Does the body 'count' a c-sec?

[Camilla]

Sorry for the confusing title! Hope I can explain it. We are currently TTC No 2. I had a c-sec first time after being induced with pitocin (overdue, very mild toxemia) for No 1. After 15 hours labour (not very painful) I was exhausted but only 3 cm dilated/ MY Ob opted for a c-sec. At taht stage I agreed, partly because the cervical exams were really really painful to me. Much worse than the contractions, and I couldn't take more.
I was happy with the c-sec recovery etc.
In most cases with a vaginal birth, second (or third or fourth) labours seem to be quicker and easier. the body seems to 'know what to do'. i was wondering if this rule would apply if teh first baby was a c-sec. Or does not pushing it out mean teh body starts from scratch with No 2. how much does teh 15 hour labour count in 'teaching' the body what to do?
Any insight would eb appreciated!
Thanks!
Camilla ( mother to dd Alyssa, 14 months)

[RileysMom]

I don't think it would count, because I think it is the whole dilating and actually pushing the baby out part that makes #2 easier......

(I had a c section too)

[padomi]

I have often wondered the same thing. I'd be interested to know how long VBAC labors typically are.... though I'm sure it varies widely. I had a friend recently who wanted a vbac so badly, but she went 3 weeks overdue and they wouldn't let her go anymore - not good for baby. Can't induce labor w/ previous c-sec apparently, so they did a c-section. She was 3 weeks past due and not one bit dilated or effaced.

[zombiemommie]

Well don't let me bring you down ROFL...

I just VBAC'd 11 weeks ago, an 8lb 15oz baby girl after ....56 hours...of labor. My labor started out with contrax every 6 minutes lasting 1-2 minutes long, progressed to every 2-3 minutes lasting 3 ( ) minutes long, and then I went to the hospital. I was at a 4cm and completely effaced but not stretchy with bulging membranes. My contrax stopped (well went to every 12 minutes or so) I would not agree to augmentation and took some Morphine, a long nap, and went back home where I labored for another 36 hours. My contrax finally got back up to every 6 minutes but were lasting 3 minutes and very intesne but irregular (multiple peaks etc).

Finally after 56 hours of this my midwife told me she was worried about the strength of my scar and hadn't ever had a VBAC with a labor pattern like mine and wanted me to come in so they could watch the baby. The scare tactic worked and I went back in but by this time I was so tired and mentally drained I hadn't slept only between contractions (which were registering VERY strong on the monitor). But I was still only a 4 but very stretchy. I agreed to light Pit. I got an epidural because I knew I could never deal with the Pit after no sleep for 3 days. She also broke my water. I never got the Pit, because just rupturing my membranes made me FLY into an every 2 minute "textbook" labor pattern and within 3 hours I was pushing. I felt everything I guess the epidural was light, and I had baby girl by VBAC. My VBAC sucked, or so I think because when they broke my water it was loaded with fairly thick meconium and baby was having decels from a "wedged" cord - it became a very medicalized labor/delivery but it was only 3 hours so it wasn't so bad - except for the rushed pushing, the big episiotomy and the NICU staff suctioning the hell out of her.

I think she might have been posterior or something and that's why labor was so long, her head was not even molded she came down so fast after they broke my water. I don't know if she came slow because of the wedged cord or if the cord happened from getting the water broken. My midwife worked like a dog to avoid a c/s tho and I am greatful. ANy OB would have sectioned me.

My first was an induction for pre-eclampsia, I never dilated or had a single contraction despite their use of every freaking medication known to man. SO I consider this birth my "first" and man, it sucked ROFL

It was a beautiful thing, just very hard (for me).

Good luck !

[padomi]

What a horror story!:LOL I had the same situation with dd (my first) - posterior - epidural didn't work - HORRIBLE back labor for 48 hours - pitocin - wouldn't dilate past 7 cm. I was BEGGING them for a section to end my hell! I wonder if my next would be that bad. I have a couple of big fibroids which was crowding dd in there and she not going to come out easily. Fibroids are still there, so may have the same issue next time. I'd like to try for a vbac though, but wouldn't want to go through all that HELL again!!!

[RainCityMama]

My first was a c-section (very simelar reasons as yours camilla) and I was only in labor for 10 hours after I was induced with him, I also only got to 3 cm.
I had an HBAC with my daughter 6 months ago and I was in labor 12 hours and pushed her out in 40 minutes, perhaps it would have been a shorter labor had I gone into labor naturally and given birth vaginally the last time but I was extremely happy just the same

[applejuice]

The body does not count or learn from labor.

The contractions work from the parasympathetic nervous system. It is unconsciious and automatic for your body to respond. What you are probably thinking about is your conscious response to labor. You have to trust your body.

What your body would "count" is the number of times you have been operated on. Your abdomenal muscles can only withstand so much cutting and repair. It varies from one person to another.

What you do have is an "untested" pelvis. You have not "passed" or "pushed" a babe through it, so no one can say for certainty how large your "passage" is for the "passenger" or how strong the 'powers" (contractions) would need to be to push your babe through.

[Sofiamomma]

Generally speaking (of course it varies from woman to woman and birth to birth) you would consider yourself a "primip" or first time mom as far as labor and birth go. Often a mom who's had a baby/babies before vaginally, will go much faster, usually about half as long, but that is not necessarily true. Remember primips sometimes have quick, easy labor and deliveries, too. And, not to bum you out, but sometimes multips can have protracted labors, so it varies. Just my $.02 as a midwife/L&D nurse. Good luck and HTH