How long can a baby go after the water breaks?

Answer 1

After ROM (rupture of membranes) most doctors start to worry about infection after 12 hours. If the mom and baby are both doing well and labor is progressing, it is completely arbitrary to do a C/Section because X number of hours have passed.

If the mother is kept well hydrated and doctors and nurses refrain from doing internal exams, nature should be allowed to take it's course. If the water breaks before labor starts or the mom is having a slow start/long labor and the doctor is worried about infection the mother can be put on antibiotics to help prevent an infection for her and the baby.

When a woman has PROM (premature rupture of membranes) and the baby is too young to be safely delivered, she will need to be hospitalized, so the fluids in the womb can be replaced with warm sterile water and she will be put on antibiotics to prevent infections. A growing baby needs the water filled environment to develop properly and to prevent a cord accident. In this case the baby is left in the womb as long as it is considered safer inside or until her labor starts and can't be stopped.

Answer 2

The baby can stay inside for a while after the baby is born, but there are many complications with this...

it increases the chances of a baby getting an infection.

it increases the pressure on the baby, which could hurt him/her. there is no water surrounding him as padding now to alleviate this pressure.

the baby will not be able to move for that month, which could cause problems with his/her joints.