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Childbirth

How is labour time calculated?

17 replies

Junosmum · 02/05/2016 21:49

How is labour time calculated?

My waters went at 2.50am and baby arrived at 10.50pm. I arrived at hospital at 8am with regular contractions. But my paperwork said 7hrs 24mins, which I feel pretty pissed off about, as it doesn't reflect the 21hours of hell I endured (contractions started and after half an hour were as strong and regular as they were 18hours later). So how do they calculate it?

OP posts:

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RuckingMarvellous · 02/05/2016 21:54

Labour is counted from the point at which the clinician believes you are in established labour. Often identified by a vaginal examination that finds your cervix to have dilated to a minimum of 4cms, along with strong regular contractions (3-4:10).

RuckingMarvellous · 02/05/2016 21:56

Labour prior to the magic 4cms is classed as latent phase of labour and can last many hours, sometimes days.

The fact that it isn't recorded as time in established/ active labour does not mean it was pain free or not real.

It's about a clinical diagnosis rather than about what you are experiencing if that makes sense?

RuckingMarvellous · 02/05/2016 21:58

However, I'm not saying this is the correct way to define or count time in Labour. I'm just explaining how many hospitals do it.

Whosthemummy16 · 02/05/2016 22:03

Mine was classed as 2 hours 15 minutes, despite being in hospital with relentless contractions for two days as I wasnt 4cm !
I went from being 1cm to 10cm very very quickly! I wasn't examined though after my waters went, had an epidural and my baby was born 10 minutes later
My notes weren't very accurate as they stated I had been examined when I hadnt, so I'm not entirely convinced my labour time is accurate either !
I wouldn't let that take away from the fact your body has done something amazing however your notes classify it !
Congratulations !

Junosmum · 02/05/2016 22:05

Thanks, that helps. I went from 2cm at one examination to 8cm at the next, so makes sense.

OP posts:

hopeful31yrs · 03/05/2016 17:01

Highly subjective!!!

Mine is documented as 4 and a half hours. My hind waters went at 7am the previous day - had contractions from about 5pm that day. Had contractions every 30 secs from about 2:30 am when I went into hospital - was told I wasn't in labour(!!) but as my waters had gone would be induced in the morning and put in a private room on postnatal. In pain for the next 3.5 hrs when I finally asked DH to get something for the pain - where i was told to get in the shower for pain relief. Noted to be bleeding so they checked me at 6am - 10cms dilated... That is when the clock started for them. DD was born at 10:21 am. Hence it was documented I was 'only' in labour for 4.5 hrs. I of course wasn't.

TeamSteady · 03/05/2016 18:19

I remember being really disgruntled when i read my post birth discharge sheet!

It said 12 hours with 57 min of pushing. I was really indignant that they didn't count the DAYS beforehand of not much happening...

I went in to be induced at 9am on Sunday, and was found to be 3cm already. Was given a sweep and contractions kicked off. Hind waters went shortly after... contractions getting worse, MW said i could go home but would surely be back to have this baby tonight... that was Sunday evening... back and forth over Monday and then in on Tuesday to have ARM. He made an appearance at 930pm on Tuesday.... I was seriously pissed off that days of agony weren't acknowledged!!

DS2's notes said 6 hours... I went in at 5am on Sunday and was found to be 2cm. Given a sweep which kicked off contractions, but didn't really progress much. ARM done later that morning... again contractions not doing much, so put on the drip mid afternoon... DS2 made an appearance just before 9.30pm. (I was septic and really ill, baby had been in distress which is why they were interfering in an attempt to hurry things along). My notes said 6 hours of labour and 6 min of pushing..

I think they only count it from 4cm...

34+ Weeks with DC3....

TriJo · 04/05/2016 15:02

Mine is down as 1 hr 28 mins - I went from 3cm to 9cm between 3am and 7:30am cervical checks and he arrived at 8:58!

whatevva · 04/05/2016 15:07

IME they make it up after the delivery.

In DTD1's case, the midwife made up a time of delivery, because she forgot to look at the clock when she was born.

katienana · 04/05/2016 15:08

Mine was 1 hour! But I was having contractions and using gas and air for longer than an hour.

Mummyme87 · 04/05/2016 15:45

It's calculated when you are 4-5cm dilated and contracting regularly or when you start to syntocinon drip for induction. Prior to that is early labour/latent phase

sweetkitty · 04/05/2016 15:52

I've always counted from first good pain or waters going until baby out but if your counting from 4cms mine would be like this.

DD1 1-10cms in under an hour with about 30 mins of pushing so about an hour? (4h 20m waters going to baby) 2 1/2 hours
DD2 30 mins with about 10 mins of pushing
DD3 ah 45 mins of pain out in 2 pushes (1h 35 mins from waters to baby out)
DS 5 mins and 2 pushes (he was an induction they checked me and I was 4-5cms) I told them I was fed up and to break my waters 5 mins later he was here

ProbablyMe · 04/05/2016 16:06

In my head I've always thought of it as from the first contraction - I knew it was from 4cm but it didn't really sink in until now! This means my labour with my 4th DS was only 22 mins No wonder it got a bit intense!! I was induced at 35 weeks, I'm due to be induced with No. 5 at 38 weeks this Friday and I'm finding myself wincing and trying to cross my legs!!!

whatevva · 04/05/2016 16:27

With DS1, my waters broke at 3.30am, contractions started about 4.30am, born 7.28am, so 4 hours.

At the hospital, midwife, said I was not dilated at all at about 5am. I was examined at about 5.30am and told I was 'not dilated at all' and at 6.30am when she checked me, I was pretty well fully dilated.

The official time was 3H 15min, with 15min of that for placenta. They just made up something that fitted. No 4 cm anywhere.

With the DTs, it was utter chaos coz they were still trying to make me last until 9am when the day staff came on, even though I was over 4 cm and they broke the waters. No one checked the time when DT1 was born. Total fabrication.

Didn't have any more. never again

Dixiechick17 · 04/05/2016 21:45

Mine was timed from when my waters started to break at home, it said in my notes that labour started at 1am, but I didn't get my first contraction until 2am and DD was born at 7.17am, so I say 5 hours and 17 mins. When I was examined on arriving at the hospital I was 5cm, which is why they may have just done it from 1am.

Terrifiedandregretful · 07/05/2016 12:07

Did you get given this information on discharge? I don't think I've ever seen it. Probably a good thing though as they wouldn't admit me for hours then finally examined me to find I was 9.5 cm. So I think they'd have my labour down as 1.5 hours which would give me the rage!

verytiredmummy1 · 10/05/2016 21:25

In my local trust it starts at 4cm x

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