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

My first (7 weeks old) came out in about 4 pushes after a 2 hour labour.
I would count yourself lucky for your short labours and prepare for an even quicker one at home!
Congrats!

I'm worried about if I'm alone with the kids my DD will panic like no man's business and DS will be 2. Oh works 6 days a week so very likely I'll be on my own 😂

Also will induction not take ages?

It can do, or it can kickstart what would already be a quick labour. 🤷 That's why we settled on 39wks, in the hope that I would be pretty much ready anyway

My second was an induction from walking onto the ward to delivery was 6 hours 8 mins - the first 3 hours was nothing much the second theee hours was establishing labour the last 8 mins was transition and birth.

I can cope with a longer labour but I don't want it to be days

This is why I’m unsure if I want another! My only DS was born in 36 minutes exactly, a week early

Dc 3 and 4 were both 5 hours from first twinge. 4 was b2b.

Im assuming if 5 is in a decent position it will be quicker!

I'm coming late to the party but yes plan for a home birth if you are low risk.

My first was 6.5 hours and my second was 36 mins.... I'm not having a 3rd but if I was I wouldn't be risking the drive!

Got my booking appointment and my pregnacy pack it's starting to feel more real now

Of all reasons to have a home birth living two hours from a hospital seems to be the worst. That means even longer to get to hospital if there are problems.
I had two short labours. 3.5 and 2.5 hours. We are also rural though only 45 minutes away from hospital (longer if you were waiting for an ambulance).
When waters broke for DC2 and I rang the hospital they laughed and said ring back in a few hours. We got in the car as soon as we could and went straight away, baby arrived within an hour of reaching hospital.
DS had breathing difficulties when he was born and I dread to think of the consequences if I had been at home.

DD (aged 6) was nearly at the birth of DS, I did make it to hospital but had DD in the exam room before being sent to the midwife led unit or labour ward. Could very nearly have had DS at home or in the hospital entrance if I had waited any longer. She doesn't really remember it, it was very early in the morning though and she was woken from sleep to go into hospital with us.

I would definitely prepare for a home birth even if you plan to go to hospital. How long does it take for a midwife to get to you if you home birth vs an ambulance? And definitely ask about how best to manage if you're on your own. Do you have a friend who could come?

Looking back I was 6hrs with DC1 and 3hrs with DC2 from first twinge, but by the time I was established and realised I was in labour, it was very quick with DC2 (probably 45mins).

My first induction was gel inserted 4pm, baby arrived at 6pm next day. Second was gel in at 4pm, baby here at 7am next day (and I only started getting twinges about 4am). It doesn’t always take ages.

1st 10 hours, managed fine, natural birth.

2nd 2.5 hours, more painful as very intense, natural birth.

6 hours from start to finish with the first
4.5 hours with the second

6 hours
5 hours
30 minutes.

I'd be booking a homebirth in your shoes

5 hours
1 30 minutes
20 - 25 minutes

Second Hb was great experience.

Third was awful – MW hated HB lied- complaints- assurances everything set. We rang at first contraction quiet Sunday evening roads they arrived 45 minutes after birth having to travel at most 3 miles. They then lied in notes and tried to bully us into hospital that evening.

Luckily previous areas MW had been great, and they’d told us what to do if they hadn’t got there in time – pick baby up keep warm and have a go bf. I was at on the sofa bf when MW finally arrived.

1st -4 hours
2nd - 2 hours
3rd - 2 hours

2&3 were born at home - midwife arrived 3 minutes before number 2 arrived

I am not allowed a home birth due to risks associated with fifth baby. Last two contractions have started and then continued steadily straight away, as soon as that happens i will be heading to hospital.

First 40 minutes following induction (1 pessary, 11 days overdue).
Second - elective c section

I’d love to have 3rd naturally but wouldn’t have a homebirth as I’ve haemorrhaged both times - ELCS I lost half my blood!

All of mine were short. Ds1, 2 hours 30 minutes from waters breaking and contractions starting to birth. Second stage was over an hour though. Ds2, 2 hours 45 minutes total labour but second stage was only 4 minutes. Ds3, 2 hours 20 minutes iirc, second stage about 20 minutes or so (not totally sure about that as I lost the plot having ds3!)

#1 (induced) 5 hours from first gel
#2 45 mins

@NameChange30 just seen your question.

I was already in our ante-natal ward as I'd had a perforated appendix at 30wks pregnant (I had a thread under another username). I was due to be induced the Friday morning (35wks) as my body just wasn't coping with being pregnant anymore. Thursday night I had a couple of cramps but barely felt them. DH was allowed to stay over as I had a private room. Woke up about 12.15am with a contraction. I didnt have a contraction again for 15 mins! 12.33 I was examined, 6cm dilated so rushed to labour ward. I got on the bed, midwife went to get antibiotics as I'm strep B, and I got a huge contraction that didn't stop. DD was born at 12.44.

Midwife walked in the room and said 'oh god you've had a baby'

I had homebirths with my second and third. I seem to go suddenly into full on labour and there is no way I'd have managed a car ride to hospital with contractions coming strong and fast.

This is a really interesting thread. DC1 was born in 2 1/4 hours. My waters broke and my contractions started immediately at 2 mins apart. I'm now pregnant with DC2. We live 5 hours from the hospital. With DC 1 I stayed nearer the hospital so was only 30 mins away (at night with no traffic, in the day it's potentially a couple of hours). Not quite sure what I am going to do this time!