my previous labor lasted over 15 hours; will my next labor also take that long?

Question

For the last 4 hours i've been getting frequent long lasting painless braxton hicks contractions. I'm 30 weeks pregnant. They last for about 15 mins. Is this labor?

Answer 1

Depends : In general, labor is shorter with second and third pregnancies but not always. The position of the baby, the size of the baby, how far along you are influence the length of labor. Some complications like gestational diabetes can also influence the length of labor as well.

Answer 2

Possibly: But more often labor with a second child is shorter but not in all cases.

Answer 3

I think so: I would guess it is possible but not probable.

Answer 4

Depends: A lot depends on how much the baby weighs.

Answer 5

Very: Women who tear in one labor often tear in the next. This is because the tissue that heals along the old tear site is not as strong as unscarred tissue.

Answer 6

Lack of stretch: The ligaments of the pelvis as well as the "stretchiness" of the cervix is relatively tight in women who have not delivered a child vaginally. Once you have delivered a child vaginally then these ligaments and the cervix are looser and stretch faster and more easily with the next pregnancy.

Answer 7

It does not always: Take a long time, I have had pts push the 1st baby out in 5-15 minutes while other women took 2 hours, once u have had a vag del if the 2nd baby is not any bigger it usually takes less time because the vaginal canal has been stretched out from the 1st delivery, but sometimes the baby can get stuck so your health care prof should be skilled enough to know that and when to do a section if necessary.

Answer 8

Yes: Sometimes OB providers will break the amniotic sac ("bag of waters") to bring on labor. Other techniques can also be used, with varying success. Or oxytocin ("pit") given in an intravenous (IV) solution can be used to increase the frequency and strength of contractions. That results in a more regular pattern of labor that may shorten the time from start of labor (regular contractions) to delivery.

Answer 9

Why do you want to?: There are many medications which can cause the uterus to contract more vigorously and more often, but this is only indicated when something is going wrong with labor, and the uterus is not contracting as strongly or as often as it should. To "speed up" a normal labor means to risk decreasing blood flow to the baby, including to the baby's brain. This is not something you or your dr. Would want.

Answer 10

See below: Physiologic third stage of labor means no Pitocin (oxytocin) after the baby is born, no cord traction, no early clamping of the cord. Postpartum hemorrhage is a serious problem and occurs most often in low risk women. Pph hemorrhage rates have been shown to be higher when physiologic management of third stage is employed rather than active management.

Answer 11

Labor: Your third stage of labor begins once your baby is born and ends when you deliver the placenta. You can choose to have either a physiological (or natural) third stage or an actively managed third stage. A physiological third stage means that you wait for the placenta to be delivered naturally.

my previous labor lasted over 15 hours; will my next labor also take that long?

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