How long can a woman wait for a baby after her water brakes?

Question

How long can a woman wait for a baby after her water brakes?

Answer 1

Actually, those who answered previously do not know what they are talking about. Generally, a woman would be in active labor and could be minutes away from pushing once water is broken, but it's not always the case. I have heard of women who waited 1 week after theirs broke.

It does protect mom and baby from infection, but if infection is not introduced in the first place, both are relatively safe. Checks at the hospital is the #1 way to introduce infection. Taking a bath or having s*x would be another. You have several people checking (hospitals are not as clean as you think - they are full of sick people) - and often, dilation checks are done unnecessarily.

Just because water ruptures or it's a slow leak does not warrant rushing to the hospital. Mine broke w baby # 3 and I still had to have a little pitocin 7 hours later because my labor wasn't regulating by itself.

With Baby #1, water broke and she was born 8 hours later. With my son, Baby #4, it was only 2 hours. No one can tell how long after water breaks - and sometimes the care giver needs to rupture the sac. It doesn't always break on it's own.  

Answer 2

you cant. you have to go immediately to the ER. once youre water breaks that your amniotic fluid...that protects the baby from any infection! if you want to deliver a safe healthy baby you need to go AS SOON AS THAT break!! no questions asked, even if youre not laboring. its dangerous.

Answer 3

A woman should go to the hospital immediately if her water breaks.  The baby needs the fluids in the womb, and infection could set in if there is no fluids around the baby.  My water broke at home at 11:30pm and I had my baby about 14 hours later.

Answer 4

after the water breaks you're in active labour and you're processing good if the baby is going to be moving down, but it can take hrs to minutes... After my water broke 1 hour later I was ready to push , baby came out within minutes..