How quick to dilate?

[Merlin]

Am 37 weeks and going for VBAC. Saw consultant today and amongst other things he said they would be looking for me to dilate 1cm an hour once in established labour and if I fall behind that then they would do a section. Does anyone know how that compares with a 'normal' labour? TIA

[Nemo1977]

i went from 1cm to 10 in space of 70mins. Think it completely depends on individual

[Merlin]

Wow Nemo that was fast! Was it your first?

[ButtonMoon]

1cm per hour is average I think...but obviously depends, some are faster some slower. I dilated very slowly (only up to 3 cm afetr 12 hours)until I had waters broken and epidural and then went from 3-10 in about 2 hours!!

[Merlin]

I guess I'm trying to avoid another section if poss. Will just have to focus on fast dilation!!!!! Thanks for your replies. x

[madgirl]

with ds1 i went from 1cm to 3cm in 12 hours , with ds2 when induced with drip went from 0cm to 8cm in 30 minutes

[dinny]

First time went from 3cm to fully dilated in 5 hours (dd born after 10 min pushing). Second time was about three hours. hth. Good luck,hope you have your natural delivery

[madgirl]

ullo dinny. sorry to hijack Merlin. dinny, c u tuesday am x

[dinny]

hi, yes, defo. can't remember if we decided which....?

[madgirl]

no we didn't shall we do toot common? can take bread to feed ducks even tho millions of signs saying don't. also can try out new cappuccino machine in caf that has been taken over by other people. dh went and said it was improvement (ish)

[Nemo1977]

yes he was my first merlin and was also 15 days late and 9lb 1 so only fair he came out quickly..lol

[dinny]

ooh, yes, good idea. dd can bring her trike. 10am in the playground then (sorry for hijacking)

[madgirl]

okey dokey smokey.

[Merlin]

Kama - that sounds pretty textbook stuff to me - lets hope I'm that lucky. Now I've got my head round a normal delivery I really don't want a sectin with the long recovery.

[dinny]

Merlin, did you have an emergency C last time? Really hope you have the birth you want this time

[Merlin]

Yes Dinny, DS was footling breech at 36 weeks, waters broke at 37, he was still well and truly stuck so em section. Had no contractions so I am 'untested' as my consultant put it today!!!

[dinny]

really hope it goes well this time. take it this baby not breech...? fwiw I so think standing up/walking round for as long as possible really helps labour progress fast.

[bonym]

I think 1cm an hour is what they look for in any birth - I have a home birth booked and have been told that if I do not dilate at this rate they could take me into hospital due to "failure to progress", and would look to speed things up.

[Merlin]

Dinny - definitely head down on scan today, has been last 2 antenatal checks too so don't think it's going anywhere! Just going to try and stay at home for as long as poss and keep mobile as you say.

Boneym - consultant said they would only give me something to speed things up ie syncotin (sp?) drip if I was fully dilated but needed a bit of help to push baby out at the last moment.

TBH I'm fed up of not knowing what's going to happen and just want to get on with it!!!!

[Merlin]

Kama - sorry my mistake - just read your post again - pregnancy brain and all that!!!! Yes, I spose that was quite long - poor you!!

[Merlin]

Kama - thanks for your good wishes. If I don't dilate fairly quickly, then hospital policy is a section, so I wont have a choice, but at the end of the day, just want babe out safe and well and me!). They would also only use ventouse or forceps if I reach full dilation so will have to wait and see!

[mummytosteven]

i was a lot slower - 5cm at 12 p.m, 10 cm at 8.30 p.m - but i stopped dilating due to diamorphine (can be a side effect) and they had to stick me on a syntocin drip to get me going again!