shock after childbirth

[bez]

as those of you have seen my birth announcement will know, my son was born after just an hour of labour.

As he was my first baby, I was expecting to be in labour for several hours. And the second stage was so quick I'm surprised I managed to catch him - he just shot out.

I am still reeling from the shock several days later and have only just realised how lucky we both were.

Altho its obviously too soon to say whether I would want any more children later on down the line, I am already thinking I better not as altho I feel quite proud of myself for delivering the baby by myself and at least it ensured I had a natural birth, its quite scary thinking what could have gone wrong and any subsequent births will probably be even quicker and might not be so straightforward.

Anyone else had such a quick labour or know of anyone who has? How long does it takke to get over the shock?

[Thomcat]

Not the same thing Bez but my normal sized friend gave birth to a really big 10.5 lb babay and she went into a bit of shock over it as well. She felt that way for about a week or so.

A mad, mad thing happened to you sweet and it's pefectly okay to be shocked.
I think it would be great if you are able to talk to others in the same situation so you don't fell so freaked out by it.

Bless you and well done again!

[AussieSim]

My mum was 1.5hours with my older db and 1 hour with me. Both times her water broke and she was rushed to hospital so didn't have your experience, so I think the key thing is to have someone around to get you to where you want to be. My Mum wasn't freaked out - that she can remember now - mind you memories are funny things when it comes to childbirth.

I on the other hand had a premmie that took 24 hours - now that is something to put you off - but I'm already clucky again - but I wouldn't allow my hubby to discuss having another, or let myself think about it till ds was at least 6mths old.

HTH

[gingernut]

My SIL had an unplanned homebirth with her first because the labour was so quick. I'm not sure how long her labour actually was, but they didn't leave for hospital when they realised labour had started because they expected it to last many hours, hence the unplanned homebirth (m/w did make it just in time!).

With their second, they were advised to head for hospital at the very first twinge, which they did. The second labour was actually a little bit longer than her first, and they made it to hospital with about 20 minutes to spare.

I can't really offer any advice except to suggest that you could always consider a planned homebirth, particularly if you live some distance from the hospital.

I'm not surprised you are feeling shocked BTW!

HTH.

(PS my labour was about 50 hours!).

[zebra]

I think that fits the definition of "precipitous labour", Bez. Search for "precipitous" on MNet and you'll find several other woman have had labours like that. It's not that uncommon... I'm not sure you were as "at risk" as you believe you were. Might be a very good reason to 'book' yourself in for homebirth if you have another.
Anyway, it may well be longer next time. I dont' know for sure, but I would suspect that precipitous labours are the most inconsistent of all.

I was on such a happy adrenaline high from labour last time (my 2nd baby, 2 hours from 3cm to baby) that I couldn't sleep for days afterwards. Hasn't put me off, though; I'd be quite happy for a half-hour labour next time, thank you!

[aloha]

I think Lou33 has had three precipitate labours (as I think these superfast ones are known). Hopefully she'll see this and post. I'm not surprised you are reeling Bez, and I'm sure you will need time to get used to it, but you should be very, very proud of yourself. Congratulations again.

[2under2]

hi bez, I also had an unassisted precipitous birth. I went into physiological shock afterwards but once that had been sorted out I actually felt really chuffed with the labour I'd had (I'd planned a home birth anyway). I don't think precipitous unassisted deliveries are particularly dangerous - from what my mw said it usually only goes fast and perfectly smoothly if there aren't any problems. I know so many people who had hospital births that had gone wrong because of intervention/they'd been left too long etc. that make having an unassisted birth seem like the better option, anyway. Having said that, whilst it was exciting and always makes a good tale to tell, I wasn't too keen to repeat the experience and organized things differently for my subsequent labour (which ended up taking a more civil 3 hours, anyway).
As for getting over the shock - I think that with childbirth in general it can take a while to 'file it away'. It's such a huge experience, painful, terrifying and everything. I think that's why it's always such a popular topic at coffee mornings and mums and tots groups - talking about it helps you to process it all.

[pupuce]

Bez - very fast births are safer than slow ones.... I know it is UTTERLY shocking to have such a quick labour but there is far less risks that way than any other way....
As for next time ? Well it could also be slower (I know one of my mums who had a 1h30 labour 1st time and 2nd time around had a 3 day one ! and my most recent birth, she had a 2hour first labour and 6 hours second). It is true labours are faster 2nd time around if you had a marathon the 1st time around.

[Sunshine123]

My first labour was days long so i expected pretty much the same second time around but i was very wrong. DD2 was born within 40 minutes of what i would call 'actual labour' starting and we only arrived at the hospital with 8 mins to spare (very nearly had her in the corridor). I wouldn't say that i was in shock afterwards (at the time i was when i realised they didn't even have time to get me any gas and air!) but now i just feel cheated. She was to be our last baby and although it might sound odd i wanted to revel in the whole labour thing and enjoy (maybe not the right word) every moment of it and now it just feels it's passed me with a flash and that's it, never to happen again! I can appreciate how scared you must have been when you realise something is happening to your body that you can do nothing about. Try not to be put off in the future just be thankful that you're both well and try not to think about what might have been.

[bells2]

My first was 2 hours 20, second 60 minutes and third around 30 minutes (the last being an unassisted home birth). Third time around I went into shock afterwards and for a few days felt pretty awful about what had happened (simply due to the fact no medical staff were there and the thought that something could have gone wrong). I now feel very happy about it though and also exremely lucky to have such straightforward births.

I found the prospect of a short labour a real problem though in terms of what to do about childcare for our 2 older children when I went into labour. I really was very concerned about giving birth at home with only them for company. Fortunately, the baby came in the middle of the night so it wasn't an issue. I definitely won't be having a fourth though as I would be terrified as to how fast it would be.

[Rhubarb]

Bez, you could always plan a homebirth for the next one, that way even if it is very fast, you'd be prepared and wouldn't have to give birth in the car en route to the hospital or anything.
My ds was born very quickly, though he was my second. I'd been having about 45 minutes of bad contractions, but I was coping with them. The midwife examined me and said I was only 3cm so I thought I had a while to go yet. Within half an hour I wanted to push and he more or less came out by himself. But the speed with which things went did shock me. From being able to cope and doing my regulated breathing to suddenly feeling this indescribable pain that froze every muscle in my body and made every thought of controlled breathing a distant memory, was quite frightening. I could not stop shaking afterwards and it took a while for it to all sink in. I still have flashbacks and I don't think I have quite got over it. It was all so violent!

But after a time you hear of women going through hours of pain and hours of pushing, and you are thankful that you weren't one of them. I also second Aloha in that fast births are usually uncomplicated, it's one of the things our ante-natal teacher taught us.

[Janstar]

I didn't have a precipitious labour, I had three pretty average ones I guess. I did consider them extremely painful and gruelling, but how they compare to others, who knows? Maybe they really were, maybe I have a low pain tolerance.

But I felt shocked each time. I spent the first two weeks of each child's life going round in a daze, with that odd feeling you get the day after a noisy concert, sort of muffled, as if looking on rather than taking part.

I think it is perfectly normal to feel shocked after any labour, IMO it is a gruelling, terrifying, shocking experience.

Sorry to anyone preparing to give birth - I'm sorry that is how I feel about it. I realise others experience it differently.

[suedonim]

Interesting to read your experience, Janstar, as I've felt in shock after all of my labours, only one of which was relatively fast (although I've had two precipitate 2nd stages). Labour is like a physical blow to me and it takes a while to get over that aspect as well as the usual postnatal effects.

[dinosaur]

I felt like I was in shock after my DS2 was born. I only started having contractions about 6 p.m. and he was born at 8.15 p.m. It did seem very violent, in particular I had some HUGE contractions which were obviously pretty efficient, but which actually made me bleed. I too had flashbacks afterwards for while.

Still I guess I must have gotten over it; am nearly 14 weeks pregnant now. However I am pretty scared of giving birth this time and am going to have a doula this time round if possible.

[Janstar]

Perhaps this is one of those things that is actually quite common, but not much talked about? A little bit 'taboo'?

[Slinky]

My last 2 births were both very quick - and with DS1 I did go into shock.

DS1 (my 2nd child) was an induction. I had the pessary inserted around 1pm, niggly pains started around 2.30pm. Transferred to labour ward at 3.15pm - midwife filled the birthing pool - got in at 3.45pm. DS1 flew out at 3.50pm.

I went straight into shock - couldn't focus at all, violent shaking, vomiting and I can remember being very frightened Midwife gave me an injection (don't know what!) and I started to feel calm.

They wouldn't transfer me to postnatal ward until 8pm.

With DD2 (my last birth) it was a spontaneous delivery. First contraction woke me at 6.50am. Rang my brother to look after the other 2. He arrived at 7.30am. Straight in the car to hospital. Arrived at 7.40am, shown to room and left as midwives were "changing shifts". I'm panicking as I knew the birth was imminent and DD2 arrived at 7.55am with the midwife still fiddling around trying to put the gloves on

[suedonim]

I suspect you could be right, Janstar. It isn't something I talked about much because it seemed so wimpish and no one else has ever mentioned feeling that way.

[Janstar]

I only really figured it out after my third delivery.

[Dinny]

I had a quickish labour (6 hours, 10-min second stage) and afterwards I was violently shaking for ages - my whole body was almost convulsing. Hadn't really thought about it again until now. It really freaked me out as wasn't expecting it to happen.

[bez]

Thanks for your replies, rhubarb- I had actually got a homebirth planned anyway with my independent midwife and she was wonderful so if I had another, I would plan a homebirth with her again and hopefully she would make it to the birth!

[bez]

hi everyone, still havent got over the shock and now I think I might have postnatal depression. I was so elated at first, but after getting over the feeling really proud of myself stage, the shock has just got more and more overwhelming.

[bez]

hi everyone, still havent got over the shock and now I think I might have postnatal depression. I was so elated at first, but after getting over the feeling really proud of myself stage, the shock has just got more and more overwhelming.

trying so hard to enjoy my baby but cant get over the birth. I know Im being really stupid so please feel free to tell me to pull myself together and get on with life

[lucysmum]

My DD2 arrived 15 mins after we got to hospital. I was on a high and couldn't sleep at all that night. Was in a daze for a few days but thought that was pretty normal. I had one friend who gave birth in a hospital toilet (baby has middle name 'Louise' to remind her !) and another who had her baby in the bathroom at home. My main worry now would be getting to hospital in time if I had a number three.

[bez]

hi everyone, still havent got over the shock and now I think I might have postnatal depression. I was so elated at first, but after getting over the feeling really proud of myself stage, the shock has just got more and more overwhelming.

trying so hard to enjoy my baby but cant get over the birth. I know Im being really stupid so please feel free to tell me to pull myself together and get on with life

[bez]

whoops, dont know what happened there!