Why do you offer Induction of labour if my waters break before labour has started?
This section provides information regarding your options if your waters break after 37 weeks.
Pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM) occurs in around 8-10% of pregnancies. Of these, around 6 in 10 women (60%) whose waters break before labour at term (after 37 weeks gestation) will go into labour within 24 hours.
When the bag of waters around the baby break (membranes ruptured) and spontaneous labour does not happen there is an increased risk of infection. The risk of infection increases from around 1 in 200 (0.5%) (membranes intact) to 1 in 100 (1%) (membranes ruptured) to the mother and/or the baby within 24 hours as the barrier to infection given by the bag of waters has been lost. If you are known to have Group B Strep in this pregnancy you will be offered immediate induction of labour.
If you do not wish to be induced, we can offer conservative management and delay the induction process for up to 96 hours which involves a daily check from your community midwife. The risk of infection increases as the time between your waters breaking and the birth of the baby increases. Due to this we recommend all babies are ideally be born within 96 hours of the waters breaking.