second labour

[Mog]

I had a very long first labour. I was having contractions for five days and nights so got no sleep. The contractions were coming every five minutes for a lot of the time but the first time I went to hopital I wasn't dilated at all and the second time only 1 cm. Totally demoralising! Eventually I had my daughter after the wonderful relief of an epidural. I'm recently pregnant again and am really hoping the second time will be quicker. Has any one had a similar experience of first labour and had a better (or worse!) experience second time.

[leese]

Mog - absolutely totally normal, and yes, expect your second labour to be quicker.
The thing with first labours is that your cervix has to thin, efface (stretch up) and dilate - quite a tall order, so it often takes quite a long time to do all that, especially as it usually does a little bit at a time ie: efface, then thin out, then dilate. With second labours the cervix knows what it is doing, so usually this process is accelerated greatly - all the effaceing, thinning and dilatation can occur simultaneously. Also, your cervix will not be totally closed as it was first time around, as it never goes back to its original form post delivery. Instead, it may well be much softer, more stretchy, and possibly 1-2cm dilated without even being in labour (it's termed a 'multips os' - so you'll already have a head start.
Rest assured, things are very likely to be very different.

[carrieboo]

On a similar line, I had a c-section when I was about 3-4cm due to everything progressing to slowly and other complications. Does anyone know whether next time my body will act as if it's happening for the first time again or will it have remembered and act as if it the second time even though it only got part way?

[susanmt]

I had a horrible first labout - 37 hours (not as bad as you!), with most of it as back labout as dd decided to go for a little spin round as labour started and then got stuck! I had to have syntocin and my waters broken for me and a ventouse delivery with 2nd degree tear! I was really worried about my second , but it was 10 hrs start to finish, all natural, only had gas&air as pain releif and recovered much faster too. It really is true that it is easier 2nd time!

[mears]

Agree with Leese but for interests sake the Scottish term is 'parous os'.

Carriebo - no 2 labours are the same. If you have a labour next time, the pushing stage will be expected to be longer like a first delivery because you didn't reach that stage before. S spontaneous labour is the best option. Were you induced last time?

[Lois]

Oh, Susanmt, am I glad to hear that! I had a similar experience (32 hours, stuck at 8cm, ended up with a section) so the thought of being pregnant again terrifies me. It is so good to hear that 2nd time labours can be easier.

Does anyone know what a "Bhandal's Ring" is?

[carrieboo]

My waters broke 2 weeks early and the contractions started 24hours later. I got to 2cm easily with not much pain at all in a couple of hours, however from there things slowed down and 12hours later I hadn't got much further so I was put on a drip, but that did not really work and the lower level I hardly progressed at the higher level I had one continueous contraction which neither me or the baby could cope with. So about 5hours later I had only reached 3-4cm and had to go for emergency c-section under general as they couldn't try anything else due to waters beaking so long before and my platelets high drop and my blood was clumping (was suggested it may be help syndrome).

Anyway the reason I ask is that there where so many mistakes made during my time at the hospitals (I was transfered mid labour!) that I was regularly white and shaking with terror, so naturally I am very keep to aviod all of this next time but have been warned that due to having a section this time that next time I will be given a trial of labour, which basically means they set a time limit on me to deliver naturally and if I not they send me for another section and I don't have a choice about it.

I would love three children but really don't want three sections, while the initial recovery was fairly quick 6 months on I have only just started to feel back to normal.

[Eulalia]

Yes definately. My first labour was long although OK really but it was very slow to get going. 2nd time round was so quick in the latter stages I was unprepared for it. In fact I was only in the labour room for just over an hour. Your body seems to remember what to do and with the muscles being used once they work much better first time round.

For me dilation was much faster - I went from about 5cm to 10cms in a matter on minutes!

[Eulalia]

Sorry that should read "work better 2nd time round".

[sb34]

Message withdrawn

[Demented]

Mog, my second labour was fab. My first labour was horrible, waters breaking followed by 21 hours of contractions(seems nothing compared with five days mind you), diamorphine, episiotomy etc. This time my contractions started and were very mild for about 10 hours, decided to go to the hospital where I was only 3 cms and they confirmed that the contractions were not very strong, although regular. I was put in a bed on the ante-natal ward and given two pain killers and a tamazepam (sp?) only to leap out the bed a very short time later in full blown labour. DH nearly missed the birth it was so quick the only downside was that the urge to push was so strong I couldn't stop and ended up with a second degree tear although this seemed less traumatic and healed much quicker than the cut did the first time. I only had gas and air and my advice about a second labour would be to make sure that there is enough time to have the pain relief that you have in mind, I was very glad not to have had the diamorphine this time round as it was so quick and although v painful I was able to focus and survive on the gas and air as it was such a short time and I did not feel in the least bit groggy when my new baby arrived. I have felt this time that the recovery is much easier as well.

All the best with number 2!

[mears]

Lois,

A Bandl's ring is seen in cases of obstructed labour. It is a ring that forms at the lower border of the thick upper segment of the uterus where it meets the thin lower segment. It is present in every labour and is perfectly normal so long as it is not marked enough to be seen above the symphisis pubis ( missle pelvic bone).

Labour works by the contractions shortenong the upper segment of the uterus which forces the baby down and out so to speak.
In obstructed labour where the baby cannot pass down through the cervix, the lower segment must stretch to accommodate it because the baby is being pushed out of the shortened upper segment. The greater the distension of the lower segment, the higher the ring will rise increasing the risk of a ruptured uterus.

Carrieboo - if none of the problems you had in your last labour are present, there is no reason that you shouldn't be able to labour. You were not given a long time on the drip last time probably because of the HELLP syndrome reather than the length of time that your waters were broken. It is best to go into spontaneous labour next time round if you can which might mean going over your dates. It would be worth it thought.

[SueDonim]

I'm another one who's second experience was so much better than the first. I had a POP labour first time round, all rather gruesome. Second time, labour was four hours and I delivered our son ten minutes after walking to the delivery room with "three or four hours to go"! The midwives had to rush back in a hurry, I can tell you!

[lou33]

My labours have all got progressively faster and easier, although they were all precipitous, which is a bonus I think!

[Mog]

Thank you all for your reassurance, especially the description of the physiology of it from Leese. I'm due February 16 so still a while to go, although time seems to go much faster second time around. I have wondered if my first labour was slow because of being an older mum (37) and the cervix being closed for longer if you know what I mean! Anyone have any anecdotal evidence to prove this theory?

[Lois]

Mears,

Thank you very much for that explanation. It fits in with other things they said at the time. I'm hoping that as long as my cervix gets it act together I'll be all right next time!

[Harrysmum]

For those who have had precipitous labours - does it follow that this will always be the case? When ds was born it was two hours from start to finish - is it that because for whatever reason my body was ready to go but my waters hadn't broken and when they were (by the midwife) everything just whizzed or if the waters go naturally it will be slower? I had gone in because I'd had a hindwater leak and when they found I was 4cm dilated without any real contractions they weren't about to let me out again. I am due again in January and although I'm sure it's better to be fast than slow, it did come with it's own set of problems (mainly going into shock afterwards and losing 4 pints of blood). Should I camp on the doorstep of the mattie from 1 January????

[lou33]

Harrysmum I had 4 children with preciptious labour, and each was faster than the previous one. My waters boke naturally with the first three, they were broken with the last. My first labour happened all at once , waters breaking, pushing and contractions, the middle two followed the pattern of waters breaking first and going into full on contractions only 2 mins apart 5 minutes later. With the lastI was 4 cm and they broke my waters in hospital so i didnt deliver unattended, which resulted in a 22minute labour. I hadn't been aware of any contractions as such up to then, just a bit of a backache.

In my case the reason i do this so quickly (which i consider a blessing btw!) is because i have a collagen deficiency syndrome , and the collagen around the cervix therefore thins out very quickly because there isn't much in the first place!

I would suggest the hospital are made aware of your previous labour so they can be prepared to deliver you at home or in hospital depending how quickly you progress though.

Hope this is of some use to you!

[FrancesJ]

Another non-precipitous first-labourer here, with a query. I became fully dilated during my first labour (I was induced, because of carrying too much water, followed by having the water artificially broken after about 24 hours) but I still didn't manage to have baby naturally - despite three intravenous drips to help me push. Ventouse and forceps both failed so I was eventually delivered by emergency section. I'm really keen to have a natural labour this time around, and have been told that this could be quicker because of my previous full dilation. I'm due for a scan at 36 weeks to check if baby isn't too large, breech, etc. Has anyone had a similar experience followed by natural birth? I'm getting the distinct feeling when talking to midwifes that although it would be lovely to try for a natural birth, another section seems a likely possibility, especially if baby is large. But if I hang on a bit, then I might be able to have a baby without spending days and days in hospital! Any ideas/advice would be ever so welcome.

[pupuce]

Hi Frances - Are you wanting a VBAC ? If so, I can ONLY recommend that you read "Silent knife" as it will demistify for you how natural, simple and safe a vaginal birth can be/is after a c-section.
Your labour "should" be quicker as you have been through the full dilation and unless you have been properly diagnosed with a small pelvis (again read the book on this!), you should have the right to go for it and it is very likely to be absolutely fine.

I just finished the book myself and was on several occasions astonished by some of the information which they deliver versus what you hear most often - there is a lot of misinformation out there so it is good to be prepared.

Best of luck

[FrancesJ]

Thank you Pupuce! I'll certainly get that book out of the library (finding information on these things can be sooo difficult sometimes). And it is a VBAC I want - it just took me a while to work out the acronym! I've had a look through some of the old threads on the message boards here (was new to the site yesterday) so lots of lovely information everywhere! Marvellous. I don't think it's a pelvis thing with me so, cross fingers, I'll be able to have a natural birth this time around.

[mears]

Frances 1,

The fact that your C/S was performed during the second stage suggests that the baby could not negotiate it's way through the pelvis. This may have been due to the position that the baby was in during labour. If you are able to labour spontaneously next time that may not happen. My cousin had a failed forceps followed by C/S first time round. The baby was in a posterior position. Second time she went into labour and by the time she arrived at hospital she was fully dilated. She had a vaginal delivery, with no stitches, of a larger baby. Her second baby was in the correct position.
Sometimes though the shape of your pelvis can determine the way the baby will be delivered. It may be that your next baby will adopt the same position but you won't know until you have a second labour. It is always worth having a go if that is what you want to do.
Scans are not really that accurate for determining size at 36 weeks although you might gain some reassurance. The best indicator will be if the head is beginning to go into the pelvis prior to the onset of labour ( second babies do not usually engage befrore labour but should not be swinging around ) and whether you get the chance to go into labour on your own. Good luck

[MotherofOne]

Frances - your experience sounds very like mine - I had a failed ventouse and then c/section for my son 2.5 years ago. If you have a look at the 'Help I don't want all this medical intervention' thread you will see that I had a lot of the same concerns as you about whether I would realistically be 'allowed' to try for a VBAC 2nd time around. Well - watch the birth announcements and we'll see 'cos I'm now almost 39 weeks pg, baby is in a 'good' (anterior) position, and as of my check up today was engaged (which probably accounts for why I feel I'm carrying a melon on my bladder...). I'm hoping to have a home wtaer birth this time around, fingers crossed!
Definitely read 'Silent Knife' as Pupuce suggests, and I think I posted some other books I found helpful to arm yourself with info to help your discussions with consultants: 'Obstetric Myths vs. Research realities' was good.

[pupuce]

BRILLIANT Motherofone....
I think you'll be all right you seem to be in the right frame of mine which is vital (as you know if you read Silent Knife).
The other book you recommend is also excellent.
Having a home birth is likely to help matters IMO as you will have continous care and supervision by a skilled MW and that is VERY useful and one of the reason why so many hospital births end up being managed... I am all excited for you now

All the best !!!

P.S. Frances - I posted the entire book reference on another current c-setion thread (names escapes me but you will find it as I posted it 2 hours a go).

[SoupDragon]

Here's my experience:
1st labour @ 40 wks 24 hours from very beginning to bitter end. Last ditch attempt at a ventouse delivery resulted in a 10lb "Star Gazer" and a 3rd degree tear and nearly 2 hours of repair work. Can't remember much about it really as I was completely spaced out!

2nd labour @ 38 weeks (2 days after a growth scan estimated weight at 7lb 14oz and threats of c-section) 20 hours from very beginning to not-so-bitter end but only 2 hours after going to hospital, 30 minutes from waters breaking & 18 mins pushing. A 8lb 4oz baby, so the scan was prety accurate in my case. Infinitely better and easier. I think I knew what I was meant to be doing (and how) and my body knew what it was meant to be doing. It all seemed to come so much more naturally.

[Harrysmum]

Lou33 - thanks so much for replying especially with everything else that is going on in your family. I will chat to my community midwife when I next see her as I kind of get the impression that she doesn't know much about what happened at the labour as she wasn't there. I think I rather scared dh by suggesting that we may have to be prepared to have this one at home and then transfer to hospital! Thanks again and much love and best wishes for all your little ones and family.