Failed inductions/long labours ending in Caesarians

[RedPanda]

I have a question regarding long labours and failed inductions. Do doctors have different "rules" regarding how long they will let a mother labour for before performing a caesarean?

My waters broke 16 hours before DS was born, and I was vaguely aware that the doctor wanted him born within 24 hours. Is this a rule with all doctors?

Also, when they try to induce, how long do they wait before giving up and doing a caesarean?

Thanks! I know each case is probably different, but I don't want oxytocin (or is it syntocin?) at my next labour. I had it this time because I was on a time limit, but it was intense and awful. My next isn't for a while (TTC 2007), but I just like to do my research!!

[Shanaynay]

Hi!
Yes, doctors most definately do have different rules with "time limits" on labours before csecs, and waters breaking.
I think a general rule is induction within 24 hours of waters breaking if labour hasn't stared. But many hosptials and/or independent midwives are happy to wait 2, 3 or more days :)

In regards to failed induction and performing csecs, I'm not sure there is really a general rule as it would depend from woman to woman... and what consitiutes a "failed induction"? That varies too.
They use the old "failure to progress" term as they go to slice and dice, but it really depends on the docotr and waht they think faliure is...some doctors will claim a woman who is just a slow labourer is failing to progress, others will accept slow but think if a woman is stuck at the same dilation for a few hours, then she is not progressing then........

......your best bet is to chat with the docotr or Ob you intend on having at the birth of your next bub and see what their general 'rules' are. And if you don't agree, find another doc :)

[RedPanda]

Thanks Phin! My DS was delivered by a different OB than the one I was seeing throughout my preg. When I went for my 6 week postnatal check-up, my OB read my labour report, and said "Oh, you got stuck in stage 2. Dr XXX would probably have considered a c/s."

I didn't know I was close to it. I'm all for c/s if they're necessary, but the thought of labouring for so long and then having a c/s scares me a bit. I reckon I'm a long labourer too, which also scares me!:eek:

[Sarie]

My waters broke over 24 hours before DS1 was born, I was induced with the drip so I had IV antibiotics aswell. This was a long labour, but I had a VB and my second son was born VB after also being induced but in only 7.5 hours that time.

[Shanaynay]

I didn't know I was close to it. I'm all for c/s if they're necessary, but the thought of labouring for so long and then having a c/s scares me a bit. I reckon I'm a long labourer too, which also scares me!:eek:

I thought that too. I laboured for around 20 hours before reaching 10cm with my first bub (ended up with a csec anyway due to bad postitioning)

So when I was going for my VBAC I was a bit worried that they would make me have a csec because I thought I was a long labourer and I would reach my 'time limit' and be going well (albeit slowly) but I would end up with a csec anyway.

Well, I was dead wrong! Laboured so fast I was actaully quite freaked out! :o Just to let you know, try not to dwell on long labouring because we have no way of knowing if it will be a long labour or not!
xx

[danielle13]

I went into spontaneous labour but they tried to break my waters (unsuccesfully) 5 times! They also gave me the syntocinon (sp?) drip when I was around 5cm as I was dilating "too slowly"......
All this within only 7 hours of arriving at the hospital!
Each ARM attempt made my contractions worse and I ended up begging for an epi, which slowed my progress.
DD was delivered by c/s 14 hours after arriving at the hospy.

[rtc]

my labour started on a thurs morn 2am and i finally went to hospital fri morn 6am only to find i was only 1cm dilated! When i reached 3cm they broke my water. after an epidural, they decided to put me on the drip. When it got to 7am Saturday they examined me and i was still only 8cm! DD was born by c-sect 8.40am.

[Seekrit]

My hospital told me that the general rule is 1cm/hour after 4cm... if I hadn't dilated in an hour, they'll give one more hour for dilation... if still no movement then there's talks about failure to progress

[shed]

My hospital told me nothing.

I told THEM what was going to happen. I plan on doing that next time as well.

Everybody is different so they can keep their rules to themselves as far as I am concerned. How can one set of rules be relevant to every labouring women? I'll tell you how, THEY CAN'T.

[SassyMummy]

I don't know how it is in every case at every hospital...

But I had my caesarean as a result of being overdue and having 3 failed induction attempts.

I was induced twice with "tape" (it's like a flat tampon thing which is insterted and sits next to the cervix) and then once with gel. I was informed that one of hte tape inductions had failed as a result of incorrect storage and nothing else... but the others, in theory, were in good working order... they just didn;t work on me.

I was induced, for the first time, late Thursday evening, and was told, on Sunday afternoon, that I would have a caesarean at 6am on Monday (which was more like, 10am on Monday). At that point, I was 2 weeks overdue.

[sissi]

Hi,
my water broke in the morning and it was green, so I knew the baby is in distress. WEnt to hospital stright away , still no pains. I wasn't open at all ( guess just few mm to let water out ). Was induced by gel 2x, 10 hours later had contractions every 2 mins but only open 2cm. Dr. suggested oxytocin drip, as I have medical background and know how painful it is, asked for epidural - which was by the way god sent, as I already had very bad contractions and was vomiting all time. It stoped as soon as I had the epidural. The drip didn't do a thing and bubs heart rate went through the roof so ended up with c-section 12 hours after arriving to hospital. Maybe I could have waited but the bub is more important than VB to me!!! Have seen women that reject c-section just to have VB and have lots of problems as bubs don't thive well after birth ( in the better case scenario )
In my case even if we waited I wouldn't be able to deliver her anyway as she was sideways and posterior as well. My c-section experience wasn't bad, I only had pain for 4 days, then rejected pain meds as I was feeling good, even though nurses couldn't believ me and kept bringing pain relief which i threw in the bin! If I had to make the decision again I would have c-section again without hesitation if Dr. suggested it's necessary. But that's just my point of view.

[Kaileysmum]

When I was pregnant I read that they'll only let you labour for 24 hours before they'll speed things up or give c/s's. In my case I laboured for 38 hours, and all they did to speed things up was break my waters, and in the end I needed a c/s. So I think all hospitals/OB's/midwifes are different.

[angel_one]

my water broke just under 56 hours before my boy was delivered via emergency c-sect, he was a 32 weeker, and the docs were quite happy to keep me pg for as long as possible, it was only due the the fact that we found some meconium on a pad, that they started inducing and at that i spent over 24 hours trying to tell my body to dilate!!

[ZarasMummy]

Hey Hazellew,

I went into labour at about 10pm on a Sat night, ending up at the hospital about 2am Sun morning. After the doc checked over me they decided to keep me in and induce me with the syntocin at 7am. On the way to the maternity ward my midwife actually pulled me aside and told me to ask for an epi before they administered the syntocin for the exact reason that you say, it can be so much more intense.

I am really glad that I did have the epi because after about 12 hours the doc decided to take me for a c/s...mind you it was after about 6 hours of no progress. All went well and DD is gorgeous...although the recovery was hell!

Amazingly the next day my Mum went to the birth suite to thank the staff for their wonderful help and support and was told by a couple of midwives that they knew I would never deliver DD naturally and were just waiting on the doc to make the decision. I guess all the staff have a different "rule" as to when to go to a c/s.

Wish you luck though, hope all goes well!