Your Opinions Please:)

[CoconutCutie]

SO im sitting here reading the stages of labor through BabyCenter http://www.babycenter.com/0_the-stag..._177.bc?page=1 And I have a few questions seeing as how were doing VBACs.

OK #1: "If you've already had a vaginal birth, active labor is likely to go much more quickly."

How does this pertain to us or better yet me? I was dilated to 8cm then needed an emergency section. Is is likely my labor will go quickly or will it be like the 1st time all over? I know every woman is different but in general?

#2:"Transition can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. It's much more likely to be fast if you've already had a vaginal delivery."

Does this pertain to us as well?

How well over all do you think this article adds up and give good info? Should I treat this birth as if its the 1st time? Any info would be greatly appreciated. I wonder if there is an article for 1st vag birth after c-section?? Off to google.

Thanks everyone for any input

[Amynf1]

What I have learned both from being told by docs, nurses, mw and have witnessed with a VBAC client is that if you dilated past 6 or 7 the first time that it will be more like a second time birth for the VBAC. If you made it to 4 or less, you are more likely to be more like a first time mom. My VBAC client had a super fast transition. Actually, she went from 5cm to complete to having the baby out in an hour and a half. Not bad!

Hope it holds true for my own VBAC. I got to 7cm

[MsBlack]

I kind of agree with Amy....

But otherwise, I think the points raised in that article are...pointless

If you're going for a VBAC, I'd say focus on what you want, on building your confidence and being-in-the-moment-- and ignore silly predictive commentaries

[maotmsmi]

.

Edited by maotmsmi - 5/21/11 at 12:36pm

[AustinMom]

I remember reading somewhere a MW wrote that if a mom gets past 5 cm and then a cs, her second birth should be treated as if she had a vaginal birth, all except pushing because that is different. I would say since you were 8, yes, you can expect it to typically go faster. The point is that your body has gone through contractions, and your uterus has gone through that, and most importantly your cervix has dilated. A fist time mom slow dilation is nature's way of slowly and gently dilating the cervix as it has not gone through that change before. You have, so yes, I would expect it to go faster, we got to 6-7 cm, so that's what I'm expecting.

Pushing though, I am not sure, I would say be prepared for a fist time mom like pushing stage. But you never know. Some first time moms push for less than an hr, some up to 4 hrs.

Everything really depends on your baby's position too. I acynclitic baby or posterior baby may lengthen labor even if it was your 5th vaginal birth. Also, tension, and stress, and doubt, which frequently (although it doesn't have to) accompany a VBAC birth can delay and slow labor tremendously.

Every birth is different, and every baby is different.

[MNHall]

Ditto to those that have said, you'll labor like a 2nd timer, up to the point you went last time. Seems about right for me...but I'm sure there are always exceptions and that's a pretty general "rule". Like previously mentioned, baby's positioning I'm sure has a LOT to do with it too!

For me, I was induced with DS, my c/s baby. I had about 11 hours of labor, in which I fully dilated to 10cm and 2 hours of pushing. And had a c/s for "failure to progress".

With DD, I was in labor for about 5 hours. When I arrived at the hospital about 4 1/2 hours after my labor started, I was at 5cm, 10 minutes later when I got into my room I was at 7cm, and 20 minutes later I was at 10cm and ready to push. But, I again pushed for 2 hours before she came out. So, up to 10cm was very very quick, much quicker than last time for me....but where I got stuck last time, it took just as long and I was very much like a first timer!