Comments on: Alison Sweeney on Megan's Early Arrival

By: momof2

momof2 — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:23:47 +0000

Sally,
The 2nd baby does come faster. My first, I pushed for 1hr and 45min and ended up having a c-sec bc his face was turned up. I’m petite so they said I wouldn’t have/had him vaginally anyway bc he was 8lbs 15oz (9 days early). Well w/my 2nd I started dilating at 31wks. She was scheduled for a c-sec (Apr 17) a wk before the due date. I thought I was in labor one weekend and stayed overnight – I was 4cm and 80% thinned but I didn’t progress so they sent me home. This was bc I was only at 36wks – The moved my c-sec up for the next week – Friday Apr 13th! I went into labor Thurs – April 12th. The pain/contractions have been the same all week so I didn’t go to the hospital. I was having my surgery the next morning – they already sent me home the weekend before. Well she couldn’t wait (like Alison’s baby Megan). I got to the hospital at 11:25pm and she was born at 11:43pm. She weiged 9lbs 5oz bigger than my first born. So yes they come a lot quicker the next time around! And yes you can have a vbac bc I did w/no drugs!!! My kids are almost 5yrs apart.

By: honb85

honb85 — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:12:15 +0000

I’m a nurse and have done rotations in labor and delivery. Not eating during labor is a precaution in case a c-section is needed. CelebBabyLover got it right, anesthesia slows the digestive system and having food in your system during any surgery can cause aspiration problems (breathing vomit into your lungs). Vomiting is a possible side effect from anesthesia, whether local or general. This is how it works in the hospitals I have worked in and what I learned in school, but from other posts it sounds like each doctor and hospital may have different views.

By: emily

emily — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:38:59 +0000

I ate about 6 hours before my epidural, 8 hours before giving birth. It was in India – they weren’t concerned about it at all. Either I just got lucky and didn’t get sick, or it’s just another rule out there that may have no merit.

By: sallyc

sallyc — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:58:26 +0000

actually, you CAN eat IF you don’t have an epidural (this was the reason I chose to go natural. that, and walking around, laboring in the shower, et). I was allowed to go med-free for close to 36 hours and I ate the whole time. I did end up with a c-section because I didn’t dilate and my daughter was posterior, but having eaten was never an issue.

By: CelebBabyLover

CelebBabyLover — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:48:15 +0000

Heidi Plunkett- Actually, you also can’t eat if you’re going to recieve or there’s a chance you’re going to recieve local anesthesia (well, if your lower body is going to be numbed, anyway). This is because, when an ansethetic is given to numb the lower part of the body, it basically “shuts off” most of the digestive system. Obviously, if food is in there, it’s going to cause some problems!

By: DJE

DJE — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:34:33 +0000

I love her on both shows congrats!!

By: emily

emily — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:56:05 +0000

I hope the quick delivery is the same in the case of my second one!!

By: Heidi Plunkett

Heidi Plunkett — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:41:41 +0000

You can’t eat in labor in case you have to have general anesthesia. Its a precaution with all surgeries not just labor.

By: Anna

Anna — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 05:59:28 +0000

I’ve heard that forbidding a women to eat during labour is one of the reasons labour often ends in c section. Because the woman can’t keep up her strength during labour without eating.

By: Sally

Sally — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:27:33 +0000

ok so I’m curious: do 2nd babies come earlier/faster even if the 1st one was a c-section? I am not PG but I am hoping for a VBAC next time, and it would be very convenient if #2 did come early (and faster) since some doctors don’t let you go past a certain point.