Quick births - did you have any signs that the labour would be quick?

Strong Braxton Hicks I think is a sign. My last labour was 50 minutes from first twinge, but in hindsight I think the painless Braxton Hicks Id been getting earlier in the day were actually proper contractions. And possibly id been in slow labour for a couple of days.

Nope! First was 24½ hours from waters breaking (no twinges or anything before that). Second was 2½ hours from first twinges, was convinced at first that it was just stomach cramps not labour and ended up giving birth before paramedics even arrived. Third I was worried would be even quicker so planned home birth but ended up being a bit longer, about 4 hours all in and thankfully enough time for midwives to arrive

Dc2 was born in 90 minutes of established labour. Apart from dc1, my waters breaking was always the first sign and then no contractions for ages. Dc2 and dc3 were both a slow build up and then really quick when they got going. Dc4 was an elective c-section and dc5 was an induction that didn't work.

I had very fast labours, I think the last one was about an hour and a half (luckily we live very close to the hospital!), but I had no special signs beforehand.

Just as a few people say their waters have broken, then painful contractions...

My waters only went a few minutes prior the birth both times.

I had a quick birth with DC2. The main sign that it would be quick was that labour began with my waters breaking and the immediate onset of strong contractions. He was born 2.5 hours later. I don't think I had any signs before that though.

I have fast labours (longest 2 hours 34 minutes and the shortest 34 minutes)

I dont know any different really-its the way Im built

I did suffer at pregnancy (I really struggled) but labours where fine

With my second my waters had broken about 10hrs prior and was told to phone the hospital when contractions started. I started to have strong contractions in the middle of the night and was told to go in.
In total my labour was 34 minutes!
On arrival I was put on a bed, the midwife checked and said I can see the head you can push if you want to.
I’ve never been so grateful that we lived so close to the hospital

First baby was 3 days of stop and start contractions. Second was 1 hour 37 mins from 4.5cm to cradling baby. No warning but contractions were one rolling agony and didn't stop until dc was out and omg the relief. No time for drugs or anything.

It's amazing how different each birth can be.

Absolutely no inkling. No cramps, no mucous plug, nada. Just started having regular contractions, got checked by a midwife, 2cm. Was told it was early and should be manageable but the contractions were INTENSE. then when they checked again 2 hours later 4. Then again an hour later 9. 18 minutes later baby. So I guess the intensity of the contractions early on was the tell. 5 hours start to finish first baby.

I was born very quickly apparently so I knew there was a family history. and DC1 was very quick, in that contractions once started went almost straight to every 2 minutes.

DC2 we only made it to the hospital because it was early in the pandemic, DH was wfh and there was no one on the roads! A lovely healthcare assistant ended up keeping an eye on toddler DC1 at the hospital for the 15 minutes it took DC2 to be born.

Have you been offered a home birth this time round and is that something you're interested in? If not, just tell them on the phone you had a quick labour first time round (sounds like it was on the quicker side so not a lie) and go to hospital asap. If your husband isn't there and you are scared,dial 999.

Not as quick as some of these but the big clue for me was WEEKS of strong Braxton hicks.

Family history of quick births.
I wasn't believed.
Told by hospital to get some rest, it would be ages, only 7cm... DD was born 10 mins later with no one else on the room (DH trying to get help!)

I was listened to second time round!

I did have contractions for a few hours but they wrent painful, I could talk through them,walk etc which was why they didn't think birth was imminent.

Omg 30 mins!!!! Lol at “scared to sneeze”.

No signs really but then I haven't ever had slow labour's so I don't have a comparison. Always very achey low down/lightening crotch. Had a mucus plug come out with my first so that did give me a heads up all seemed to be heading in the right direction. Rest of my family have all had slow labour c sections.

1st 5 hours water birth midwife led unit
2nd 2 hours pool home birth
3rd 30 mins delivered at home no assistance didn't even make it to the pool.

If I had a 4th I'd be scared to sneeze.

DS1 was 24 hours from first twinge to birth but DD2 was just under 2.5 hours. My waters broke in bed but I managed to get to the hospital in time , but arrived already 10cms dilated. It was a busy night and they wouldn’t give me any pain relief until they examined me - the midwife was pretty shocked when she realised I was already fully dilated! That being said, she turned the lights down low and it was just me, my husband and the midwife so I had an almost pleasant experience!

There were no real signs it would be so quick. Strangely it was the same for my sister and she ended up having my niece at home with no assistance.

My waters broke with my 2nd one but I had no contractions. I called the labour ward and because my first labour was quick they asked me to come in anyway.

Dp couldn’t find anywhere to park so we spent ages finding somewhere and then I walked into the hospital and they asked me to wait in a room and suddenly, I knew ds was going to be born so I went on my hands and knees, quickly ripped off my pants and out he came. One contraction and that was it and he was born into my hands 😂.

I had no inkling whatsoever that it was going to be that fast but my first labour was quick

Yep, DS1 was pretty quick.
DS2 was 2 hours from first twinge to baby in arms (on the bathroom floor with the paramedics in attendance)