My first pregnancy I never experienced my waters breaking as I had placenta previa and an emergency c-section. I was, however, in labour for over 24 hrs and 8 cm dilated without my waters breaking.
My second pregnancy my waters broke right at the end on my labour before I started pushing - which I was really happy with as I hear that the waters cushion the bubs head. Plus, by then I was at hospital so didn't have to worry about cleaning up any mess!
1)My question is, from your experience: ARe you likely to follow the same pattern with subsequent labours, that is, is it more likely that my waters wont break til the very end with this one too? Or is it just luck of the draw??
2) If your waters did break at home, does it really totally wreck what it is on? i heard that if your waters break on your matress, you'll basically have to get a new one, and what about on carpet?
Not sure about the pattern of waters breaking , but with DS my waters broke at home whilst i was in bed. It felt only like i had slightly wet myself - like a little had leaked out with all the pressure from the baby. from then I went to the toilet and realised i wasn't peeing myself! As I was walking it just kind of trickled out. so it did end up on carpet and tiles until i was able to pretty much wrap myself in a towel!! ha. But i never had any problem with stains or anything. It was literally like water so no real problem.
Waters breaking or not is really dependant on the position of the baby. Mine broke with the twins (well twin I's waters broke) when I was at home. I actually got out of bed seconds beforehand because I could feel something happening - instinctive maybe to save the mattress? There was a lot of fluid though, so a waterproof mattress protector may be a good investment. I got a single one for $5 from kmart so something like that will protect your bed if your waters do break.
With both of mine, the waters broke spontaneously before labour started - and funnily enough, at pretty much the same time - around 1.15 in the morning! Both times, I remember waking up to go to the toilet and feeling a bit damp down there, and then as I stood up, I had a gush of fluid. Because this happened first time around, and we've pretty much just got a new mattress, I did my a plastic drop sheet from Bunnings (the kind you use when painting) to put under the mattress protector! But no stains on the carpet here either.
#1 was in the ambulance and they told me that they would have to throw all linen out and have the frameworks assessed as it can corrode metal??
#2 was in the shower recess (with a quick jump out of the way from DH). so on tiles.
however i gave birth on towels on the bedroom floor - we just washed them. all was good .
Did throw out one pillow though as couldnt wash it
With DD my waters broke 10 mintues before labour started....at home. Felt a pop and went to the toilet and it didnt stop lol. So no mess to clean up except for a towel and a bit of carpet.
DS waters were broken at the hossy at 4cm dilated. So no clean up for me except for a skirt i was wearing which didnt get moved out of the way in time
DD1 waters broke about 2 hours contractions started. Was just a slow leak. I was in bed, but it was only a small patch on the bed, so I just washed everything.
DD2 waters were broken 10 minutes before birth. At hossy.
DS waters broke about half way through a 5 hour labour. I was awake this time & just went to lay down when I felt the pop. I jumped up, but a little bit got on the sheets. Again just washed everything (well MIL did...was at her house in BIL's bed!)
I used a maternity pad to hold it in. There was more with DS so I put a towel on the car seat as well, but that was enough thankfully
Hmm, so it looks like maybe it's just luck of the draw as to when they break...might have to invest in a waterproof matress cover. If the carpet gets it, maybe that's a good thing, I want new carpet anyway hehehe.
Qn about waters breaking
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