If your water breaks before you get to scheduled C-section date...

-would that make it be considered an emergency C-section?
-how do they handle the restrictions on prior eating when it's an emergency?

Meaning for a scheduled C, you know not to eat for 8 hrs before-hand.

But what if you've just eaten & then your water breaks?

I'm assuming they'd need to perform the surgery quickly anyhow?

Or would they make you wait?

Do they do something to you to empty your stomach contents?


If you really haven't eaten in 8 hrs (say it's overnight),
do they believe you?

I'm delivering at LIJ.
Having twins, both breech so will def need a C.

TIA

P.S. my dr's not in again until thurs in order to ask him directly.

Message edited 9/24/2012 4:23:58 PM.

Re: If your water breaks before you get to scheduled C-section date...

My water didn't break, but I did deliver the babies not long after a large meal.

IDK if you remember my story, but I ended up having a VERY early scheduled c-section date (35 weeks) due to complications and then happened to go into labor on my own 3 days before that early date (34+4).

It was Valentine's day and I went out for lunch. Then I went to pick up cookies/cake for that evening. I felt like my contractions were getting pretty bad so I went to triage (for like the 6th time in 2 weeks) and turned out my cerclage was tearing, I was dilating, etc. so I had a c-section just a few hours later. I didn't have any complications from eating beforehand, but it does technically increase your risks during surgery.

If your water breaks before you get to scheduled C-section date...

My water broke for baby A at 32 weeks. I had a cerclage so the babies stayed in me over night. The next day my cerclage was taken out and I went into active labor within 2 hours and they rushed me to the OR for an ergency C. I still had fluid, even though my water broke, so had I not gone into active labor, we would have waited as long as possible.

I believe they like to get the baby out within 24 hours of your water breaking. If you still have enough water, they will hold out as long as possible. They told me the night I went in to the hospital that I could be there for a couple of days or a couple of weeks. Depending on the babies and my fluid.

If you just ate and your not in active labor, unless its a true emergency to get them out right away, they'll wait. Otherwise they would normally put you under general anesthesia. They normally do take your word for it on the last time you ate.

If your water breaks before you get to scheduled C-section date...

I was a scheduled C/S. I ate fine.. went to bed happy, woke up at 1am 'leaking' went to the ER. They certainly didn't let me eat there and I was not considered an emergancy C/S. To this day it infuriates me that they left me to wallow in pain of contractions because there was a scheduled C/S before me. Plus they couldn't do a middle of the night C/S as the doc was home asleep (wish I was!). So in at 1am, she was born just before 10am. Food had nothing to do with it.


ETA: she was born 2 weeks prior to her appt

Message edited 9/24/2012 5:15:52 PM.

Re: If your water breaks before you get to scheduled C-section date...

My sister went into labor 3 days before her scheduled due date.

She wasn't an emergency c-section. But she did have one about 4-5 hours after being admitted to the hospital.

Re: If your water breaks before you get to scheduled C-section date...

I wouldn't think it's considered an emergency. We found out DS was breech about 8 days before I was due. Planned to attempt a version about 4 days later but in the middle of the night, my water broke. When I called, the doctor did not seem terribly concerned. She told me I obviously could not have the baby turned and would definitely have a c-section and to just get myself ready and come to the hospital. Said she would schedule me for 8:00 am. Water broke around 3 am and I think we left for the hospital around 5 or so.

I hadn't eaten probably since dinner the night before and they did ask, but didn't seem too concerned about that either. Maybe if you weren't progressing too fast, they might just wait a little if you said you just ate?

Re: If your water breaks before you get to scheduled C-section date...

My c-section was scheduled for Friday, Sept 19th at 8:30am. The night before at 2am my water broke, they admitted me right away and performed the c-section a few hours earlier. DD was born at 5:42am. In my case eating wasn't an issue since I already was fasting for the surgery.

Re: If your water breaks before you get to scheduled C-section date...

This happened to me. I was on strict left side bed rest with DS. I had eaten 1/2 of a granola bar at 5:30ish when all of a sudden my water broke. I called DH and then called my obgyn. I took a shower and went to the hospital. I got to the hospital by 6:30. The day before I was closed and high. At the first check I was 3 cm and my water had broken. They had me wait, but I made it to 10 cm, fully effaced/dialated and my son's foot was coming out (frank footling breech) with transition contractions by 9:45 pm. I did not have any drugs. They were going to push me back more but when they saw me I was rushed into the L&D OR for an emergency c/s. I got a spinal at that point. DS was born just after 10 pm.

Re: If your water breaks before you get to scheduled C-section date...

My water broke with twins around 8:30 after a big family dinner ( as much as I was even able to eat at that point), we got to the hospital around 9:45, babies were born 11:45. I remember them giving me something so I didnt throw up, I was fine and there were no issues at all with a csection, not emergency.