is labor longer after you had a c-section?

[Robyn]

I am going to try and vbac this time around. I know most people have a much longer labor with there first borns, but concidering I only had a c-section, does that mean my body is going to reconize this like having a first baby? With my son, he was breech and as soon as my water broke, I went to the hospital and they did surgery right away........so I never even experienced labor if that makes a difference......I just dread having a 2 day labor like my sisters first.

[Mattia]

Hmmmm, interesting question. I would assume since your body never experienced a baby passing through the birth canal, that labor may indeed be longer.

If anyone has any insight, I'd be very interested also.:)

[Aurora]

I have had 2 c-sections and am planning on a VBAC with this babe. I was told that since I had dialated to a 5 before that I will probably dialate faster but that pushing will be the same as for a first time mom because I haven't had a babe pass through my birth canal. (This was all told to me by my OB when I was pregnant with dd but she ended up being a repeat c-section.) :(

[MamaOui]

I would guess that it is all individual. For me, my first was a c-sec after two days of labor. I pushed for four hours.

For ds#2, the labor was almost as long and the pushing was longer.

I sure there are a lot of factors. Any meds being used. Ability to let go. If you are the type of woman who just has long labors. Position of the baby and mother...

[Desdamona]

Labor times vary, just as babies birth weiths do. Some are longer, some shorter. Some are barely noticible, some more intense. You can never tell until you are holding your baby in your arms how the whole story with unfold.

My first labor was 23 hours from first contraction till he was settled in my arms. Only 6-8 hr were "hard" labor in which I had to stop, breathe and focus to get through the surges. He was 7lb7oz... My peanut.

Second was 17 hours from when the pitocin was started until I was declared to "FTP and CPD". C/section ensued and 9lb11oz baby was surgically delivered and the c/sect was "justified" by his size.

With, my third baby, born at home 7 months ago, labor was approx 18 hours... Most of it serious. "Little" guy was born with a nuchal arm, making labor intense from the get go. And FWIW, he was 10lb2oz ((with head and chest circ's up to 3cm bigger than my FTP/CPD baby!!)) Take that you miserable sOB's! No tiney vaginey syndrome here! :soapbox ((did I say that??)) lol

As a doula, my experience with VBAC mom's is that labor usually starts off slow and progresses steadily as long as there isn't disturbance from outside influence, whether that is older children distracting from mom or hospital personel at the hospital.

If you've dialated fully before, your cervix already "knows what to do". Once you get to pushing your natural instinct kicks in and there is no stopping the primal force to push that baby out.

If the c/sect was done prior to (near) full dilation, it may take as long as a first time mom, but there are no set standards for time, IMO. One first time momma may birth her babe in less than 6 hrs from first contraction, others may have a day or two of off and on contractions before her baby is born.

Just trust your body. Trust your instincts. Ride the waves of your labor, don't fight them. Visualize each surge opening your cervix, bringing you closer to to moment that you will pull your slippery wet newly borned baby to your chest.

Best wishes to all that are expecting!

[3 little birds]

I never went into labor with my twins. My son was 42 weeks and a day when I took castor oil at 2cm. I went from 3cm to hello baby in one hour. It was intense and fast. (He was born at home in the water.) He also was born with his arm on the side of his head. Best wishes to you!!!

[gret the great]

I had no labor with #1 and had a c-section. My labor with #2 was 27 hours. My midwife said it would be like a first. Different folks have different labor times I think. My mom's 1st labor was 28 hours-pretty close to mine.

[ksjhwkr]

You sound like me! DD was breech, my water broke and I went to the hospital for a c-section. I have often wondered this same thing...thanks for asking! :)