If my water breaks at home, is it safe to take a shower and clean up before I go to the hospital?

Question

I know my books say don't take a bath, but what about a shower? I want to be spiffy and clean when I get there. :)

Answer 1

Yes it is fine.
In fact many women shower in the labor room. The last 3 births i was at they stayed in the shower as long as they could, It is very relaxing in early labor. As long as they were not hooked to the monitors they were in the shower. Even with the IV pole sitting on the outside.

As long as your not having contractions it is safe at home to shower. If you are having contractions have someone outside of the curtain.

Answer 2

A shower after your water breaks should be fine but keep a couple things in mind: Don't let any water get inside you, you want to prevent infection, and if you are having strong contractions, or even if you aren't , I would sugest that, if at all possible, you have someone there with you just incase you need help. If you are far into your labor at all, most likely the last thing you will be thinking about is a shower. But in theory it is not a bad idea.

Answer 3

I wanted to, but my Dr. told me to come right in. They do a test to make sure that your water did in fact break and - no joke - you did not pee on yourself. At that point, if you did, your nurse may permit you to take a quick bath in the room. At that point after your water breaks, you might want to get to the hospital anyway. There are no guarantees that the baby is going to wait to come out until you are "spiffy". :)

Also, a friend who is a nurse told me in good and honest faith that unless you have been rolling in mud, they don't care what you are like.

Answer 4

Well to be on the safe side I would wait to get to the hospital to clean up. They have showers there and just in case baby decides to come quickly you will be on the move to the hospital. These little ones have minds of their own..lol. Good Luck and hope you don't have to rush!!!

Answer 5

I stayed home for 6 hours after my water broke waiting for the contractions to get stronger. I did take a shower, but by the time the baby was born you couldn't tell.

Giving birth is hard, sweaty, messy and tiring. If taking a shower before you go makes you feel better, go for it....just don't expect it to matter much when you are all done having your lil one.

Answer 6

If you have a car and the hospital is close, then i think you can manage to take a quick shower. I wish i were clean when i went into labor, i will be this time!

Answer 7

I did. My water started leaking and I jumped in the shower while I waited for my ride to come. Sometimes water breaks and the baby comes right away other times the baby doesn't come for 27.5 hours like mine. I would say yes take your shower and then get to the hospital, unless you are having bad contractions.

Answer 8

technically no, once the water is broken, your infant can be exposed to bacteria. This bacteria can be anywhere, even in the water you are bathing with. Besides, what if a big contraction hits you while you are showering? You wouldn't want to risk falling and hurting you and the baby. You won't worry about how "clean" you are in the throws of labor and neither will your doctor.

Answer 9

haha. You sound like me. But can I suggest that you leave the mascara off the lashes? I even used waterproof and I still looked like a racoon after giving birth. haha

Here's the deal. i suppose a shower would be alright so long as it just broke and you aren't having any contractions, but I'd be kinda scared cause I had my daughter 30 minutes after my water broke.

Whatever you do, call your Dr. and let them know and ask them.

Answer 10

This is your first Im guessing. The fluid doesnt stop after it breaks. Youre body keeps creating it. If you clean up, you'll just be doing it again. Labor is messy - to get you ready for all the poops.

Now do you know about the giant pads?