Medical reasons for time limit on second stage?

[phdlife]

I've read in several places that there's no medical reason for limiting the time of second stage, but I wonder if anyone out there knows if that applies equally to vbacs?

References, please!

Am curious about this too...

okay, here's a reference, but not sure it's what we want.

Duff, P, Harlass, F. E, 1990, ?The duration of labor in primiparas undergoing vaginal birth after cesarean delivery?, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 75(1): 45-7.

You can find the abstract online.

Aha! Here's what is wanted -

In A Thinking Woman's Guide to Better Birth", Henci Goer writes,

"There is no evidence that length of labour has any effect on scar integrity if you haven't been induced. At the very least, caregivers should give you as much time as if you had never had a baby. Studies show that women who have had a prior cesarian have labor lengths more like those of first-time mothers than of women who have given birth before."

Unfortunately her references are all at the end of the chapter, and the page that was scanned for me is unreadable.

Might be more info at her website though.

hth, LadyBee