Did You Go into Labor on Your Own?

3 kids, all natural labors. Baby 2 and 3 born at home. I am also a homebirth midwife. Everyone will go into labor on their own if left alone. There are no women walking around who have been pregnant for years because labor never started. The medical community in this country though is just so anxious to induce every women who goes a few days over the so called "due date." This is just ridiculous. The main reason for it is because it ensures more money for the hospital. Hospitals are big business and inductions and c-sections bring them a lot more revenue than a run of the mill natural vaginal birth. Women need to demand their births back because they are currently owned by the doctors and the hospitals and this is wrong!

6 moms found this helpful

Nobody stays pregnant forever. :-)

My longest pregnancy was exactly 42 weeks, and my shortest was 39 weeks and 5 days. Of my 5, only one started with my water breaking (at 40 weeks and 1 day).

Edited to add - Like another poster said, because induction is so popular, people get the impression that it's a "need" in the majority of cases. The same with rupturing membranes. With 2 of my babies, my bag stayed intact until they were crowning.

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Yes I did although I was 41 weeks and had "relations" with my husband because my doctor was talking about inducing. The next morning I started having contractions at about 6:30 am. I'm not sure if the day before had anything to do with that, but I didn't have to be induced.The doctor had to break my water when I was dilated to a 9 and it hadn't happened yet. My sister's water did break on its own so you never know. just relax and congrat's!

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Yes, spontaneous labor and spontaneous ROM while pushing both times. With my first- 42w5d, with my second- 40w5d.

I suspect some caregivers don't wait around long enough with enough women to see very much of that happen on its own.

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My water broke on its own. My baby was born full-term but 11 days before their estimated due date. I was sitting on the couch at 10:00 at night and all of a sudden felt just a trickle of fluid. I walked to the bathroom and continued to feel this trickle and checked and it was clear liquid. I just had an on-and-off trickle like that, no sudden gush ever. About an hour later, contractions started and within a short time were coming 4 minutes apart! Baby was born at 8:00 the next morning.

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Each pregnancy is different...as you know....
I have 3 daughters...I went into labor on my own with the first and third...each one within a week or so of my "due date"...with my 2nd one...I used some natural methods....with my doctors knowledge and approval...to induce my labor because my husband was only home on weekends since was attending a military school during the week. I was at my due date...and was going to be medically induced within a week if I hadn't brought it on myself.
My water NEVER broke on it's own...it was always broken by the doctor after I was in the hospital and in active labor.

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My first pregnancy I was 39 weeks, 6 days and my labor started by my water breaking. I had also heard this was uncommon. My contractions started right away and were consistent getting more painful, no stalling. I had a relatively short labor at 7 hours. My second labor I was 40weeks, 2 days. Went into labor on my own, cramping started... 4 hours later baby was born. I know I am one of the "uncommon" birth stories.

Good Luck!

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Only gave birth once, 40 years ago to an 8 lb, healthy girl. She was 17 days "overdue." I had a few contractions, then my water broke, and labor got intense.

Good luck on your third!

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Yes, I went in to labor on my own- water breaking everything- with my second child. He came 13 days early. It was a lot easier than being induced with my first.

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#1 was INCREDIBLY overdue and had to be induced & #2 one of the twins was in distress and had to have immediate induction followed with an emergency section.

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Hi M. - Congratulations! I do hope you get to go into labor on your own this time! I went into labor 3 days before my due date with my first, but had my water broken by my OB to "speed things up a bit". My water broke with my second, also 3 days before my due date, before I started labor, but it was in "spurts" not a gush. I thought I had peed in my pants...but after the second "spurt" I figured it out :) Labor started soon after. With my third, I started labor almost 2 weeks before my due date, then my water broke - more of a trickle, as a previous poster also described, then labor really started and I almost didn't make it to the hospital in time. So every person is different and every labor/delivery/birth is different. It is both exciting and unnerving to not know what will happen or when. I do wish you a healthy, and pleasant pregnancy, labor and delivery.

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My first went into labor at 38 weeks. Dr broke my water. My second weent into labor at 39 weeks and dr broke my water that time too. Currently pregnant and im sure ill go on my own again. : )

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Yes . First one at 40 weeks and second at 39 weeks. With my first, my water broke, but only trickled. Then at the hospital, they finished breaking my water to help me along. Wished I would have stayed at home and let nature do it's course, because breaking my water didn't help much. Where as with my second, I waited for my water to break, monitored my contractions, and then went to the hospital. Labor was easier and less stressful. Wish you the best! Congrats on the pregnancy.

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Yes. I had both of my chidren at 40 weeks and 1 day. Amazing!

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Yes, I did go into labor on my "own" lol... I was two days before my due date, but my water did not break. They broke it for me after being in labor for about 12 hours. Then things really sped up!!!

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Went into labor and then had to have my water ruptured. But after about two more hours of labor my son came and only had to push for a half an hour :D

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Both on my own. First time contractions (that I couldn't feel) by 26 weeks, delivered at 29 weeks (placenta abruption/lost all fetal movement&heartbeat & I was crashing) - they broke the water during the C-section. Second time I had an appointment at 36 weeks where I was monitored but everything ok, the fluid I was leaking wasn't the water however by that night I had gushes and contractions and a C-section the next morning!

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#1, scheduled c-section, 39 wks. #2, water broke @ 40 wks & 3 days.#3, scheduled c-section.

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I went into labor all 3 times myself the first 2 water broke the last the OB was there in hospital broke my bag & she was here within minuetes.I never had to be induced

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I went into labor on my own with first at 37 weeks, second at 38, and third at 34 weeks. My water broke with all of them and thats what kicked off each labor ( at least thats when I started feeling my labors)

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I am on my third pregnancy too. I was overdue with #1 and so they induced. With #2 I was dilated a bit and my doctor didn't want me walking around like that so he induced me the day before my due date. I kinda want to see if this one will come on his own but who knows. I guess I will have to wait till August to see what happens.

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I was exactly like you, induced the first time and scheduled c-section the second time. Congratulations on your third!

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Nope. I was induced with both. Preeclampsia with the first and elective induce with the second. I am a worrier and all ready being in the hospital was fine by me! My twon sisters water broke at home and was holding her first baby less than 3 hrs later! No such luck for me!

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I went to labor on my own..I had 38 weeks....

it was painful! i had almost 24 hours os "light" contractions before going into labor.....

I got into the hospital at 8:30 pm and my DS was born at 1:12 am on fathers day....so while mommy suffered, daddy got the best fathers day present ever!

my water never broke, the doctor broke it for me.....

good luck with everything!

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Wow, sounds like most of the pp have gone into labor on their own so I will share my experience. First baby 3 days after due date I "sort of" went into labor on my own, but they still sped it up with pitocin. Second baby induced 3 days after due date-he was big almost 9 lbs. Third baby failed induction on her due date after about 10 hours of pitocin. Tried another induction 3 days later, also never progressed and wound up with c-section that time, she was wrapped in the cord. This time trying for a VBAC and praying I go into labor on my own. My babies just don't wanna come out! Good luck to you :]

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Kinda... I had a failed induction 2 days after my due date. (after 10 hours of picotin they sent me home...) Then a few days after that I did go into labor on my own. :)

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Yup, with all 4 pregnancies, my water broke at 5 am and labor started later. My 4th was a day late, the others were 1-2 weeks early.

With my first one, it took 7 hours after my water broke for labor to start and they wanted to induce me. I talked them out of it. Good thing, too. Once labor started it only took 2 1/2 hours to delivery.

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I went into labor on my own with both of my babies, my water also broke on it's own. WIth my first my water broke (more of a dribble really) and then labor started. With my second contractions had been going for several hours before the first gush. I haven't "heard" that it is uncommon...I have "heard" that docs like to do it to "progress" or "accelerate" labor...I know that left alone, it is very uncommon for a baby to be born with an intact sac or in the caul as it is called so I imagine that in normal labors where no one messes with it your water breaking is pretty common. Did that make sense? :)

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I am wondering the same thing :) I am 37 weeks with #3! I am attempting a VBAC. I had an augmented (pitocin/water broken) labor with #1 and vaginal delivery; had a failed induction and c-section with #2 (6" umbilical cord so he never came out)....and now asked my OB if we can go up to 2 weeks late with #3 to see if I go into labor on my own and do the VBAC (I still want another 2 kiddos and have 2 little ones at home so I would prefer a vaginal delivery)...otherwise, I need a repeat c-section because of the high risk of uterine rupture during induced VBAC. I am thinking of trying accupuncture induction if I go past my due date. Good luck to you!

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I was semi-induced with my first - scheduled induction for 42 weeks, went into labor spontaneously that morning but still had pitocin and had my water manually broken because things weren't moving along fast enough for the hospital's liking. Spontaneous labor at 39w6d and 39w0d with second and third but had my water manually broken with both, then induced at 37 weeks for my last delivery because it was twins.

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My water broke at 39 weeks with the first, but no contractions so I had to go in and get pitocin. My water broke at 37 weeks with the second baby, contractions started on their own and didn't need pitocin. I had my membranes stripped at 38 weeks with the third baby, and went into hard labor that night. Got to the hospital and was 6 centimeters. The OB broke my water an hour later, and out he came. It was so strange not having my water break at home the third time.

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Yes, with all 4, in my 39th week. And my water broke on its own for 3 of the 4. I don't think it is uncommon at all to go to labor on your own or have your water break on its own if you let nature takes its course.

I think you have a great chance of going into labor on your own. Each delivery is different!!

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Went into labor on my own but had my water broken for me.

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I had twins with my first pregnancy and never went into labor. Baby #3 will be born this summer and it will be a scheduled c-section. I'll be thrilled if I can make it through birthing three children and never feel a single contraction!

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My water broke on my own and I went into labor on my own.
I was 36 weeks.
=)

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I was 3 weeks early and yes, my water broke on its own. I did not even feel any contractions before.

Once I was at the hospital I still did not feel the contractions for another 6 hours, even though they were registering as pretty high. I was in total disbelief. I kept telling everyone I was not feeling a thing..

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Four babies, went into labor on my own all four times... I had a midwife & home births. The female body was designed pretty well by the Creator, and when allowed to proceed through childbirth without a lot of interference, almost always does a great job of it. I don't know the reasons for your induced labor or for your C-section. In rare instances, those can be necessary, but they are not rare in this country. This means that many of them are not necessary, and they subject mother & baby to unnecessary risks.

My suggestion would be to do some research and find out whether your previous birth interventions were probably necessary and, if so, whether the conditions that made them necessary are likely to repeat. Then, do everything you can to avoid unnecessary intervention in your next labor.

Childbirth under the care of a good midwife is ideal, except in rare high risk situations. Mom & baby are both more likely to be alert and pain free immediately after the birth. A lot of supposedly high risk situations are the result of poorly managed care during pregnancy, such as outdated dietary recommendations to avoid toxemia instead of the correct recommendations drawn up by Dr. Thomas Brewer many years ago and proven to be successful in eliminating that danger.

Get involved with a Cesarean prevention support group. You may need support and wisdom from moms who have already had a successful VBAC to encourage you and make it more likely that you & your baby will have a great birth experience this time.

I'm not saying that all inductions & C-sections are unnecessary, but that most are. If you educate yourself & prepare yourself as well as possible for natural childbirth, you'll improve your chances of success. If you end up with a NECESSARY birth intervention, don't feel bad about it. The necessary ones can be life-saving.

i was 37 weeks and my water started leaking @ home and so i went in to get checked and was only 2 cm and then I stood up and it completely broke on its own. Labor started at about 10:00 and dd was born @ 148 a.m.. Good Luck

With my first, I was 41 weeks and went in for an induction. The nurse did a pelvic since I had only been a 1 a couple of days before but was having quite a few contractions (unbeknownst to me!). I was a 3, and when she got done, my water broke. So kind of on it's own, but mostly because she checked me. And when it broke, it GUSHED. I had no idea there was that much fluid in there. I watched my stomach shrink from 9 mos to 6 mos in about 5 minutes. (Ended up having a C-section.)

With my second, the C-section was scheduled at 40 weeks, but my daughter and I were sick, so they postponed it til the following week on Monday. At 2am Friday night, my water broke. It felt like I peed my pants, so maybe a cup of liquid? I rode to the hospital on a stack of towels just in case after the first episode! :) But I don't really remember there being much the second time even after we got there. I'm sure it just didn't come out all at once.

Most people I know did not have their water break on their own. If they did, it was just a trickle.

I was scheduled to be induced on a Monday at 41 weeks, but my water broke on its own Friday late afternoon! (first and only pregnancy) :)

I went into labor at 38 weeks with my first daughter and 39 weeks with my second. My water broke on its own before labor even started with my first. With both pregnancies I was fairly active right up until the end (walking, hiking, chasing a toddler) - I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but I think it might!

I was induced with both kids. My first was late so I was induced the day after her due date. My 2nd, well he was a boy and I was uncomfortable and ready for him to "pop out". Unfortunately I knew that I was not going to go into labor on my own so I asked to be induced a few days early due to being so uncomfortable and surprisingly my Doc said yes. IF I go for a third I would want to be induced because that is all I know and frankly going naturally scares the heck out of me as I have never experienced it. My inducements were easy, smooth and fast!

Both times, yes, I did.
1st: almost 40 weeks.
2nd: 39 weeks.
Neither time did my water break on its own.
GL! Congrats!!!