this point. At 1:15 am I woke up as I thought I had peed I went to the bathroom and a little water came out. I went up to my husband and told him I thought my water broke so I was going to call the doctor. I went back to sit on the toilet and had a huge gush of water. Told the doctor and headed to the hospital which is also an hour away. After 5-10 mins in the car my contractions were really intense  and so close I couldnt take a breath.I got to the hospital at 2:30, begging for the epidural which I got at 4:30.I delivered Fionn at 8:15.
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951477 tn?1293068687
This is a very interesting poll. Love it!!!
I am also a little cautious about the whole water breaking thing and even put a mattess pad as if it happens in my bed I don't want to ruin the mattress...lol!!

with the raging hormones and crying I don't think you are that far away from being able to hold your baby. Hang in there chickie.. hugs!!
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