Is it true after breaking your water you only have 24 hours to deliver vaginally?

Question

Someone told me this, I am being induced on September 2nd at 5am unless I go into labor on my own but my doctor doesnt think that will happen. I'm 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant and only 1 cm dialated. Does being induced make your labor longer? I'm afraid of the contractions just being so immediate and me not being prepared for them, I mean because my doc said I check in at 5am he will meet me there at 7 and break my water bag, thats all I was told. When is the last time I should eat before I go check in at 5am. I am also GBS + will I need to tell them that or will they know already? Will the medicine make me sick? Does it sting, someone told me once it stings going in. Did you get an epidural? Did your milk come in even though you were induced and since you didnt let your body go naturally?

Answer 1

I'm not sure what the exact timeframe is for delivery after your water breaks, but they won't allow you to stay in labor for a long time because there is a risk of infection.  (Plus, the baby doesn't have amniotic fluid to float around in anymore.)

I was induced with my son, and I was surprised at how gradual the process was.  I was started on a very slight Pitocin drip and nothing really happened for about two hours.  (I was already 4 cm when I went in though, so they may have started me on a smaller dose than normal.)  

I've only had one baby, but I didn't feel like the labor was excessively short or excessively long.  It was about 7 hours, though everyone is different.  

For your own comfort, I wouldn't eat a big meal the night before, and I wouldn't eat anything before you go in in the morning.  

If you've preregistered at the hospital, they should know that you're GBS+ and will add the medication to your drip at the right time, but it doesn't hurt to double-check.  I don't remember it stinging, but they put it in towards the end, and you're pretty busy at that time!!  

I HIGHLY recommend the epidural.  I got mine at 8 cm, and it was a great relief.  (They'll let it wear off before you push, so you'll still have some pain, but it gets you through the worst of it.)  

Your milk should come in even though you were induced.  (It took several days for mine, and I supplemented with formula at first.)  Just make sure you drink LOTS of liquids!!  That's the best thing you can do to help your body produce milk.

Answer 2

Wow! Lots of questions lol I will try to get to them all.  Ok.  Being induced can make your labor longer, or shorter.  Its really hard to tell.  As for breaking your water, yes, 24 hours is best so you don't have a dry birth (Ouch!).  I started to leak colostrum (but barely, it normally had to be squeezed out)before being induced, but my milk never came in really, I was engorged about 24 hours and then that went away.  I had a c-section, so I obviously had an epidural.  It felt like a little prick, but was nowhere near as bad as I expected it to be, and they even had to dig a little because my belly was so round I couldn't bend over good (lol). They should already know that you are GBS+ but I would tell them again to be sure.  

Be aware the stripping the membranes and breaking your water are NOT the same thing.  I think the person above me thinks they are.  You cannot wait 3 days after your water breaking.

Answer 3

Yes. At least in Canada, it is.

Actually the pitocin is the same thing your brain produces to begin your labor. So in a way, it's kind of natural.

Answer 4

Yes to reduce the risk of infection

Answer 5

I can answer every question you have cause I have been there myself. I am a mom of two and was induced with my second partially because I tested positive for GBS.

Being induced can prolong labor. And although the contractions don't start right away they do tend to become intense rather quickly when compared to natural labor. You do generally have some time to get adjusted to them though. With my last I was in labor for 8 hours once contractions started and didn't get too uncomfortable until like hour 5.  

Breaking your water does also speed up the labor process and will intensify contractions. It isn't too bad but once they break your water they want you to deliver within 24 hours or the chance of infection goes up greatly as germs can now make their way inside. But since you are GBS positive an induction is usually the best route since you are quaranted to get the meds you need in time. I was only in labor 4 hours with my first so had I been positive for GBS then my baby wouldn't have been able to get all the meds in time.

Most hospitals will let you eat before an induction as long as you keep it light... every hospital has different policies.. so check with them.

The hospital will know that you are gbs positive and will start you on anti biotics either before they start you or right after they start you. They will also make sure that you don't go too fast cause you should have two doses of maeds before baby arrives to make sure that he or she will be ok. For me it did sting at first but after a bit you get used to it. It just sucks cause you can't move around that much and being stuck in one spot can make the pain seem worse.

I did get an epidural about 5 1/2 hours into labor. I needed it cause they were actually trying to slow down my labor so I could get all my meds intime. But it was great not having the pain. And I was able to push baby out with only one push.

As far as your milk mine came in the same as it did with my first. I actually had a lot easier time breatfeeding with my second.

Good Luck. Try not to worry. No matter how it works out the end result always makes it worth it.

Answer 6

Most doctors want to have you delivered within 24 hours of your water breaking to avoid a prolonged period where you and your baby are susceptible to infection

Answer 7

my waters broke on there own but because i didnt progress i was induced, they checked before they induced me and i was 2cm....  they induced me with the hormone drip, i had an epidural put in because i was having a vbac and the risk of another section is high so i had it put in to be ready... altho i think if your being induced an epi is a good idea because the contractions come hard and fast and hurt alot more than usuall...plus if ur induced there is a bigger risk of it failing and you needing a section (that happened with my first!) from having the drip connected i gave birth to my son 40mins later! they say that when your induced if it works the labour is shorter but more painfull! the hormone drip doesnt sting and it doesnt make you sick... its the gas and air that makes u feel abit sick and thats mainly after its all done with!  and yep your milk will come however you labour...

enjoy!  p.s u didnt mention if this was your first baby?.... if so dont worry... i was so scared ...but its not as bad as u think!!

Answer 8

I WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE UPTO 3 DAYS FOR LABOUR TO START AFTER YOUR WATERS BREAKING BY MY MIDWIFE,XX

Answer 9

If you are GBS+ the rules are somewhat different, so yes, you would need to deliver fairly soon after your water breaks, but the cut-off would vary somewhat from doctor to doctor.

(If a woman is NOT GBS+, the risk of infection is VERY low, so here is no rush.)

Given your situation, if induction IS necessary (you don't say why you are being induced), you might want to start with cervidal and/or pitocin.  If that doesn't work, you can (unless there is a pressing need to get baby out) go home and try again another day. But once your water is broken, as you note, baby HAS to be born soon, so if you don't go into labor, or it doesn't progress, you'll need a c-section.

Talk to your doctor and be sure that YOU are comfortable with his recommendations.

(Induction shouldn't cause any problems with breastfeeding. It's the separation of the placenta that triggers milk production, and your placenta will separate however labor occurs.)

Answer 10

From everything I've seen and read, doctors like you to deliver within 24 hours of breaking your water because of the greater risk of infection.

I've never been induced, but I've heard that induced labors can be more intense.

You should probably tell them you are GBS+ because they need to get 2 rounds of IV antibiotics in you before you deliver; I was GBS+ with my first.

I had an epidural with my first and didn't with my second.  I definitely preferred the epidural birth over the non medicated birth.

Answer 11

Relax.  You're about to meet your baby!  The reason why they want you to give birth within 24 hours if your waters break is because there's a risk of infection.  

It's a good thing you're slightly dialated.  Mention the fact that you're GBS - they probably already know, but mention it anyways.

I was induced.  The second time they put in the suppository, it "hurt" a little (and I mean, just a little).  Sometimes induction doesn't work, as with me.  But I was induced quite early - not at all like you.

They won't give you an epidural until you're at least 4 cm dialated as an epidural slows down dialation.  No big deal.  You're going to be fine.  Really.  Enjoy your delivery!  Seriously, just keep thinking you're about to meet the most amazing little person!

Answer 12

My doctor says the baby needs to be born within 48 hours of your water breaking. After that, you risk complications.

Answer 13

If it was a midwife instead of a doctor, they may give you more time.  Midwives do not do things the way managed obstetrics does.  

Answer 14

is your doctor inducing you for a reason? or just because he wants to get paid to deliver your baby?  most hospitals have a policy that if you have not had the baby after your water has broken for 24 hours they will take the baby (by foreceps if you are close or by c-section if you aren't)  however if you are having a baby naturally and your doctor isn't one to jump to invasive procedures 48 hours is still NOT dangerous to have the water broken and there be no baby. but after the water has broken dilation checks should be kept to a minimum if done at all because every time they check you they introduce bacteria into the uterus which is why there is an increased risk of infection.