Water Breaking - Lubbock,TX

When I was 8 1/2 months pregnant with my second child, I came down with the flu. I had gone to bed for the night and about 1:15am I started coughing so hard and forcefully that my water broke. I started having contractions within minutes after that. About 10 minutes into the contractions, I knew this was the real thing. I showered and then we went to the hospital and at 4:15am, my daughter was born, no cord around her neck. This was 17 years ago and all was fine. Good Luck.

When I was pregnate with my second child, my water broke while I was standing up, in the lobby of the hospital. The cord never wrapped around her neck. I think that is an old wives tale.

My water broke while I was at home. I walked around the house getting everything together, then out to the car and from the car to the L&D wing of the hospital. I have a happy, healthy 6 month old boy.

It sounds like an old wives' tale to me.

Sounds like your MIL told you an Old Wive's Tale My water broke with my first as I went to the bathroom one morning. I called the Dr. he said to head to the hospital. I walked around the house gathering stuff up, but once I got to the hospital, they of course wheeled me into the room on the bed.
My son was not born with the cord wrapped around his neck.

I am not 100% sure, but I think for the most part it is alright to walk to the car. I did so with my eldest son, and my water broke early with him. if you feel something dangling then you should call for an ambulance, because that is probly the cord

Dear A.,
Please don't fret about anything...I was at home when my water broke with my first born...infact, I was moping his nursery right after I had had dinner with my mother-in-law, whom my husband and I were living with at the time. After it broke, I called my mom who suggested I call my OBGYN. The doctor told me just to come on into the hospital. I had plenty of time to get my things together and to get all of my mother-in-laws medications together for her (I was taking care of her at the time...talk about STRESS!!!)
Never did I hear anything about the cord getting around the neck...if that does happen believe me the doctors and nurses who are working on you will absolutely know what to do!
STOP WORRYING and enjoy the miracle going on inside your belly!!!!
I am so envious of you! My first born is going to be 4 on Tuesday, and it feels like only yesterday that he was born.
So please, cherish every second of your pregnancy, and when you hold your beautiful little baby in your arms remember that they truly grow so fast!
Please email me if you have any questions or just need to some friendly reassuring advice and support!

God Bless you,
J.

My water broke (before I had any contractions) with both of my two kids. One at home in the middle of the night and the other in my friends car sitting in the sonic parking lot! It did not hurt either one of my babies when I walked (I walked around the house gathering clothes, carseat, etc and walked into the ER), in fact the nurses had me up walking in the hospital several times.

I believe you have been told a old wives tale. With my first my water broke in the morning and then I ended up spending most of my day (off and on) walking around the hospital to get my contractions going. Once my son was born everything was ok. You should talk to your doctor if you still have any concerns about that.

Absolutely not true, my water broke at 4:00 in the morning and I got up and took a shower and packed my bag before I went to the hospital all while standing up. I had a normal vaginal delivery with no complications whatsoever. Don't listen to all of the horror stories that other people tell you, I honestly don't know why people tell first time mothers things like that, pregnancy is different for everyone and just because something happens to one person, it doesn't mean it will happen to everyone. Good luck and just relax and everything will be fine.

I've never heard about that...my water broke on a Saturday and I was hospitalized that day. I didn't deliver my daughter until Tuesday and my doctor let me walk around and take showers and do normal things. You should get to the hospital ASAP but you don't have to deliver w/i 12 hours...they'll just put you on IV liquids and probably antibiotics as well!! I wouldn't be concerned at all. I also just called the doctor to let him know I was on my way up to the hospital when it happened and I walked all the way through the hospital. My daughter was born without any complications!! I don't think this is something you should worry about at all! It's probably just one of those silly wives tales!
Good luck,
R.

A.,
As far as the cord getting around the babys neck I am not sure. It did not happen to me. I will reassure you that most of the women in my family do walk themselves to the car and into the hospital when they go into labor or their water breaks. With my first and only so far my water broke 3 weeks early and we were not prepared so i walked my self around cleaning my house then proceeded to go to Babies 'R' Us to get baby items then to dinner and finally to the hospital. Most doctors do not suggest that and suggest to go to the hospital but i was not having contractions yet. In fact they barely started 12 hours after my water broke. My baby was finally born after inducion of labor and safe and happy with no cord around his neck. Hopefully this will help put your mind to rest. Remember everyone usually only remembers to tell the bad things they have heard over the years but most are way far and few between. Focus on the positive it will make it a much more enjoyable experience. Best wishes with your new little bundle of joy

What your mother-in-law told you is factually incorrect. You would not be endagering your baby to walk to the car; in fact, many people birth in the squating position or standing up because it opens the hips and uses gravity to better effect than the laying down position does.

Walking during labor is sometimes recommended in order to speed things along.

So no worries!
:D

no, it's not true, by the time your water breaks, the baby can't move very much. It's a pretty tight fit. Standing up or changing position has nothing to do with why the cord wraps around the baby's neck.
I think maybe this is a case of getting mixed up with a prolapsed cord, which is what happens if a woman's water breaks early, and the cord slips out. This can only happen if the water breaks early, because the baby's head isn't blocking the opening. If your water breaks early,definitely call your doctor before doing anything else.
The cord can be wrapped around the baby's neck, but it happens before your water breaks, and has nothing to do with what you do. It just happens sometimes.
Don't worry about this. It's fairly common for the cord to be wrapped around the baby's neck, and the doctors are good with handling it. In fact, most of the time it's not a big deal at all. The cord was wrapped around my baby's neck when he was born, and now he's a perfectly healthy 9 month old.

Hi. Don't worry-it is not true. If and when your water breaks just get to the hospital as soon as you can. It is because the baby (and you) are exposed to the outside world that you should go to the hospital when your water breaks. Your baby is at no more risk of having the cord around his/her neck because your water breaks. Just take some extra pads and a towel or two to sit on in the car and you'll do fine. Incidentally, my water didn't break, it sprung a leak, and chances are you'll be in the hospital before your water breaks with contractions. Good luck and don't worry too much. Save the worry for after the baby comes home.

Hi A.

Dont want to scare you but...
Well my water did not break with any of my pregnancy's but all three had the cord wrapped around the neck, all my children turned out just fine, doctors have heart monitors for you and the baby. When in doubt ask you doctor, ask him/her what will they do if that happens. Have you taken a Lamaz class? Lamaz might be helpful and ease you mind in what will happen..

Good luck

D.

My water didn't break until I started pushing so as far as that goes I am not to sure. It is definatley something that I have never heard before. You see women walking all the time after their water breaks. It might just be one of those wives tales. And for goodness sake don't call an anbulance, or you'll be paying for it til your kid goes to college!:)

I have no idea if there is any truth to that statement, but I highly doubt it. Water breaking is not a huge deal. My water broke, I called the doctor and I arrived at the hospital 1 1/2 hours after my water broke. I walked around, I even drove myself to the hospital. No cord got wrapped around my son's neck. Another example, my mother took a bath (which you shouldn't do) when her water broke with me. I am fine.

The one piece of advice I can give you is be calm. In everything, remember, women have been doing this for thousands of years, before our modern medicine and things worked out. The one school of thought that I truely believe in is you will have the kind of child that you influence. By that I mean if you are high strung, worried, and nervous, your baby will be the same way. If you are calm, and collected and trust yourself, your baby will feel that and will be the same way.

Very simply, this is not true. When your water breaks, what you want to notice is the color of the water. If there are flecks of green/yellow matter then the baby has had it's first bowel movement. Typically this is not a problem, but your doctor will want to suction the baby after the birth to ensure they do not inhale an of the meconium (poop). Please note that up to 30% of all babies will have a cord around their necks at birth and it typically doesn't cause any problems.

The rare complication that can occur when your water breaks is that the umbilical cord comes down in front of your baby's head and thus becomes compressed between baby's head and your pelvis, which would cut off oxygen to baby. THis is very rare and you should be able to feel the umbilical in your vagina. Most careproviders ask you to come in once the water is broken so they can confirm all is ok.

Total old wives tale. Don't believe it.

My water broke at the hair salon, and I walked around for at least an hour before I got my epidural - it made the contractions more bearable and I honestly think it helped me dilate faster. My daughter was born with no complications at all. Unless the person giving you advice is an ob-gyn, I'd take it with a grain of salt! Good luck to you and I hope your labor is easy.

That is not true. If your water breaks at home you can still get up and walk to the car. But do need to get to the hospital asap cause once your water breaks you are only suppose to be in labor for no longer than 12 hours. Cause after that the baby is under alot of stress. If your babies cord is wrapped around its neck its not cause you stood up when your water broke its just how the baby was inside of your uterus. Trust me your first time normaly doesn't start with your water breaking before you know. most people start with the contractions first. Good luck and congrajulations on your new little miracle.

No you don't have to call an ambulance to get to the hospital, Unless you think something could be wrong.
I was sent to the hospital to be induced the 21 of Sept I was in there until the 23 nothing worked I was released and went home about five hours later my water broke. I called the hospital and they told me to come in and the would make sure that is what had happened and it had happened . I walked from the car all the way up to the hospital and up to the top floor of the hospital. One thing you would have to be concerned about is the cord coming out before the baby. That could happen. You baby has had the chance to get tangled in the cord the whole time they have been floating in you belly. Its good to be careful and I think you will do just fine. If ever in doubt just ask you doctor.
I was one of the babies that was born with the cord around my neck. Yes it is something to be concerned about. During you sonos you DR will check.
You are not paranoid .You just love your baby!
Good Luck!

it is fine to stand up, that is an old wives tale. my mother is a labor and delivery nurse and, when i had my first, she had me stand in the shower and rinse off because we were expecting a long labor (it wound up only being 3 hours, but at least we were prepared for the worst). i wouldn't recommend taking your time to get to the hospital, but taking an ambulance isn't necessary just because your water broke. just be calm, grab what you need to, and drive at a normal pace, unless there is something wrong. a normal delivery after a normal pregnancy doesn't need an ambulance.

Like most first-time moms, you're probably getting advice from EVERYone and they think they are being helpful. 1) Talk to your DOCTOR about what to expect and the general outline for diet, exercise and supplements. 2) Stop by the library or any bookstore and pick up a copy of "What to Expect When You Are Expecting". It takes you step by step through your pregnancy and right up to delivery - even covering common myths and wives' tales. 3) Smile and say thank you when people give your unwarranted advice, but you don't have to take it all to heart. Most doctors expect lots of questions and most hospitals offer 24 hour ask-a-nurse hotlines for medically related concerns. Just enjoy your pregancy and good luck!

Amiee,
How far along are you? Have you talked to your OBGYN about your concerns? Well, with me my doctor had told me if my water broke to go to the hospital! Who is your doctor? I had Bass and he deliver's over at Hendericks. I had my 3rd child over there...I hope I helped ya out..... Good luck....

please dont call an ambulance! i am a l&D nurse and there is no reason to do that and certainly no way that it was cause the cord to wrap around the babys neck. if your water breaks calmly get your bags, take a shower if you want, call your doctor and come to the hospital. the only very rare emergency situation that could occur but is very very unlikely is a "cord prolapse" where the cord is basically hanging out of your vagina. you would feel it if it was there and then call an ambulance. but again this is very rare and don't worry so much! have fun with your pregnancy.

My water broke with my 2nd daughter while I was at work. I sat in the back of the salon that I worked at just because I didn't like feeling the water if I was standing. Then my husband picked me up and we drove to the hospital, at the hospital they had me walk around. My sac had not completely ruptured and they said walking around would help it rupture completely. As soon as I stood up it did and I had my daugther 7 hrs later. I have never heard that the cord would wrap around the baby's neck but I do know that standing and walking will make your contractions get stronger. You should be fine to get to the hospital on your own without an ambulance, a lot of my friends have had their water break and driven to the hospital with their husband or family.

My water broke with my first and third children and I walked alot and there were no complications at all, so don't worry about this.With my first, I didn't realize my water had broken for 24 hours because it was such a small trickle. So don't expect a huge rush of water, it was more like a trickle most of the time with occasional larger gushes. Good luck and try not to let your mother in law and other bits of wisdom stress you out too much. You will get lots of unwanted advice, take it all with a grain of salt and you will keep your sanity.

dear amy,

I have never heard that before. With my first child my water broke at home and a walked, and I had no complications. I know my mom's water broke when she was pregnant with me and my sister and she had no complications from walking. If I were you I would ask my doctor and tell him what your mother-in-law told you to be sure, but I really don't think there is any danger from walking after your water breaks. I know that you should not take a bath after your water breaks, but that is all I have ever heard.