what can i do to break my water?

Question

im due in two weeks and i am having alot of pains.i believe i am in labor.but my water hasn't broke.is there nething i can do?please help.thank you.

Answer 1

If your "pains" come periodically, say 5 minutes apart or so, and become progressively worse so that you can't talk and have to breathe through them, then you are in labor. Otherwise, you are just experiencing pre labor like any woman close to her due date does.

Anyways, your baby is not ready to be born. If your doctor was not as accurate about your due date as possible, your baby's lungs might not even be fully developed yet. Why would you want to risk his future health?

You go into labor when your baby is ready to and releases hormones that stimulate active labor contractions.

You and your child are at risk for infection if your water breaks and you are not ready to go into labor.

Yeah, those last few weeks are painful. I was on bedrest for pr preeclampsia for the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy. I know. But, two more weeks out of your life time is not going to kill you.

Answer 2

If you are not have pains at regular intervals, you are not in labor. If they are coming at irregular intervals they are pre-labor contractions, which means your body and baby are getting readay. A term pregnancy is 40 weeks. A baby can survive and be ok earlier than that, but the closer to 40 weeks it is, the better for the baby; unless the mom or baby has health problems. As others have said, your water may need to be broken by the doctor/midwife, when the time is right. If your water is broken before active labor the chances of infection increase if the baby is not ready to be born. Keep busy, make sure the nursery is ready, take a walk, go to the store. Your baby will be here before you know it.

Answer 3

First, I've had 4 deliveries and every woman's labor is different so DO NOT assume you will experience the same things I did. This is intended to help you prepare questions for the doctors. The nurses, I felt, were actually more helpful and a better source of information. I had Braxton Hicks contractions with 3 and always felt the doctors patronized me unfairly for having a 'false labor' and not giving me all the information (I learned of BH on my own with #3) while I was enduring this very real pain.

I went to the hospital and was sent home several times but you go, armed with the measurements of time in between contractions, and they will monitor to make sure the baby is not in distress. That's the only important thing. If you don't know already, ask a nurse to show you and your partner the 'pant breathing' technique. It is really helpful and will give your partner a helpful job to help you ride 'the waves'.

Your body is probably getting ready though, you may be dialating slowly, which for me was a very 'crampy' experience, and yet still not ready to deliver. You may, like me, be having contractions because you're dehydrated. Definately get enough fluids right now. Dehydrating won't do anything but make you really uncomfortable and may cause the baby to go into distress - just complicating things for you both.

The 'old wives' around me during my time passed the following on to me and with it I add my own cynical old bitty bits:

You may get a burst of energy days before it's time. Go with it. Walk, clean, dance. Mom said scrub the floor (although I did not share her experience of it helping to break my water). If nothing else it will increase your blood flow and thus your oxygen levels which will help boost your energy and alertness during delivery. Drink plenty of fluids.

On a final note. Three times I carried for 10 months - all mine were face up entering the canal which meant their little necks weren't bending backwards easily the same way as babies entering face down and so forceps were used. For 2 of my deliveries I screamed for and received drugs. Hallucinogenic drugs. I felt so cheated that I had endured 9 hours of pain with my son and when he was delivered shortly after I was drugged and in such a stupor that I hardly remember him coming out. I don't remember my eldest daughter's birth moment at all. With my youngest daughter I had been sent home 3 times and, so beside myself, I couldn't bear to go again if it was too early. I ended up going through 6 hours of hard labor on the couch doing the pant breathing (water in-tact) and by the time I got to the hospital it was too late to be given drugs. I remember very clearly experiencing what I was told later was 'the ring of fire'. It was a most beautiful experience with a clearly definable cessation and absence of pain. Just bliss and birth.

Good luck - You can do this - do it well.

Answer 4

Just so you know, you can be in labor without your water breaking. If you get into regular contractions close together for a while, call your doctor. My water never broke. They just snipped it as my labor continued because it never gave way on its own. I don't think it's a good idea to do anything to break your water yourself, because it's there to protect the baby and if you're not in true labor yet you can cause infections and put your baby at risk. Look for signs of regular labor and don't focus so much on the broken water thing. That's really for sensationalized tv programs.

Answer 5

If you are having pains as you want to call it actually contractions you should go to the hospital if they are 3 minutes apart. If they go way on and off for long period of time then is a false labor. For some woman like me my water never breaks until Dr. breaks it and I immediately go into active labor and it will take 1 1/2 to go straight into transition labor to delivery to pushes that is all that it takes me. So relax and your baby will know his or her time. Boy or girls my kids based one due date have been a week or two late. I know its frustrating just hang in there......

Answer 6

You don't have to have your water broken to be in labor. In fact most labors do not begin with the water breaking. Having the bag of waters left intact will protect the baby from infection and make contractions more comfortable for you. Additionally, if the water breaks before the baby's head is engaged, there is a risk of cord prolapse, which is a dangerous situation.

Please just take care of yourself, and wait for the baby's time.

Answer 7

At the end of pregnancy, it is known to have fake labour. You get lots of pains, but they are normal. You will know when you are having the baby, because you will feel much more different, you will get these pains every 5 minutes or so. When you feel like you have wet yourself, your in labour! honestly it's nothing to worry about. The baby will come when he/her is ready, DON'T try and break your water, something might happen. Good luck with the baby, hope you get what gender you want it to be! x Lydia x

Answer 8

Quick answer.... DON'T!

The water protects the baby inside of you. However, you might be experiencing false labor.

When in doubt, talk to your doctor, he will tell you that you shouldn't break the water, as the baby may not be fully developed yet.

Besides.... be happy and let nature take its course, be happy you're going to be a mother! Congratulations!

Answer 9

Call your doctor. It isn't safe to try and break your own water but you can take walks, sit ona labor ball or low chair and lean forward move around. I wouldnt suggest the bath tub if your water breaks you wont be aware. walk around try and get yourself moving. Be patient it can be a short or a long process. Dont forget to keep track of your contractions.

Answer 10

Sorry, but with this one, you let nature take its course. Trying to break one's own water would not be a safe thing to do. When the time comes and you are in the hospital, if your water hasn't broken by then, the ob/gyn will do so. :)

Good luck to you!