Re:How long does it take to dilate?
The length of a labor can be extremely variable. It is generally the first three centimeters that are the most variable. A person can go from zero to three centimeters in three hours or in 20 or more hours. After three centimeters, a first time mom can dilate about a centimeter an hour or another 7 hour past the point she reaches three centimeters. Moms who’ve had babies before can dilate very quickly, over an hour or less, and deliver the baby with a total labor time of less than two hours. Generally, second time moms dilate about a centimeter in about a half an hour, giving a total labor time of about 5-7 hours.
Again, the time is very variable. Moms can even get to eight centimeters dilated and then stall out, unable to bring the head any further down. The cervix starts to thicken from swelling instead of thin out and the labor becomes completely stalled. Generally, a cesarean section is required because of cephalopelvic disproportion (the head’s too big). So lots of things can happen with labor and labors can be short or long. In general, first labors last around 12 hours which can be divided into five hours to get to three centimeters and another seven hours to get to ten centimeters. Pushing can take up to two or more hours, especially for first time mothers.
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