Anyone here have experience of a fast labour?

[doubleshotlatte]

Did you have 3-4 hours, or less, of active labour?

I didn't realise my last labour was considered "fast" until Midwife at first booking appointment told me. So it took 4 hours or slightly less from being 2cm then feeling the urge to push, pushing actively and DD being born. This after 2 days painful contractions and no sleep. I did feel traumatised by the birth, upset at not having had any pain relief (entonox didn't work). Only when I understand that it was a "relatively fast labour" does it all make sense. Now due in a few weeks knowing its going to be even shorter am trying to plan and prepare better this time...

So, if you knew you'll have a fast labour in advance, what would you do differently? Or did do, in subsequent births?

[ChasingSquirrels]

1st: waters went.
30 mins later 1st contraction
2 hours after that ds1 born

So I planned a home birth for 2nd.
waters went.
10 mins later 1st contraction.
4 or 5 contractions and less than 15 mins later ds2 was born.
It was obviously a homebirth, but was also unassisted (unplanned). I phoned the maternity unit as soon as my waters went. MW phoned back as I was having my 1st contraction, and arrived an hour after ds2.

[saggarmakersbottomknocker]

Ooo MoveIt - I didn't know you were having another. Congratulations

[foxytocin]

Congratulations ILTMIMI. Didn't know you were expecting. Braver than me! I have a Sept and April too!

Because I had planned a home birth, I had accepted that labour was in control and not me. So I just trusted labour and went with the pain. In fact, I could only visualize holding hands and walking with the contractions into the blackness of my mind.

So no pain relief besides visualisation and shouting. was great. I can't imagine having midwives in a hospital telling me not to yell.

[Narketta]

With DS I arrived at hospital at 11.55pm and he was born at 1.08am.

With DD I woke having a huge contraction at 6.15am and she was delivered by DH on our kitchen floor at 7.59am

I've often wondered what MW would suggest if we were to have another DC. The chances are that we would having an unassisted HB again and that thought scares me TBH.

[Narketta]

Sorry DD was born at 6.59am not 7.59am.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Thanks for the congrats Saggar and Foxy

We're thrilled - it's another boy!

[Marrow]

First labour went on for days with intermittent contractions after waters broke and DD born four days later after 15 hours of active induced labour.

DS was born six weeks ago. Went from 5cm to delivery in 25 minutes!

[trumpton]

First...No warning... first contraction had me on my knees DS born 2 hours later. Just made it to hospital...they cut my knickers off and he was delivered.

Second ...Waters went 2pm as I served the pudding up !! Rushed off to hosp (see above timings ) all stopped. Got off bed to go to loo and DD born 10 mins later. No labour as such.

Third. Woke during night . Rang my Dad to come and baby sit. Woke neighbour instead as couldn't wake Dad. Longest of all . She was born at 9am from first niggle at 5am.

I lurved beibg pregnant and having babies. DD2 is most indignant that she didn't inherit my baby genes...she has just done 4 day induction ending in C section. But says it's worth it for her fabulous DS.

[doubleshotlatte]

trumpton you seem to be the exception, in more ways than one :) for instance I always believed that we inherit how we give birth from our mothers, not in your DD's case though!

Ladyintheradiator I know! it makes a big difference knowing that things are happening fast, why it feels out of control, why it hurts more etc...

Narketta if you had another DC, could explore ways to slow labour down? Some work better than others...

Iliketomoveit Congrats! and thanks for the positive story :)

[hannahsaunt]

I've had four. Longest labour from first sign to baby being born was 3 hours and the shortest 40 minutes ... Had them all in hospital. Speed meant I was quite shocked after each one with vomiting etc so always stayed in at least one night. Good though .

[nikki1978]

DS is my second and active labour was 2hrs exactly from first contraction that I could feel to him being born. As I was having a homebirth and didn't expect it so progress so quickly the midwife was called when I guess I was in transition and didn't get there in time. I was apologising to DH saying "I don't know why I am being such a wimp as I thought I was only a couple of cm dilated. 5 mins later I tried to get in the bath and jumped straight back out as I could feel so much pressure. I said he was coming and DH didn't believe me. Reached round and gave myself an examination and could feel the top of DS's head and a bit of cord so I got a bit panicky. Waddled to the lounge and bent over the sofa and started pushing. DH quickly got behind me and 4 pushes later he popped out!

I did start to go into shock a bit after that - was very cold and shaking when the midwife arrived but was fine and managed the 3rd stage quickly with no interventions.

Poor DD was asleep in the bedroom (was a one bedroom flat) and was woken up by my loud grunts when pushing. Poor thing, she was only 2.5 and was supposed to go to my Mums but this was the middle of the night and as I say it happened so fast! We had to leave her crying for 15 mins while we figured out how to get DS between my legs and me on the sofa without ripping the cord out of me!

[Nagoo]

1st one 8 hours (he was back to back).

2nd 1hour 20 mins, 2 mins pushing, well less pushing, more holding baby in as DH had gone to the car to get my notes.

I knew it would be fast, but I was 11 days overdue. I had to persuade DH to oblige me in the bedroom to get things started. Next time I'll be getting him to do me in the hospital car park

[ALongDecember]

1 hour 50 active apparently. Induced. I disagree, from start to finish it was around 4 hours but they didn't count 'active' as pessary in to baby out

[thisisyesterday]

my first was 18 hours. secodn was 6 which was farrrrr better. was imagining it would be about 3-4 for my third baby

48 minutes!!!!

i had planned a homebirth, but the midwives/ambulance didn't get there in time anyway.

[Eglu]

My first was 4 hrs from waters breaking, contractions started after that, to birth. I felt in a bit of shock at the time.

DS2 was 1hr 45 mins from first twinge to birth. I ws fine that time as I was expecting it to be quick.

Am now pg with DC3. Am quite scared about how quick this one may come. I'm trying to prepare myself for an hour or less. I'm having a home birth as I did with DS2. I'm still worried about mw arriving in time though.

[Sexonlegs]

DD1 was about 8 hours from first pains to birth. DD2 was 3 hours from very mild pain to birth; in fact I ended up having her at home- not planned!

I think had I known my second labour would have been so easy, I would have gone for a planned homebirth. Whilst it wen fine, I think I would like to have been a bit more ready!

[OmicronPersei8]

Nagoo.

I was going to put my times - DC1 5 hours, DC2 1.5 hours - but they seem positively slow compared to some of you. DC2 would have been quicker but I was told to hang on for the change of shift.

LITR did you have the drip with your induction? DS (DC2) was an induction, just the pessary and I found the pain much less then first time round. I only used a tens machine, and even then not turned up that high. And I ate my dinner as the contractions were starting. . I had planned to have a homebirth, but ended up being induced as I went over. In a way I was just glad not to give birth in a car.

Actually DD (DC1) was also born at change of shift, they didn't realise I was pushing (nor did I), I delivered her myself!

[OmicronPersei8]

Both times I felt like I'd been run over afterwards though - I was anaemic, bled quite a lot. Interesting about the third stage - I didn't have the injection either time, but did get it after the placenta came out due to heavy bleeding the second time.

[AmpleBosom]

DS1 - 2 hours
DS2 - 2.5 hours (Homebirth)
DS3 - 25 minutes (Induction)

Didn't have time for any pain relief but at least it was quick

[NormalityBites]

I felt my first-ever contraction at 3pm when I went into full blown transition pushing labour in the blink of an eye, by 5pm I was holding my newborn. It was all very dramatic. I was all by myself at home and madly calling for help! First baby too. Home birth (planned) Next one will be a planned home birth as well of course, but have contingency plan in case Mid Wife doesn't make it!

[mummysmadhouse]

DD1 4hrs - birth centre g&a

DD2 2hrs - homwbirth g&A

DS1 1hr - was at a childrens party with dd1 had a few twinges at 415 didnt think much of it wasnt due for 5days...drove home was home at 430...had big contraction at the dr got to birth centre at 450pm ds arrived at 512pm.

Luckily i rang to say i was on my way and asked them to fill the pool and got 5mins in it. Was fab 5min though really helped pain wise!

[twirlymum]

I was buying carpet cleaner at 10am, had a mild twinge. By 2pm I was fully dilated. Had EMCS at 4pm.

[hastingsmum]

DS1 3 hours in hospital (5 hours after water broke)

DS2 not sure, born 4 minutes after ambulance arrived