2 cm dilated - will breaking my waters start labour?

[FabFiona]

So given that pre-eclampsia is clearly coming given my protein results today, I'm booked in for an induction on Monday.

Last time I was induced my cervix was not as favourable and I had the drip right from the start. I'm keen to avoid the drip this time if possible.

An internal today showed that I'm already 2 cm dilated. My OB has outlined a few options for moving forward with the induction on Monday, one of those being breaking my waters and using prolactin.

Is it likely that this will get things going? I'd like to hear from anyone that had that experience with being induced rather than the drip.

Fiona

[Ginger]

would they do the gel and then break your waters?

[FabFiona]

I'm not sure what the difference is... I'm now assuming from your post that once waters are broken that gel is not an option?

[[M]umma[M]ia]

The gel is usually used to get you to about 3cm before they break your waters i think. From memory you have to be dialted a certain amount to break your water. I would think breaking your water should bring on labour by itself as you have already started dialating so your body must be ready for bub to come out IYKWIM. I dont think it would be safe to break your waters and then use the gel... I dont think they would do that.

[Ginger]

i think they would use the gel first, see how that goes, and then once you get to a certain stage they would break your waters. once they have broken your waters there is no turning back iykwim?
what have they told you their plan is?

[onthefly]

It's quite likely to, yeah. Is baby engaged? I'd be a bit wary if not. What about another S&S first?

[Anila]

with baby number 2 i was induced when he was 9 days overdue.
When they did the internal to insert the gel, they discovered that i was 1 cm dialted, so they decided not to do the gel, as thats to start dialation, they broke my waters, and started the contractions via a drip, once the contractions were established they turned off the drip. My labour was 5 hours long.

Hth

[Fleur]

The gel would be used before they break your waters; once your waters are broken there is a risk of infection, so they wouldn't be inserting anything. It may well start things moving, especially if you're already dilated. In some cases such as VBAC labours, AROM is the most favourable method of induction; the cervix does need to be favourable & it sounds promising for you
Good luck!

[HotI]

It is great that your body has started getting ready!

Sometimes AROM will kick your body into gear, but not always (not trying to be a downer, just letting you know in case it doesn't work). Have you discussed that you want time after the AROM to see how you go before starting the drip?

Can you do some squats or go for a long walk this weekend? Best wishes for Monday, if bub doesn't come before then.

[2girls]

Hi Fiona, I have a positive story for you. I was induced at 39+4 with DD2 and was about 2cm dilated at my previous week's appointment. Ob broke my waters and left instructions for the dripnto be started but I started mild contractions immediately. He was happy to let me go for a few hours before getting the drip going but it wasn't needed, DD was born just over 2 hours later! Can you just request that they leave you for a little while after the ARM before they start the drip? I don't recall whether my ob had a time limit before he wanted the drip started, maybe he said lunch time?? (waters we're broken around 7am) As long as they can monitor you for any infection from the broken waters, I don't see the urgency to get the drip started.

Oh, and I agree that if you're already dilated, they don't use the gel, I certainly didn't get any.

[FabFiona]

We haven't decided on a plan yet so options are still open. The reason I ask about waters breaking was because of something she mentioned. However from what you are all saying it seems that just breaking waters might be the way to go, which I think is also my OB's thoughts.

Overall I had a good induction experience last time. The monitoring gave me the s/$ts and I think they went too hard on the drip but overall it was ok. I credit my hypnobirthing tracks which I will use again.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'll talk to my OB tomorrow in more detail about this tomorrow when my blood test results are back.

[crumpet]

i was induced at 37+1 with DD (purely my choice) and was 3cm dialted with a incompetant cervix so its lazy in general.

my waters were broken( no gel req as my cervix was already soft so no need to soften it) and i walked for 2.5hrs and things got happening, was contacting every 3 mins...

i still had the drip BUT now i think back i should have refused it becasue i would have probably done ok keeping things up myself, but in a high stress preg i just wanted DD here and didnt care how she got here.

HTH

[JennaJayen]

I was 2cm dilated when my waters were broken with DD. Turns out that was all my body was waiting for to go into labour properly after 3wks of constant prelabour. I didn't have any gels or drips as I was having VBAC and had GD as well, so the decision was made at 40+2 to have my waters broken. If things are favourable and you are already having the odd prelabour/irregular contraction every now and then, then there is a good chance that breaking your waters could get things moving

Oh and my DD was born 4hrs and 43mins after my waters were broken