Should I be prepared for a short labor? (first was induction)

[WindyCityMom]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some input on this

Bear with me...

With my first pregnancy, I went to 41w2d, and I knew my dates. I had a stupid mainstream hospital birth that was pretty traumatic in itself. She was born via induction. Labor was 14 hours long, from administration of pitocin to her birth. Aside from pitocin, they also used a foley catheter to dilate me. I was at a centimeter from 30 weeks, and that got me to 3-4cm. I got frustrated with that and tightned my kegel muscles and it flew out.. after me doing that about 5 times they got the point- I didn't want it. So then they broke my water. After that, labor progressed. I was nearing transition when they somewhat tricked me into an epidural. So I had that done (hell in itself!) and continued dilating. I had a strange reaction to the epidural, I was getting a bit delerious, I was becoming slightly tachycardic.. so then they shot something in my IV and i was fine, but was told afterwards that i couldn't breastfeed . They checked my cervix, and since my epidural was wearing off (I was greatful), and also since I wasn't yet complete and they figured I had longer to go, they put lidocaine in my epidural. I honestly had no pain,couldn't push, but I felt pressure and knew DD was crowning. By the time I got a nurse in the room her head was out. So all of that, total, 14 hours.

I've heard that epidurals slow labor, and that pitocin and other interventions (the foley, AROM) also slow labor. So is it possible that I'm really a fast laborer, since I wasn't in labor the 30+ hours you often hear about with first babies (let alone induced & epi'ed)? Do you think that with this birth I should prepare have a swifter labor?

If you've had a previous induction, could you let me know how your subsequent natural births have been? TIA

[E-man's mama]

I think you should be prepared for anything You will most likely have a quicker labor because it is your second, but that may not be the case. You were pretty quick for a first labor, but you had pitocin, so really who knows. I had the same as you - first babe induced, and with my second I had prodomal labor for a day, and then 2 days later a wham bam 4 hour labor. But, this baby could surprise you with a LONG labor (I hope not though!)

[Veritaserum]

I was induced with my first and it took about 7 hours. The rest were spontaneous at 5 hrs., 3 hrs., 15 hrs., and 21 hrs. of active labor. My last one kept rotating between anterior and posterior, so I think that's why it was so long. I think there was likely a positioning issue with baby #4, but I know there were emotional factors at play as well.

So, yes your spontaneous births could be faster, but they may also be slower depending on the circumstances.

[WindyCityMom]

I should've added that I had contractions for about a week up to induction-gradually getting stronger. I was pretty much in labor when I was induced, and should have refused pit.


Thank you all though I waded through posts last night and some had longer labors, some had short ones, some had both. I'm kind of hoping to be in the "shorter" category.

[EarthsSpiral]

My first was born at 39wks via unnecessary induction, it took about 10 hours from pitocin to delivery not including the overnight stay for the cervical ripening agents.

My second was a natural, no intervention, water birth, 13 hours from start to finish, born at 39wks1day.

[Kidzaplenty]

Yeah, every labor is different. You should be prepared for anything.

[broodymama]

I would be prepared for anything, and just try not to get to mentally attached to the idea of a short (or long!) labor.

With my 1st I was induced by AROM, I was already 6 cm dilated (had preterm labor issues earlier in the pregnancy) and about 75% effaced and we were getting ready for a hurricane evacuation in the next few days. I didn't care for the idea of a UC in a motel room shared with my friend, her family, and all our pets. They broke my water at 10 pm, my labor started about 6 hours later and lasted about 3 hours.

My next two labors (spontaneous) were just over 2 hours each.

[etsdtm99]

i sure hope that means fast labor..lol - my first was 19 hours, bad positiong and pretty much a pit induction but my water broke first.. my 2nd was a pit induction 12 hours from inserting the IV to birth (probably more like 9 hours of active labor including pushing) i am seriously hoping that next time will be less than 12 (i'm planning a homebirth..)