Water Breaking: What to Expect & When to Worry

Question
I heard that if a person's water breaks, the baby needs to be born by 24 hours later.  Is this true?  How long can someone go after their water breaks (without dilating) before it becomes a medical concern?  If a person's water breaks, when should the inducing of labour begin - what is the medical "norm"?  12 hours after their water breaks?  24 hours?

Answer
Hello Nancy. If you are in medical care and in a hospital, you must deliver within 24 hours- this is because a hospital is so full of strange "bugs" that you and your baby are at risk of infection. If, however, you were under midwifery care and not planning to go anywhere NEAR a hospital, you can carry on as long as it takes once the membranes have popped. We ask her to take extra Vit.C, put NOTHING in her vagina, stay at home, away from crowds and small children not her own, drink LOTS of fluid, eat LOTS of protein and rest. One of my clients carried for a full week with ruptured membranes before going into active labor- she went on to have a peaceful, joyfull water birth and baby had no problems with infection. Hope that helps- Cheri.