Longest labor?

[Anonymous]

A friend has been in labor around 36 hours. I'm assuming at some point they will pull the plug and do a c-section, but just curious, what's the longest labor you've heard of?

[Anonymous]

I mean, I was in labor for 43 or 44 hours. No one ever suggested I was headed toward c-section. It definitely wasn’t pleasant.

[Anonymous]

Some of it depends on what you define as "labor." Some women have contractions for days.

I define mine from when they started my induction, but some people say it starts with "active labor" and you're more than 4cm. It took me 24 hours on pitocin to get to 4cm! And a lot of pain.

My 2nd baby was 46 hours of induction. At no time did anyone tell me to "pull the plug" (other than my mom and MIL because they just wanted to see the baby sooner- not a good reason!). As long as you're doing well, progressing slowly, baby isn't in distress, they let you labor by yourself. My 3rd was 30 hours of pitocin. Some bodies just take longer I guess?

[Anonymous]

Oh wow. Is there an outer limit? Or a point at which most babies will go into distress?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend has been in labor around 36 hours. I'm assuming at some point they will pull the plug and do a c-section, but just curious, what's the longest labor you've heard of?

Depends on a lot of factors. I had 40 hours of labor (water broke and clock started), 4 hours of pushing. Ended up with c-section. There were a lot of factors that made it go to c-section vs continuing. One was exhaustion. Typical FTM amped for delivery and then laboring in restrictive positions plus being hungry etc.

Im also sensory sensitive and hospitals are very overwhelming. I know now that I need dark cool and calm which it definitely wasnt. Too many people. Too many bright overhead lights. Etc.

[Anonymous]

My first was 38 hrs but only 20 minutes of active labor. Easy peasy! On my feet the entire time which was felt better for me than laying down

[Anonymous]

I was in labor for 51 hours with my first. The contractions were very strong but manageable for the first 48 hours and then I pushed for 3ish hours but that was a lot easier than the last hour of non-pushing labor had been. Baby wasn't in distress at all. Not induced. No one suggested a c section and I never had any pitocin to speed things up.

Second baby was an 11hr induction.

There are outer limits to what many doctors and midwives are comfortable with, but I'm not aware of any specific number as long as baby and mom are tolerating labor well and water isn't broken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh wow. Is there an outer limit? Or a point at which most babies will go into distress?

The only clock mentioned to me was 24 hours after water breaks. But mine broke in the hospital, they saw that it was clear and they monitored me for infection/temperature. I went about 30 hours of labor after my water broke.

P.S. Don't question your friend about the baby taking a long time. I remember that I wanted to be done too and EVERYONE kept texting me asking where the baby was nonstop. It made me feel anxious to be done and I already thought my body was failing me in getting the baby out promptly. Some people even thought the baby was there and I just wasn't telling them.

[Anonymous]

56hr labor here. In my case baby did end up in distress and required a c-section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in labor for 51 hours with my first. The contractions were very strong but manageable for the first 48 hours and then I pushed for 3ish hours but that was a lot easier than the last hour of non-pushing labor had been. Baby wasn't in distress at all. Not induced. No one suggested a c section and I never had any pitocin to speed things up.

Second baby was an 11hr induction.

There are outer limits to what many doctors and midwives are comfortable with, but I'm not aware of any specific number as long as baby and mom are tolerating labor well and water isn't broken.

They don't want you pushing for more than 2-3 hours. It is up to their discretion and risk tolerance. If you are making progress at 2.5 hours they will probably give you more time. If baby has stalled after 2.5 hours you're probably getting a C section. Also depends on how baby is tolerating it. The other "timer" is broken membranes.

You can be in prodromal labor for days that is very unpleasant for some women. Bad enough they don't sleep and when real labor starts they have no reserves left.

[Anonymous]

My active labor was longer than this. C-section was never mentioned. Baby was never in distress. Had waters broken but eventually needed respite epidural to sleep. The hardest part was pushing on exhaustion. I had been up a few days before in prodromal labor (all back labor- mostly standing) In truth I should have tried to labor at home longer and rest more. Extended pushing is no joke. 3+ hours.


Does your friend have a doula?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh wow. Is there an outer limit? Or a point at which most babies will go into distress?

The only clock mentioned to me was 24 hours after water breaks. But mine broke in the hospital, they saw that it was clear and they monitored me for infection/temperature. I went about 30 hours of labor after my water broke.

P.S. Don't question your friend about the baby taking a long time. I remember that I wanted to be done too and EVERYONE kept texting me asking where the baby was nonstop. It made me feel anxious to be done and I already thought my body was failing me in getting the baby out promptly. Some people even thought the baby was there and I just wasn't telling them.

Agree. Follow her lead. If she contacts you answer, otherwise cone of silence.

[Anonymous]

I’m the first PP, who took 43 to 44 hours. Labor started with my water breaking so I was in the hospital for most of that. Eventually they gave me pit and I actually went 3-10 in 3 hours. Very weird labor trajectory. I also pushed for 3.25. Everyone in the room including the OB and nurse said that was a normal length of time to push for a first time mom. They definitely didn’t make me feel pressured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of it depends on what you define as "labor." Some women have contractions for days.

I define mine from when they started my induction, but some people say it starts with "active labor" and you're more than 4cm. It took me 24 hours on pitocin to get to 4cm! And a lot of pain.

My 2nd baby was 46 hours of induction. At no time did anyone tell me to "pull the plug" (other than my mom and MIL because they just wanted to see the baby sooner- not a good reason!). As long as you're doing well, progressing slowly, baby isn't in distress, they let you labor by yourself. My 3rd was 30 hours of pitocin. Some bodies just take longer I guess?

Dilation is not a measure of progression.

I was in labor for 73 hours with my first. Only 4 of those were "active" after I took castor oil upon my midwife's reccomendation. But my water broke and contractions started 3 days prior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My active labor was longer than this. C-section was never mentioned. Baby was never in distress. Had waters broken but eventually needed respite epidural to sleep. The hardest part was pushing on exhaustion. I had been up a few days before in prodromal labor (all back labor- mostly standing) In truth I should have tried to labor at home longer and rest more. Extended pushing is no joke. 3+ hours.


Does your friend have a doula?

No, active labor doesn't mean what you think it means.