Talk to me about short labour

[NotSoThinLizzy]

So I've had 2 DC and 1st labor was 6 hours and 2nd was 4 hours so I'm way ahead of myself just now just had positive test but am I right in thinking this labour will be even shorter I simply cannot have a baby in 3 hours as the nearest hosp is 2 and half hours away

PlinkPlink It was AMAZING. Midwife swept in (albeit a bit late!) and took the best care of me, DD and DH (who was a bit in shock at having to catch DD). Within an hour of delivery I was tucked up in bed with my baby, husband and a cuppa. We stayed in there for the next 24 hours undisturbed and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Mine were 12 hours (6 hours established), 5 hours (2 hours established), 36 hours (4 hours established)

I was terrified of having a super fast labour with the third so we made contingency plans in case I had to have a home birth. It really helped easy my anxiety that we planned for a short delivery and what we would do.

I’ve just had DC3 after a 3-4 hour labour, delivering in a rush at the hospital reception desk! I’ve been told that if there’s ever a DC4, a homebirth would be the best option.

DC1 was 100 hours (!) and DC2 was about 12 hours of labour so it’s definitely got much quicker each time for me.

I think the longest one of our seven has been about an hour...

My Vbac was 2.5 hrs thankfully as it was a vbac I did not have to think about what to do

Home birth is kinda terrifying to me. Will have to be one of the thing I talk to midwives about

ds1 = 2 hours
ds2 = 90 mins
dd = 30 mins.

Lucky to get to hospital each time.

Got to be a home birth! My second came super quick and I was glad I had planned a home birth. Wouldn't do it any other way!

I've only got one so far but I've been recommended to have a planned home birth because despite 44 hours in labour (only the last 10 or so we're actually painful/excruciating) I gave birth completely alone in the bath. I think it was about 5 hours from being told to go home because I was only 1cm and my contractions had gone wonky to having DD (I hung round annoying the midwife because I didn't want to go home).

Next time I think I'll assume every twinge in the last few weeks means I have 20 mins to prepare fo baby.

Mine were all over the place

1st 40mins
2nd 12hrs
3rd 5hrs
4th 4hrs

DC1 6hrs
DC2 2hrs
No DC3
Due to a medical condition I would not be able to plan a home birth.
After DC1 I was told to go straight to hospital at start of labour if I had DC2 as it was likely to be much quicker. Unfortunately, no one told the hospital that I had been advised that, so they sent me home when I first went in. Went back after about half a hour and DC was born within 15 minutes.

First was about 4 hours, second about 1.5 hours, Iarranged a homebirth for the third. Surprisingly, he was also about 4 hours.

Would they agree to induce you at the hospital on a certain date, given your concerns and the geographical issues? (I read about the lady with the twins yesterday - knowing the road and how long it takes to get between the relevant places, that must have been absolutely horrific)

In your situation I'd plan a homebirth. It will be safer than waiting for an ambulance. They will leave the homebirth box in your house with blood clotting drugs, materials for stitching and dealing with wounds etc... they will bring gas and air and in some areas pethidine (or an equivalent) with them when they come... which they will do in adequate time due to your circumstances.. I dont know which are you live in but some have home birth teams who will be based at local GPs and so potentially much closer than your hospital? Mine was anyway they were just down the road from me as opposed to the hospital which was in the nearest city.
Sadly I didnt get to have my homebirth due to growth issues picked up at a scan... but I was very happy with the idea of it after I'd spoken to the midwives. I'd gotten myself a birthing pool etc
I think I'd plan one again next time as my labour ended up being 4hrs and no time for an epidural anyway so may as well have been at home!

DS1 3 hours
DS2 45minutes (back to back, that twanged a bit!)
DD1 45 minutes
With precipitous labours you don't get pain relief. I really wanted those drugs.

#1 was 27 hrs, brow presentation, forceps and episiotomy.

#2...1.5hrs! Started as per #1, but I didn't recognise the significance of the fact that each contraction was very long, even though I was coping fine. Before I knew it he was there, back of the ambulance as we sped to hospital. He burst out with quite some force and was 9lbs11oz. Had a nasty 3rd degree tear and went into shock, had quite a big repair. So yes, it was great in that it was over quickly but it was intense and uncontrollable. If it had been a home birth it may have been a different story.

#3, 4hrs or thereabouts. I was nervous about another precipitous labour, especially given the damage from previous. As it turned out the hosp were too, especially as I tested positive for strep b during pregnancy so they needed me to have antibiotics in labour, which obviously they couldn't guarantee had labour gone the way #2 did. So we agreed on induction at 39 wks, to mitigate the risks and hopefully stop him being the size of #2. As it turned out, I went in but they were mega busy so we went home again. That night my waters went with no contraction so I went in, had the antibiotics. Was 2cms dilated at that point, within 25 minutes was 10cms. He appeared to two midwives staring up my bits with a lamp, and it was all very calm and lovely. No pain relief, no tears.

Its lovely hearing these stories and scary too I guess I only ever had mild tears I did have pre-eclampsia with my 1st nearly 10 years ago I suppose if nothing is going wrong I will give it some serious consideration.

As someone who had a homebirth followed by a PPH and blue light trip to hospital, in your situation I'd ask to be induced in hospital a week early.

Insomnia, DrQuinn, claire

I'm amazed that it's physically possible to give birth in 15 minutes or less! How did it happen, exactly? Were your contractions strong and close together as soon as they started? Did you manage to get undressed and somewhere reasonably comfortable in time? Was your DH/DP with you?

My first was three hours. I’ve been told to be fully prepared for a home birth or to go straight to the hospital the second labour starts. We live quite close though so we have that option

Ds2 arrived before the ambulance we called when prelanour was hurting more than it should.

Didn't even want pain relief until the placenta hadn't shifted of its own accord.

Name change 30 - I had sporadic painless contractions from about 8am. Had a bath. HD some muesli. Posted to some online friends that something might be happening today.

It all stopped and I sat on the sofa. With DS1, wat hing cbeebies. DH dis some vacuuming.

Suddenly felt a lot less comfortable. Dh phoned the Labour ward. Sudden shooting pain, so he called an ambulance.

Hang on, I need a shit. So I went to the loo. Out pipped Ds2. Ambulance arrived 5-10 minutes later.

My first was a little under 2 hours. I think it was recorded officially as first stage 0 minutes, second stage 9 minutes, third 2 minutes. So in the official paperwork I guess it’s down as 11 minutes.

My second was 45 minutes and that included the placenta.

Third was my longest ever at 2 hours 30 minutes, Baby was back to back so it slowed it right down.

I’ve never planned anything other than a home birth for all, and as it turns out I wouldn’t have had the option to have a baby in the hospital even if I wanted to, very unlikely to get there in time. But you might take comfort from my longest being the last one.

Dc3 arrived in 30 mins and was delivered by DH. I too would plan for a home birth but also get your midwife to talk you and your partner through what to do if you have to give birth with no medical assistance or if you are completely alone.

First: induced 3 weeks early, 55mins, minor PPH

Second: spontaneous labour dead on 40 weeks, 30mins, major PPH - was lucky I got to the hospital just in time to deliver and then be taken to theatre.

If there's a third, I might just live in the hospital car park for the last few weeks 😁