Long labour or short labour.................what's best?

[Jemma7]

Just wondered, I am not have never been pg but not due to lack of tying, what your opionions are regarding labour.

I was talking to SIL last night who has 3 children - she has given birth to all of them within an hour. She says it was the most painful experience ever and she thinks it was due to them all being delivered so quickly - she thinks that as everything is happening so quick you don't get to do the things you would do in a long drawn out labour i.e. go for a walk, have a bath etc.

What are you opinions?

[LucieB]

Jemma - I had a long labour of over 20 hours and unfortunately I didn't have a build-up so was in no fit state to go for a walk, go shopping or anything as soon as my contractions started. It was pretty painful too. Its so hard to generalise. I guess at least with a short labour, its all over much more quickly but that over-simplifies it really. No two experiences are the same....

[Katherine]

Jemma my first was 3.5 hrs and a total shock - very intense and painful. All I kept thinking was "I can't cope with 12 hrs of this". Started with my waters breaking which apparently makes it more painful as there is nothing to cushion the head on the cervix which also means things move more quickly.

My second was 1hr 20mins. Same pattern - waters breaking but this time a homebirth. I actually felt releif when it started the same way as although I knew it would be painful I also knew it would be quick. In the end it wasn't painful at all - in fact it never really got worse than bad period pains and was a lovely experience.

Now waiting for no.3 as you know. Have had intermiettent mild contractions for 24 hrs which has now stopped. Can't comment on the labour yet! but have to say this waiting around is driving me crazy. Would much rather have gone straight in there like with the other two!

But every labour is differnt - you can have long painful ones, long easy ones, short painful ones or short easy ones. Unfortunatley its impossible to predict how it will go. But there is a baby at the end of them all so you've just got to focus on that

[EmmaTMG]

I had a long and very painful labour with DS1, with an epidural and ventouse delivery after at least 12 hours of really strong pains. DS2 was 3.5 hours from the very first twinge, only had a tens machine for the labour and gas and air when the midwife did her needlework down there.

DS2 was a 1000 times easier and I definatley want No.3 to be quick again in 4 weeks time.

[Enid]

My second labour was less than two hours with two pushes and it was definitely a shock and very painful. Mind you I realised that the baby was going to come quickly so that comforted me.

My ideal labour would be mild contractions for a few hours to get used to the idea and get the Tens machine working, then fast and furious second/third stage.

[lou33]

I've had 4 babies, the labours ranged from 2hrs 20 to just 22 mins. I've been told they are more painful as everything is happening faster (cervix dilating etc), but tbh I don't think I could cope with anything longer, don't think I would have the energy. I'm quite glad they pop out so quickly. Definitley not having any more though.

[lou33]

Sorry should read "definitely".

[ThomCat]

Two of my friends had really really quick labours too and they said it was horrid, too fast, too out of control, not time for natural painkillers to kick in etc etc
Mine was 6 hours from first mild contraction to babe in arms and it felt pretty good - not too fast, and not too slow more to the point! Got to the hospital fully dilated and ready to go and didn't need any pain relief so it all suited me just fine!

[metired]

all 4 have been quite short under 4 hours, but last one was about 15 minutes and a breech delivery - (planned breech as number 3 was also vaginal breech), it was abit quick and I was abit shocked by it all, although not as shocked as my midwife who did a headless chicken impression and left me alone in room with hubby whilst she went to get help - after she had put my feet in stirrups and took the bottom of the bed away! I honestly thought I was going to deliver my baby straight onto the floor, luckily a dr walked in and caught her just as hubby was about to do the same. all very stressful

[lou33]

Metired I got the headless chicken act too. I had warned the world and his wife about my quick deliveries, and they all said "oh really" in that tone of not believing you. The midwife was happily writing notes at her leisure into my records, when she realised I was pushing ds out, and went into major flap mode as he was coming out and she didn't have any gloves to hand. Next time I think she'll listen to someone who has quick births!

[Pimpernel]

I had a very long labour (44 hours), and I think it was probably gentler than it would have been if it had been all over in an hour. I had dd at home though - I was very relaxed, and I'm sure that helped.

There's probably a happy medium, and I'm hoping for a slightly quicker one next time!

[samACon]

With my first I started having contractions at around 1.30am, went into "proper" labour around 8.00am and had him at 6.30pm that evening - fairly average time, but pain was ok, I could survive with just gas and air.

With my second I was induced and it was all over in 4 hours - he shot out so fast the midwife missed him and he played trampoline on the bed! BUT I felt out of control and the pain was pretty unbearable, had pethadine just before the birth - too late to help me but ds2 slept for 14 hrs without a feed so at least I got a good nights sleep.

I'm expecting the third in 9 weeks, but there is no way I'm being induced again. I'd rather be in labour for a while but have the pain build up at a rate I can handle than it short but very painful.

Of course if anyone can tell me how to make it short and painfree I'd be grateful!!!

[anais]

Erm...unfortunately you don't get a choice!

My first was nearly 24 hours. I had a horrible rash which had kept me awake the night before going into labour and was then awake all night in labour. I was exhausted by the time I actually gave birth and not in a fit stateto go for a walk thing or anything either.

Dd was much quicker, or it felt like it anyway. But all still very painful! I think you just have to try and keep an open mind and try and stay positive no matter what. However you end up giving birth, the end result is worth all the effort and pain!