Waters broke how long to labour

Your provider may suggest inducing labor in this case. Once your water has broken your baby is no longer as protected from infection as he was inside the fluid-filled sac. To be on the safe side, your provider may recommend you avoid having a bath or using tampons.

After your water breaks, you may still have some time to kill before active labor begins. You can still move around to find more comfortable positions, get a relaxing massage, watch a movie, or even spend some time looking at all the cool things you can get with the Pampers Rewards app!

In this case, labor should start within a few hours. It does not hurt when your water breaks, but this procedure can be a little uncomfortable; you might feel a tug, followed by a warm trickle or gush of water. Your provider is the expert and there to talk through your specific situation with you, but you can read about some of the reasons labor may need to be induced here. This is different from PROM, which is when the water breaks shortly before the onset of labor.

Contact your healthcare provider right away if your water breaks preterm. Together you can discuss the best course of action based on how many weeks pregnant you are and the health of you and your baby.

If you go to the hospital or maternity unit, they may suggest you go back home. Find out more about the stages of labour and what you can do at home during the latent phase.

When you have a contraction, your womb tightens and then relaxes. For some people, contractions may feel like extreme period pains. You may have had contractions during your pregnancy, particularly towards the end. These tightenings are called Braxton Hicks contractions and are usually painless. Your contractions tend to become longer, stronger and more frequent as your labour progresses.

During a contraction, the muscles tighten and the pain increases. If you put your hand on your abdomen, you'll feel it getting harder; when the muscles relax, the pain fades and you will feel the hardness ease. The contractions are pushing your baby down and opening the entrance to your womb the cervix , ready for your baby to go through. Call your midwife or maternity unit for guidance when your contractions are in a regular pattern and:.

Read more information on when to go to hospital. During pregnancy, there's a plug of mucus in your cervix. This mucus comes away just before labour starts, or when in early labour, and it may pass out of your vagina. Visit our community. Worried about feeling stressed when in labour? Learn how these mums managed to keep calm. More labour and birth videos. Your baby may also be vulnerable to infection after he has been born, so you'll need to stay in hospital for at least 12 hours after the birth NCCWCH If you have any concerns about your baby's health in the first five days after birth, phone your midwife immediately, so your baby can be checked promptly NCCWCH Read what mums say about induced labour.

Visit our community Do you have more questions about going into labour? Ask questions and get tips and advice from women who've been there in BabyCentre's friendly and supportive community.

References Bailey J. The placenta. Myles Textbook for Midwives. Physiology and care during the first stage of labour. Myles textbook for midwives. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, Lowth M. Labour: childbirth. Patient, patient. Planned early birth versus expectant management waiting for prelabour rupture of membranes at term 37 weeks or more. Induction of labour. Intrapartum care: care of healthy women and their babies during childbirth. Updated February Meconium aspiration. The risk of infection can be for either mom or baby.

Fortunately, doctors and nurses know what to look for and will watch you carefully and act accordingly. If you choose to labor at home with guidance from your caregiver , you may want to familiarize yourself with signs of infection so you can get prompt medical care when needed.

Chorioamnionitis , for example, is an infection of the uterus. While in the hospital, your doctor can monitor your temperature, heart rate, and other vital signs. Your baby will also be monitored using an external or internal fetal monitor during this time to look for signs of distress, like:. These may be signs of infection or that your baby has had a bowel movement meconium , which may cause issues with breathing after birth. Related: Natural ways to induce labor. The course of action here is a different balancing act than with PROM, because doctors must weigh the benefits versus risks of delivering a baby early versus exposing them to infection and other complications.

Your amniotic fluid is continually regenerating, so being hydrated and staying in bed may buy you some time. In a few cases, the break in the sac may seal back up on its own. In others, you may need to deliver your baby sooner than you may have expected.

The good news is that you may be able to cook baby a bit longer while being hospitalized and monitored. If everything is stable, you may deliver at around 34 weeks. If you have complications, your doctor may choose to deliver you before this milestone. Related: Second trimester pregnancy complications. However, some research shows a link with smoking, so kicking that habit is a good idea.

And if your water has broken, work together with your doctor to decide what birth plan is right for you. Otherwise, there are other options in place to get your baby into your arms safe and sound. Am I about to have a baby or did I pee a little?