Doctors do this in order to avoid using pitocin to speed up labor. They think it is a better alternative. Their hope is to reduce c-sections. The problem though is that it doesn’t. During a study 9 different random women had their waters broken, and another group did not. The group with broken waters had an increase in cesarean sections and in particular an increase in cesarean for fetal distress.
As long as everything is in tact, they baby and cord, which carries blood between baby and placenta, float inside like a water balloon. The fluid protects baby and cord from pressure of contractions during labor. No wonder breaking the waters lead to abnormal heart patterns.
Two-thirds of women reach full dilation before the water breaks.
Another problem associated with this procedure is umbilical cord prolapse. Basically instead of the head coming out first, the cord comes. This can squeeze on the cord and decrease or even cut off oxygen supply to your baby.
Breaking the waters is also related to maternal infection. Usually because there are too many vaginal exams.
Bottom line, it causes abnormal fetal patterns and ups your chances of cesarean sections. Unfortunately there ARE doctors who will break your bag and not even tell you. Be sure to tell your doctor in advance your wishes.
Studies have even shown that breaking the water does not always speed up labor and usually has unpredictable effects. Pretend a baby is posterior (facing mothers belly instead of her back), labor is often really slow until it gets anterior (the right way facing mothers back). If you break the waters, baby will surge down into position. In this case it would be the wrong position and then baby will get stuck.
These are just the facts people.
While breaking the water may shorten labor by some modest amount of time, it is minor in comparison with the length of full labor.
Hope that helps.
