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Natural Birth
aetg
member
Give me your birth predictions
aetg
member
So I'm not actually pregnant with number two, but we are thinking about TTC this summer and the next birth is on my mind 
Anyway, considering how my last birth went I've been thinking about how the second will go. I was induced, but I can't tell how much of the precipitous labor was a result of the induction or how much was just my body.
Anyway, here is my labor story I'd love your prediction for labor #2.
I should point out here that I was planning on a natural birth and only went in to be induced because I'd been at 6cm for days and nothing had started
I went in at 6am on the 29th and they were going to break my water to see if that started active labor. Well they did break it around 8am and then nothing happened and nothing happened and nothing happened.
Anyway, around 2 they also decided to give me the lowest dose of pitocin, but had to stop it around 2:30 because they were changing how they recorded the baby's vital signs.
So anyway, here I am and it is around 3pm and nothing was happening. I mean I did feel some contractions, but they still didn't hurt and were more just annoying then anything. Then around 4:30 pm the first contraction hit, then the second. It was immediate pain and I'm thinking ok if they come back to up the pitocin I'm not going to make it. By the third contraction I out of the bed hollering and feeling the need to push. The nurses heard me and came in and said that sure enough, I was fully dialated and by 5:23 he was out!
So, I had my water broken and pitocin for about thirty minutes. I had a total of three contractions before needing to push and being ready to push. I'm a little concerned that if I get pregnant again that I need to plan for an unassisted birth because I never would have made it to the hospital or even to the car or the phone.
I feel like I read somewhere that fast labors usually don't have complications, but I don't know how true that is. I wouldn't mind a UA birth if only I knew that it was going to turn out fine! The worry about not being able to help the baby is my only real concern.
Also, I did notice the contractions I was having prior to the three painful ones, but since I'd been told for two months that my timeable painless contractions were just Braxton Hicks I didn't really think I was in labor. And since they had been happening so consistently for months I couldn't really judge where I was at in labor by them either.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Give me your birth predictions
Obviously, it's hard to tell. I think you realize that. I'd personally be prepared for another fast birth but be mentally ready for a longer labor.
My first was 17hrs, ended in an unnecessary c/s (in hindsight). My VBAC labor and birth was TWO HOURS. Reading yours, we both must have had productive contractions that weren't very remarkable to count or time, that did some work. I was in transition about 20 minutes after my water broke, with negligible ctx before that as I slept. And you, walking around at 6cm...wow!! For this next birth in about three months, I am preparing for a fast birth and will act on a fast birth but be mentally ready for it to be longer. It's just really hard to tell. I have a feeling it'll be quick though. I get chiropractic for good pelvic alignment, and I took some birth prep herbs that helped to have an efficient labor (I don't take those to go into labor sooner....just to help prime my body better).
I think fast labors are definitely more straightforward, and there is less time for complications to occur. They do bring their own set of complications though, such as PPH - the uterus is sort of in shock, like "oh is it over already? Sorry I'm behind here". Baby can be traumatized/bruised by a quick descent through the pelvis (my DD was, but it wasn't significant needing special care or anything), so for that reason I wouldn't mind a 4 hour labor for us to be more read for it. But, I'm very grateful for a labor where there was no question it would be a VBAC.
HTH!
I think it's impossible to predict. First of all, all labors are different. Second, most women on here never have cervical checks, and would never know how dilated they are for how long. I had one cervical check. It was when I arrived at hospital after laboring at home. I was fully dilated. Most women don't get checked till in labor if doing natural. So it's weird to me to think of inducing for that,and at any rate, there is absolutely no way to tell how labor would go naturally. Many women say contractions when labor is induced are much worse than natural. You didn't technically have a fast labor, you had an induced labor. Not the same thing. And no at to predict what a natural labor would have been or would be like for you.
all that said, your body can totally do natural, and I suspect if well prepared, you'd find it one where you'd feel more comfortable ad in control. Good luck!
I get what you are saying, but I think 45 minutes is going to be considered a fast labor even if it includes some pitocin.
I guess I'm hoping the next labor I'll have five easy to manage contractions instead of 3 brutal ones!
I agree with all of the PPs especially SarahinMD. There is absolutely no way to tell how you labor will go. They usually say your second labor is faster but a friend from my Bradley class had a longer labor with her second. I also agree that you really did not have a fast labor but rather an induced labor so there is really no way to predict how your body would react.