AIBU to ask about your experiences of having a fast labour

[Elephantgrey]

I had my beautiful little boy six weeks ago. It was a very fast labour.

I woke up at 5:30 in the morning I went to the toilet and noticed I had lost my mucous plug. I had been to antinatal classes and thought I would have about another week to go before I went into labour properly and went back to bed. After my husband left for work at about 7:00. I started having contractions. They progressed very quickly with very little gaps in between. When they were only 2 minutes apart I phoned the labour ward and they told me to come in. This was about 8:00 in the morning. I got in a taxi with my mum and phoned my husband he arrived at the hospital at the same time as me which was 9:30. The midwife who saw me told me I was not in established labour and that I should go home. I asked her to have a look to see how much I was dialated because by now I just had one big contraction. She said no because if she examined me there was a risk of infection and I could be in labour for days.

Eventually she agreed that I could stay. I went into the toilet to do a urine sample and I couldn't do one because I felt like I needed to push. I was in there a long time. My husband kept coming in to see if I was alright. Someone phoned him and he popped out out answer the phone and then I could feel the baby's head. I shouted to my mum and she went and got a midwife (not the same one who admitted me) apparently the baby's head was covered in meuconium. They helped me off the toilet and midwife spread a blue sheet on the floor and he was born. All these other people had appeared in the room. They put him on my chest but he didn't cry and they gave him to a doctor who helped him start breathing. He was born less than 2 hours of arriving at the hospital.

After researching this for a bit I found that it is relatively common, around 2% of all births which is a similar proportion to breech babies and there is loads of information on that. Did anyone else have as fast labour? Were your babies ok? If you had another one was it even faster?

First contraction at 9.20. Twins by 10.58!

I just don’t understand why the midwife didn’t examine you?? Yes, first Labour’s are often long BUT labour is unpredictable. And those of you who have had 2nd quick labours - even if your 1st labour was hours - it is quicker. If I examined a 2nd time Mum and she was 3cm and contracting well I would be fully prepared for her to deliver 15 minutes later - it’s common. So I just don’t get why midwives treat women like they don’t know what is happening to their body.

First child as 6 wks prem. My waters went at 1am, she was born just before 7 am.
Second child born at 39 wks. Waters went at 2.10am, got to hospital at 3am, she was born at 3.10am, so one hour from start to finish. Both baby and I went into shock and had to be treated for this with plenty of warm blankets and hot tea for me. Baby was fine once she was warmed up and took straigt to breastfeeding.

First was about five hours, including a CS because he got stuck on the way out, would probably have been shorter otherwise.

Second was under 2 hours from first twinge to baby in arms.

Not going for a third, don't fancy being in Take a Break for having a baby halfway round Morrisons after popping in for a loaf of sliced white

FWIW gran, mother and sister all had very fast labours too.

I agree people always say "how lucky" but actually it was bloody terrifying, no time for pain relief or for your body to adjust as it doesn't gradually ramp up, just goes straight for 11 on the dial.

I had a 6 hour labour with my first and 3 with my second. The first sign of labour was my waters breaking with both of them. Contractions were very strong and painful and two minutes apart from the start, which I found hard to cope with. I felt like there should have been a gradual build up of pain rather than agony from the get go!

Congratulations op

So I just don’t get why midwives treat women like they don’t know what is happening to their body.

One of the mothers I knew through toddler groups over 20 + years with her Dh had 7 children - last three in last few years - her 8 she went in and MW on insisted she wasn't in labour too soon to be at the hospital.

They wouldn't budge so her DH said look we'll head home and come in again - got to their road less than 5 minutes away had to rush back - she gave birth in hospital corridor near entrance as no time for anything else.

I think there was an attitude in that unit and more generally in heath care about the locals - it's was one of the most paternalistic we know best health care areas I have ever come across in UK.

With dc2 I'd planned a homebirth but my waters broke with no contractions and then I was stuck at 2cm all night. Agreed to be induced so they took me to hospital in an ambulance at 3cm dilated with baby back to back. Contractions suddenly ramped up when we got to hospital. Midwives were trying to do all their admission stuff, getting me on the monitor, asking my date of birth etc while I was curled up in a ball and groaning. There was no time to start the induction. An hour after getting to the hospital I was pushing and 30 minutes after that he was out. Apgar was 5 at birth, then 9 when they next checked it. He needed a rub down and a bit of oxygen to get him breathing but he was fine in a couple of minutes. Dc3 was born in 2 hours from being 5cm dilated after being 3cm dilated all day. I was in hospital waiting for induction anyway so it felt calmer and more controlled. Dc4 was an elective section and dc5 decided to be different and take forever. I'd been on the drip for 4 hours and made hardly any progress. Baby was in distress so he was born by category 1 c-section

Aw, congratulations Elephantgrey . That must have been quite something for you baby to have nearly been born in the loo!

My first was 20 hours of sheer hell, which ended in grim forceps delivery, my second arrived in 90 mins! I'd take the 2nd every day of the week/month/year.

I felt like I'd missed out- no counting between contractions, as they were just one

@bigkiteflying but she has had 7 babies! Of course she knew. I wouldn’t let a para 7 who said she was in labour out of my sight.

With my second, period like pains started about 8am, 1st proper contraction 8.30 dd born 10am. Only just made it to hospital!

I actually found it a bit traumatic as I didn’t feel I had any time to process what was happening. Dc1 was a 2 day labour so just figured it would be the same.

Opps
One long one, and no waters breaking etc.

Went from no contractions to 6 in ten minutes, baby was born in 1 hour 50 minutes from first contraction to birth. All fine

The midwife put on my notes my labour timed at 1hr 40 min I disagree but. All I can say is that I was glad I was still in hospital as he would of been born at the side of the A40...

My second labour was very fast...so fast I gave birth in my bedroom! The paramedics arrived about 2 minutes before my son did

1 st Labour 9 hours. Although a traumatic birth I coped with the pain a lot easier
2nd labour- 3 hrs 18 min (induced waters broken)- very quick painful contractions pushing lasted 8 mins

All 3 of my babies came very fast, labour came out of nowhere and it was a race to get to the hospital with the second and third. Third was very very quick, 30 mins from being told I was only 5cm. Contractions just got closer and closer together and she came out quite shocked and cord was cut immediately as she was sort of gagging and didn't cry, she was fine within a couple of mins though and we were home same day.

Four of mine were all around an hour long from contractions to being born.

I didn't tear with any of them.

It was very odd going from pregnant to having a baby in such a short time and going from nothing to intense pain was a bit of a shocker.

I panicked like crazy in pregnancy that I would give birth alone. Funnily enough, with number 3, 4 and 5 I was 10 days late and went into labour naturally the day I was booked in for induction. Once the other children were with their nanny I went into labour not long after. I am sure that because I was so scared of giving birth home alone that I hold onto them until the other children were out of the house and my husband was with me.

@bigkiteflying but she has had 7 babies! Of course she knew. I wouldn’t let a para 7 who said she was in labour out of my sight.
I know. I don't think anyone could believe they sent her away.

Mind you MW did home visits to us prior to HB and insisted despite it being my third DC and third labour, second HB, I wouldn't know when I was in labour.

DH was with me and asked wtf - but they insisted all labours were different – wasn’t only dodgy “fact” we were told.

Did make DH start to believe me we had problems with the MW - later we had to complain.

All three of mine were shortish- and all three my waters broke first. 2&3 were the kind nct tell you won’t happen “like in the movies!”

1. woke up at 5am, toilet, waters broke....nothing.....5pm full in contractions nothing like the nct picture of “waves” getting closer and stronger, 6pm hospital and examination 3cm...9pm born. Mw must have know something was happen Quickly as she said 3cm, I said “no don’t send me home” and reply was “oh no we won’t do that” baby boy all well.

2. planned homebirth due to “quick” first and lack of childcare. Woke 6.30 with dc1. Nothing all good. 6.50 waters broke- nothing- in shower at 7am full on contractions.... baby girl born 8.40 - mw didn’t make it but had a doula and 3 paramedics!

3. planned hb again.... awoke 2am with something maybe a contraction... went downstairs and walked about.... full on Hollywood movie huge contraction as waters broke and so it went from there - homebirth me knew to come straight to me and not via hospital for additional kit as second me to do that. baby born 4.40 so thankfully longer than the 2nd.

I can’t say short labours are good -2nd was too quick for me. 3rd just perfect! However I think my contractions are crazy.

From reading people accounts of (normal low risk) labour stories like “woke with contractions, made kids breakfast, saw kids off to school, contractions eased, went back to bed....” “ate lunch with my mum between contractions....” mine allow for none of this - it’s just time then down to business!

Plan for a speedy second - won’t always happen but mentally it will be good for you!

Congratulations on your baby!

Don’t be upset it wasn’t all as planned. I get it - I had a healthy dc 2 and “easy” labour but it was t how I had imagined!

I am sad I won’t get to try it agin for a 4th time! Haha

Wow so many stories.

As previous people have said it was the shock. It did just feel like one long contraction and I wasn't allowed any gas and air or to get into the water. It could have been a lot worse. My worst fear was that I would have to have forceps. I had to have stirrups for the stitches though as I tore quite badly.

I am annoyed the midwife told me I wasn't in labour. My husband would never have left if he knew that I was and he missed the birth. My baby should have been monitored more as he was distressed. He is fine now. I regret that I didn't ask the doctor how he was a the time as I was in too much shock. He is very mucosy and has reflux I didn't realise that could be linked to his birth but a lot of the babies I know have reflux so it is very common.

If I have another one I would like to have a home birth and then I will be more prepared for a fast birth and no one will stop me from getting in the pool as it is my house. My only worry is that he had meuconium and needed help breathing. I am not sure how safe that would be in a home birth.

Interestingly Snowy I also have hypermobility syndrome.

Had no prior labour signs, woke up at 6 for a wee and water broke as I stood up, contractions started straight away 2 mins apart and he was out by half 10. 9lbs, I was lucky I didn't rip through

I woke at 4am with really bad backache. At 4.15 my husband rang the hospital, I was two weeks overdue and booked to go in for an induction the following day, He spoke to a midwife and she suggested that I went in to get checked so he called his mother who arrived at 4.30am to sit with our then 3 year old son. By this time I was in absolute agony and the usual 25 minute drive to the hospital took less than 15 minutes. We pulled up at A&E, I tried to get out of the car just as my waters broke, my husband ran in and someone rushed out with a wheelchair. I was raced along to maternity, my notes showed me as being booked in at 4.45am and our son was born at 4.49am.

Was in hospital for routine appointment as measuring small and they did a check to see if cervix was favourable. That kicked things off and less than 1hr later she was born. Partner didn't have time to get there and only got to delivery suite about 30 seconds before she came out. Only one Health Care Assistant present who wheeled me down to delivery. She looked panicked.

@Elephantgrey when I got to hospital the midwife scolded me for crying and said I was being a drama queen! That was until she checked and felt his head. Never seen superiority in a face drop so fast. They also told me he wasn't going to be big baby after asking how big I thought he would be 'oh that's only a 6/7lb bump'....ha.