Dilating - if it didn't happen naturally first time around, will it with No. 2?

[Cakehead]

I had 48 hours of contractions in first labour, but only dilated 1cm. In the end, I had a syntocin drip which speeded everything up and DD was born 7 hours later. Huge relief, as I was worn out after two days without sleep. As No 2 is approaching fast, I'm wondering whether my body will have learnt what to do this time - has anyone else had the same thing?

[PeckaRolloverAgain]

Can you give me some more information on the labour.

How many weeks were you? How did your labour start?

Were you scared? Were you well supported etc etc?

[MKG]

It's funny you ask about this. I just asked my doctor because when I had an oxytocin drip it took me 9 hours to get to 4 cm, but I went from 4-10cm in 45 minutes. I asked if it was related to the drip and she said, "No, you're body would have dilated like that naturally".

Ask your practitioner about it, and it may be that the drip got you over the hump, or it may have been a complete coincidence.

[dumbymummy]

I too had a 48 hour labour before giving birth, so you have my sympathy on that first pregnancy. Hope all goes well for the second. I can't speak from experience but my MIL had the same trouble back in the late fifties, and she experienced it again with her second child. That said I don't think there are any hard and fast rules. What what I'm learned listening to other mothers over the years, every birth is different from the last.
If it helps, I would be very surprised if your contractions were 48 hrs this time round. It's such a long labour - and quite unusual. The odds are stacked in your favour for an easier time of it this time round!
lol.

[LunarSea]

ds1 - waters broke 2 days before EDD, then nothing happened, and eventually arrived after induction 53 hours later. ds2 - 12 days late, waters didn't break at all, first sign of labour was his head crowning, and it was all over in about 30 minutes!

[PinkTulips]

could you ask to have your waters broken instead of the drip?

í was only 3cm dilated after a whole weekend of contraction with dd but had her 2 hours after they broke my waters!

with ds i was only 3cms after 15 hours, they broke my waters and i had him 3 hours later

[Cakehead]

I was at 39 weeks and my waters were broken for me at some point a few hours after the drip. To be honest, I saw the whole thing as a very positive experience - just wanted to get things going, I think - and the midwives were great. I almost got the feeling they knew I was getting to the end of my tether and the syntocin was a way to help me out. I certainly remember there was a moment when the chief midwife seemed to be about to say that I should be left to go it alone for longer, as the baby was a week early. I'd had two days of contractions every three minutes - they were monitored at the hospital on both mornings, but as I wasn't dilating, I was sent home for the first two days. On day three, this lovely German midwife just took pity on me, I think.

[PinkTulips]

lol... with dd it was a lovely older midwife who took pity on me and thank god she did as there was blood in my waters so they kept monitoring dd and they might not have spotted the difficulty she got into if they hadn't

with ds i went in at 8.30 and told them i'd been contracting regularly since 5/6am and that i'd needed an ARM last time so when thye found i was only 3cms they did it for me right away

i take it you know all the tricks like squating, fidure of 8's with your hips, birthing ball, etc? none of them worked for me but they seem to for others!

[maxbear]

I think that hardly any one who has had a normal birth before and who starts labour naturally would need a syntocinon drip, your body should know what to do, unless of course you have got an epidural in.

[calpolicella]

Cakehead, I had a similar experience to you and asked my midwife the very same question. She said I was just as likely as anyone else to go into labour naturally this time, it's not as though your body "can't do it".

Everybody tells me labour is easier 2nd time round, but I do wonder, if you were induced 1st time does that make you like a first timer all over again and you can't necessarily expect an easier time?

Hopefully it will be easier in the sense that you are more prepared and more experienced and that will help you cope better whatever happens.