How early is too early? It's a very personal question. There is really no question that the new technologies available to hospitals today can save the lives of premature infants. The real question is: Will using these technologies be a good choice for your family?
The amniotic sac can leak for weeks with no labor in sight and still not compromise the baby or the mother. Leaks have been known to reseal themselves too, so leaking waters doesn't always mean the baby's coming. Early labor signs are often signals of dehydration or malnutrition so triple-checking your water and food intake is the first step.
Taking a warm bath and drinking something alcoholic will usually slow or stop early labor. Taking a bath also gives you some space and time for connecting to your baby and your body. Listen for your inner guidance. Would you prefer a gentle birth and possibly a gentle death for a too early child? Or will you do *anything* to save your child? These are difficult and personal questions to face.
There are many people who believe that the mother is the finest incubator ever created. They prefer keeping an early child skin-to-skin with constant access to a heartbeat, breathing sounds and food source. Studies on this kind of "kangaroo care" are showing good results so these parents may be acting wisely. Not wanting to head to the hospital doesn't mean you don't care about your baby.
There are drugs that can slow or stop early labor. Most doctors will also prescribe bed rest, slowing down seems like a good strategy when "it's too soon".
After your water breaks nothing should go into your vagina. Not a tampon, not a penis, not even curious fingers, especially if you're not "due" yet. Taking some vitamin C each day along with being very careful wiping after using the toilet will go a long ways towards preventing an infection. Many practitioners will tell you not to bathe but that seems a bit extreme considering the fact that warm baths are such an effective relaxation tool. Better to remember to keep your legs closed and add a little GSE or other natural disinfectant to the bath water to make doubly certain.
If you develop signs of an infection: fever, foul smelling vaginal discharge, etc. you will need antibiotics in order to fight it off. The hospital is probably the safest choice at that point.
So, stay healthy, drink lots, eat well, get enough vitamin C, zinc, fresh air, sunshine and laughter every day. An early labor scare doesn't have to be the end of your empowered birth dreams.
Judith writes:
I have seen a lot of evidence that by the second trimester, sipping alcoholic drinks, especially if you're usually a tee-totaller or close to it, is both safe and effective.
All that stuff about FAS is FIRST TRIMESTER. The only reason they switched to less organic, more toxic and uncomfortable drugs was that a little too much ethanol will make a woman (or a man) vomit sometimes, and vomiting can trigger labor, and thus undo the effects of laying around sipping a mixed drink.
"Hand me another Mint Julep, Beulah, this baby's getting rambunctious about bornin' again"
The Midwives Archives on PROM (premature rupture of membranes)
The Midwives Archives on preterm labor
The cbirth archives on PROM
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