You must first be logged in to edit a post.
If you are not registered, please click "Create Account".
| Posted By |
Message |
Pooka
Oh Happy Day!!

Member since 11/06 5689 total posts
Name:
|
Is this a normal birth process?
My friend's wife is in labor. But, she started leaking her amniotic fluid on Friday night. She never went to the hospital, but she did contact her midwife who told her that she needs to stay home and rest. She has been leaking since Friday night and contractions started last night. But, they are inconsistently 5 or 7 minutes apart. They won't call the doula until the contractions are consistently 5 minutes apart. Is this a normal birth process? We were told to call the dr. if I start a slow leak b/c of infection and making sure the baby has enough fluid while still inside. I am just getting worried.
|
Posted 7/30/08 9:19 PM |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
wannabemom
look who's freshly baked!

Member since 12/07 7364 total posts
Name: aka marriedinportjeff
|
Re: Is this a normal birth process?
I learned this from a birthing dvd, so take it for what it's worth....
In many metro hospitals, women are induced if they aren't in full-blown labor within 24 hours of breaking their water due to a risk of infection
HOWEVER, in many smaller hospitals and communities, women are allowed to labor naturally for up to several days... there apparently are no hard and fast rules for timing.....
EXCEPT when the fluid is not clear. if it is green (myconium), there is a much higher risk of infection, and the green fluid is also sometimes a sign of a baby in distress.... so women are asked to go to the hospital IMMEDIATELY for monitoring.
in the end, it's up to the judgement of her health care providers.....
|
Posted 7/30/08 9:33 PM |
| |
|
Laura1976

Member since 5/05 5754 total posts
Name: Laura
|
Re: Is this a normal birth process?
Posted by Bubbs
My friend's wife is in labor. But, she started leaking her amniotic fluid on Friday night. She never went to the hospital, but she did contact her midwife who told her that she needs to stay home and rest. She has been leaking since Friday night and contractions started last night. But, they are inconsistently 5 or 7 minutes apart. They won't call the doula until the contractions are consistently 5 minutes apart. Is this a normal birth process? We were told to call the dr. if I start a slow leak b/c of infection and making sure the baby has enough fluid while still inside. I am just getting worried.
Honestly, i think if she was going through a doctor, he'd have her at the hospital to check her fluid. If she's been leaking for over 4 days, it could be dangerously low. i know when i was pregnant with DD and my fluid was low, they told me that if it dropped past 5cm (i think) and no signs of immediate delivery, they were going to have to get her out FAST.
|
Posted 7/30/08 9:40 PM |
| |
|
Blissful
Ultimate Expression of LOVE

Member since 6/08 4985 total posts
Name: Maria
|
Re: Is this a normal birth process?
My midwifery group will not induce you if you have been leaking amniotic fluid slowly and having irregular contractions there is no need; its very rare to get an infection just because of a slow amniotic leak. Your more likely to get an infection because of frequent cervical checks. They will monitor the patient and if the fluid is too low then they "help start labor" with natural methods first and as a last resort medication.
Each practitioner is different...there isn't a norm.
|
Posted 7/30/08 10:26 PM |
| |
|
browneyedgirl
family is all that matters

Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name: browneyes
|
Re: Is this a normal birth process?
Posted by Blissful its very rare to get an infection just because of a slow amniotic leak. Your more likely to get an infection because of frequent cervical checks.
is that scientific fact?
if i leaked for four days i would have gotten myself checked at least a few times to make sure my fluid level hadn't dropped--that is a SERIOUS complication and could cause serious if not fatal harm to the baby. i don't care if it's rare or not--i had a "rare" labor. if i had been laboring at home or without a doctor my son wouldn't have been born! it scares the h ell out of me to think what could have happened to him if they hadn't intervened with the vacuum to get him out.
|
Posted 7/31/08 9:19 AM |
| |
|
Karebaby
Precious

Member since 10/06 5304 total posts
Name: Karyn
|
Re: Is this a normal birth process?
I know they always tell you the cotractions need to be "consistent" but with my 2nd baby, the contractions weren't consistent. They were coming 3-5 minutes apart, but it was not any consistent pattern, and every now and then there was a 7 minute period with no contractions. When I got to the hospital I was already dialated to a 9, and they never got more consistent.
|
Posted 7/31/08 9:59 AM |
| |
|
Dragonfly75
I love Hypnobabies

Member since 3/06 2333 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Is this a normal birth process?
As long as she is not running a fever she should be fine. Amniotic fluid constantly replenishes itself, so that's not a worry. I think the greater concern would be infection. So she should take her temperature on a regular basis. As long as the baby is moving normally and she has no fever and is keeping well-hydrated she should be fine.
|
Posted 7/31/08 10:08 AM |
| |
|