My water broke 68 hours ago!

Hi folks!

I'm 39 weeks and one day. On Saturday at 7pm or so (approx 68 hours ago) my water broke while I was in the kitchen. It didn't "pop" or gush out, just started trickling nonstop, and has been leaking on/off every few hours since then. We could see little flecks of vernix in it! And nobody ever told me this, but amnio fluid smells like semen!

Anyway - the midwifery where I go (owned by the hospital, so, some of their protocols are mainstream-medical-ish) said most women will go into labor by 72 hours. They referred me to their backup ob-gyn practice, where one of the doctors basically told me she wanted to do a c-section immediately (it hadn't even been 48 hours yet when I went to see her, and she didn't even ask me questions about my health). NO way is someone going to cut out the baby just because my water broke. She went on and on about how my baby will be born brain dead and/or actually dead because of infection risks, and that my only chance to have a healthy baby is getting a c-section immediately. She also had a nurse take my temp, which felt like a half-assed procedure and the nurse quickly said "99.0 degrees!" and went away, and then the Dr. decided that meant I had a FEVER, even after I pointed out that pregnant women have elevated temps (esp me, during the past 9 months). She said "we never see 99 degrees, it means infection. You need this baby out."

So I practically ran screaming from there, I'm back home and sick of the medicalization of birth. I am NOT GBS(strep) positive. I am full-term. I am young-ish (30) and healthy and hydrated. I am not taking baths or sticking anything up into the vajayjay. The fluid is clear, except for a few red streaks of mucus on the first day. I do not have a temperature. We check the baby's heartbeat every few hours and he's always 130-155 range. He kicks me after I eat or when I try to sleep.

SO - I can't even research outcomes for women like me. EVERYONE seems to get induced or c-sectioned these days! My partner's grandmother said she leaked fluid for 5 days before her first child was born! Am I crazy to wait? There is no evidence-based reasoning for the alarm of "increased infection" after water breaks that I can find, it's arbitrary at best and based on malpractice insurance protocol. Oh, and I had to refuse a pelvic exam SEVERAL times by that stupid doctor - telling her I did not want them because THAT is how bacterial infections start!

Also, I cannot be induced, because I have a prior uterine surgical history (too risky for rupture issues). I've tried other home remedies though, but we think baby is just taking his time. AND - there was a storm last Saturday (a change in barometric pressure has been shown to cause waters to break) and I had sex one hour before the water started leaking out. I also lost a good sized mucus plug a week and a half ago.

Thoughts? Anybody know of other natural-minded people who didn't intervene with baby's birth time?

Thanks. I'm still pissed off at the Dr. who told me my baby was basically dead. Awesome pep talk.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lolita on June 7, 2012 at 6:24am

This was a really helpful link, thanks!

Permalink Reply by Bella V. on June 7, 2012 at 4:41am

Go to spinningbabies dot com...if the baby is not it the right position, then you can help baby and then labor should progress. I had a steady leaking with my 3rd for a couple of months and he was engaged and I was dilated 6cm, fully effaced for 10 days before labor began (right after hubby time-so if you're ready for labor, it doesn't make things bad/worse or anything but help). No doc check-up, our 1st unassisted birth. He was posterior, but that was before I found spinningbabies. If you are taking care of yourself, then make sure that you don't have a prolapsed cord when baby does engage...other than that...you should be absolutely fine. Keep hydrated, eat raw honey for energy while in labor, or other high nutrient green drink to sip through straw (easy to get down). Praying for you and waiting for your news of your sweet new one!!

Permalink Reply by Lolita on June 7, 2012 at 6:28am

I've checked out their website before, thanks. However, my midwives say that baby is in "perfect position" (or at least has been since week 30 or so). He's LOA, I believe, he is head-down, back to my left and feet a little to my right. Maybe he just isn't down far enough? He probably doesn't have a prolapsed cord issue, since he's been head-down for so long, right in my pelvis when they palpate me. And my water would have gushed, not trickled, if he was up really high, right?

"Natural" remedies so far have gotten me contractions (dull pain from my lower back and into my pelvic area, similar to Braxton Hicks, but stronger), but no labor - they always fizzle out!

Permalink Reply by Bella V. on June 7, 2012 at 1:39pm

That's great, and yes, you woulda really gushed if he was high enough for a cord to come through. Hoola-hooping type things like belly dancing movements help baby align and turn whichever way is necessary for him to move farther down. I wouldn't do things to get labor going, but more to keep him in the right position or facilitate further progress, like deep squats and walking. That's all here...best wishes.

Permalink Reply by AngeBleuVie on June 12, 2012 at 9:50am

What's happen please , i hope everything is ok !

Permalink Reply by Lolita on June 15, 2012 at 8:38am

Baby boy was born at 1:05am on June 11th. Contractions started around 11am on Sunday. It was an unassisted, unmedicated homebirth in my bedroom, just me and my partner. I'm proud of myself for overcoming sooooo many medically advised interventions during my pregnancy and his birth. I'm also dealing with some post-traumatic experiences/emotions - labor and birth are really tough! Baby is healthy 6lbs 9oz and is perfectly fine. More details later, I'll probably blog about this. Thanks for all the amazing support here for me :)

Permalink Reply by Angela Camp on June 15, 2012 at 10:12am

Yay!!!! Thanks for updating us. I feel like I really know you in real life, lol, and your story is so inspiring and turns a lot of medical assumptions on their head. My daughter will be 3 weeks tomorrow and for what its worth labor and delivery were tough for me too, VERY tough! Just so you know you aren't alone:)

Permalink Reply by Lia de Lancey on June 15, 2012 at 2:08pm

Well done and congratulations! So glad it all turned out well x

Permalink Reply by Bella V. on June 16, 2012 at 10:00am

Way to go, girl!! Enjoy your rest time with your family! So happy to hear such great news! Blessings!

Permalink Reply by Banana Xandra on September 10, 2012 at 8:16am

Hi Lolita,

I just got back to 30BAD after living without a computer for awhile, so postpartum congratulations! I'm a doula in NYC and have experience working in and with hospitals. It's unfortunate that you were treated that way. It's unfortunate that most women are treated that way. Medical staff often don't trust women and assume that they know nothing about their own bodies or their baby.

Good for you for following you intuition, gut, uterus, etc! Women intuitively know what's best for their baby from the moment of conception. I'm extremely proud of you for doing what most women in this country would not.

If you're still pissed at that doctor (even if you're not pissed), you should send her a beautiful picture of you and your new family with a thank you. (Remind her of who you are.) Doctors need to relearn how to trust the people they care for.

lots of love, hugs, and doula kisses

Permalink Reply by Ashlei Iris on January 27, 2013 at 3:33pm

Amazing story!!! I really wish my first baby was born this way!!! My doctor practically forced my daughter out of me and it was the worst experience.. they wouldn't let me up to move, they "had to" monitor every heartbeat and if I moved an inch they would force me back because they lost the reading.. it was something so beautiful turned to something so medical and procedure.. one nurse even had the audacity to say to me "don't be afriad to get a c-section if needed" I thought... "%$#! you!" But at the end of the day I had a happy healthy baby after only 5 hours.. so I probably shouldn't complain lol

With baby number 2 we are planning a home birth this time around!!! This story really made me feel more justified in that decision!!!