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?

One morning (8 days past due date) I realised I hadn't felt him move, so went with DH to the hospital full of fear.

They said he had torn the amniotic sac a tiny bit and I was leaking amniotic fluid from the top which meant he hadn't been able to drop down. Then the doctor got out the "hook"..

10 seconds later and a flood of fluid, I went straight into labour. Within half an hour I was walking, rocking anything to keep moving.. they checked and I was 5 cms, so they sent DH out to make calls saying it could be quite some time, sent the doctor away and started pouring a cup of tea.

I said I needed to lie down, they said I couldn't because it was causing decels on the fetal monitor. I said I HAD to, did, and they saw the top of a head! Poor DH walked back in at that point, got a tea tray shoved in his hands and it was all hands to the pump (as it were).

My son was delivered almost immediately, and I was shaking so much I couldn't hold him. I shook for about 45 minutes.

7 minutes from 5 cms to delivered. Not something I want to do again!

Two fast labours here. The MW who visited me after I had my first understood, she referred to it as a "violent labour" and said it can be just as hard as a long one but in different ways. I had flashbacks for months, it was very hard.

OP, I had my second at home and it was wonderful - well, you know, wonderful overall with less wonderful moments! Niggles from about 6m, got toddler into bed, stop-start contractions, established by about 10pm and baby was born just after midnight. I know it's not for everyone but after a scary and shocking first labour it felt so much calmer and under my control.

@pikehau I will contact AIMS that sounds like a good idea. My husband has actually drafted a complaint letter to the hospital but I am not sure if I want him to send it. I feel that it wasn't bad enough to complain as we were both ok. It would be nice to talk to someone unconnected to the hospital as I have a terrible fear that if I complain they will tell me it is all my fault.

It is good to hear that you have had a homebirth. I will read up more on it I realise that the stuff from the US about homebirth is a bit whacky. In my area you get the community midwives who are good.

4 children. First was a 24 hour nightmare! (POP and badly flexed head). Determined not to have another of those, so really practiced my relaxation techniques!

No. 2 - 3.5 hours
No. 3 - around 1.5 hours (and nearly born on the hospital staircase)
No. 4 - decided not to risk a public birth! Had her at home. Called midwife at 5.00 because I felt weird and she came out and said, no not in labour. She came back at 9.00 and said is better get into bed. Good job I did. She was born 10 minutes later. Far too fast. Baby and I went into shock.

DC1 - I was induced for postdates, she was born 4 hours after first contraction, so pretty fast but not precipitate.
DC2 - 30 mins from first contraction to baby immediately following a sweep.
DC3 - 1.5 hours from 1st contraction to baby (bit slower as baby was back to back
DC4 - Was induced due to history of fast labours, went in to have waters broken and was 2cm, dc born 20 mins later.

I loved all of my labours and would do it again in a heartbeat. Didn't have any pain relief with any due to the speed but was lucky to cope ok and not be traumatised. I definitely can see why it would be traumatic for some though.

OP I also have hypermobility.

Taken in to be induced with DD1. Woken at 6am and asked to pee in a jug. Did so and asked if I'd seen a show. Since I didn't have my eyes open at any point of the proceedings, I said no. Turned out there was one. I was given prostaglandin gel to start me off and for 7 hours, nothing happened. Then labour began with a minute and a half contraction and 3 hours and 10 minutes later I delivered the placenta.

With DD2, my waters broke about 6pm, and I went into the hospital between 7 and 8. I wasn't in labour then, but because of previous fast labour, I was kept in. Labour began at 9.20 and I delivered the placenta an hour and a half later.

I was quite happy not to have a prolonged labour with either of them, but I was exhausted both times! Second time, I couldn't even get out of the bath - I had to get someone to help me.

My first was a normal total labour (first contraction to baby) of 27 hours, active labour 11.5 hours. Second was 40 minutes total, 15 minutes active, surprise breach. No problems. Third was 2 hours 10 minutes total. 1 hour active labour. No problem. Those three were all at home. Fourth was born at hospital cos I passed a blood clot, and I hate hospitals so was out of it. So I don't know total labour. Active labour was 30-40 minutes. Slight meconium but not enough to make any difference and I was home about 3 hours after the birth. Apparently precipitous labours are common if you're hypermobile which I guess means my first was a blip.

All mine have been fast. Number 3 was 42 mins, number 4 20 mins. My last baby I had alone as it was so fast. I'm being induced with this one to try and ensure I'm not alone.

One of my friends was in labour for 1.5 hours with her first, 2.5 hours with her second. 1 push for the first, 2 pushes for the second one. Very little pain, both babies were fine.

I joked that she should lie and say it hurt or other women who've had kids might dislike her from being envious.

My first was 25 minutes in total. It was luckg that I happened to be at the hospital for a different reason. My 2nd was just over 3 hours but just as spontaneous. Both boys are absolutely fine.

I am very worried by the number of women who have been dismissed or distrusted by the midwives!

Three precipitous labours. First was 2.5 hours from first twinge (My MIL told me I was being pathetic when I said I needed to go to hospital!) , second was 45 minutes (back to back so he ranged a bit!) and finally DC3 was an hour from first twinge. No show and waters broke as each was born.

I went from 4 to 10cm in 20 mins - it bloody hurt!!!!

Neither of my boys was fast, but DD was off the chart!

Minor contractions started at 22.07 (I was in the kitchen beside the clock), really kicked in about midnight, got in the car at 00.40, waters burst in hospital car park at 00.47 and she was born (footling breech - undiagnosed) at 00.54!

My second was very fast, so fast i almost felt in shock afterward. My first contractions started on the way into the hospital at 10.30. I hadn’t felt her move much so they had told me to come in. They were 10 mins apart, we were taken into the delivery room at 11 after they found I was 4cm dilated and had no membranes left. By the time a midwife came in to check on me at 11.30 I needed to push and DD was born at 11.51.

It was fast furious and hurt like hell because I didn’t have time for any pain killers at all but my recovery was quick and damage minimal