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?

I had fast labours with both DD's. DD1 was 5cm to delivery in 2 hours, DD2 was 5cm to delivery in 1 hour. In both cases I was just having twinges to get to 5cm and didn't realise I was in labour. You think I would have learned after DD1. Midwife only got there in time for DD2 because I was very shouty about the fact that DD1 was born in 2 hours so she came up to the house.
I think with fast labours its so intense all the breathing and swaying your hips goes out the window. It can get a bit panicky because there seems to have been no build up and there often isnt much opportunity to relax between contractions because they end up being so close together. Having someone to calm you down and get you to focus on calm slow breathing is really important even though you'll probably want to punch them in the face.

meant to add, I'd just make sure I'd have everything ready really early next time. Sort of presumed I'd have time once labour started to get everything sorted, whereas it turned out I didn't.

p.s have got a fab bit of paper from DD2 where I started writing times of contractions so I could tell MW. Starts with all neat writing, after about 6 contractions writing goes all slopey, then it gets all joined together and finally sort of trails off. Made me laugh when I came downstairs the next day to find it on the kitchen counter.

DS1 - I was going the toilet a lot and DH said that was 1 of the signs of labour. I told him I was not in labour. He rang the midwife for advice and she came around. She examined me and told me I was 8cm. From then to giving birth it was 14 hours - so probably no, not a fast labour.

However, DS2 - I was experiencing some period pain. DH said I was in labour. I told him I was not. He rang the midwife for advice and she came around. She examined me and asked did I feel like pushing, I said no, she said you're 10cm dilated. Then she examined me again (I'm sure she did something) and my water broke. From this to giving birth 35 minutes. I'd say this was fast.

DD: woke up at 11.20 with waters breaking and massive contraction. Me and DH counted next 2 contractions within 5 mins before getting in the car and going to hospital (just down the road) 3 contractions between car park and hospital entrance, one at the desk and then it all goes hazy. Had an amazing, hands off birth with no pain relief and DD was born at 2.50.
Am a bit worried whether I'll make it to the hospital with this one but a planned home birth is too expensive here so no chance of that.

twinges at 8pm got worst very quickly got to hospital at 8.45. Wasn't examined a change of staff at 9.30. Waters broke at 9.30 on the dot all hell broke loose DD1 was born at 9.58!!!

DD1 3 1/2 hours hospital birth, DS1 7 minutes, home birth. Was planned home birth, had no contractions before waters breaking and 7 minutes later DS was born, could not call midwife in time but my sister was there with her boyfreind and he caught DS as he arrived, was first time I had met him

Not sure how you calculate but here's my sequents of events:

• Woke up at about 3 am feeling funny.
• Couldn't get back to sleep as slight weird feeling/pain in stomach (not quite cramps)
• Told DH (after he'd gotten up and showered for work) he might not be going to work as I felt a bit sore.
• Felt bad cramping and couldn't really sit for more than 15 mins (part 1st time nerves)
• Rang MW at 9.30 am and said I think I'm in labor; told obviously not call back later.
• 10 am to 11 am had the feeling of 'just had to go to the toilet'
• 11ish am got first really painful contraction (the one you really cant communicate during)
• Arrive at hospital about 11.30 am
• MW said I'll get to you in a minute (thinking I'm in a 1st time panic)
• MW examination when massive contraction resulting waters breaking over MW occurrs (MW wasn't pleased)
• MW informs everyone 'we're going into room 3 NOW!' I was apprantly fully dilated and potentially 'moments away'.
• 12.45 baby born [shocked]

After reading the above I'm very nervous.

I definately will go in when I think I'm in labour and not wait like last time. [scared]

DD - 7 hours.
DS1 - 2.5 hours. Arrived at hospital fully dilated and he was born, in his amniotic sac, 15 mins later. Supposed to have hb but no midwives. Grr.
DS2 - waters broke at 9pm. He arrived at 11.25pm. Midwife arrived with 10 mins to spare (having come round at 9.30pm, me not contracting much, head not descended, so she went to get supplies). After she left at about 10.30pm I had a shower and then suddenly got one intense contraction after another. Had the urge to push before MW got back, so panted and panted for AGES.

Ok, first baby LONG labour- several days really- although "7 hours" is written on my notes (lies )

Second baby (2 years later), well, she was born in hospital car park (BBA they write on your notes), not sure who you'd say delivered her, she sort of delivered herself, and I certainly wasn't pushing (well I guess my body was, but "I" wasn't). And it was less than 5 minutes after arriving at said car park.

It was a bit scary but also hilarious. I didn't have any pain relief apart from the Tens machine, and got some gas and air when they stiched me up (still managed a 2nd degree tear, probably due to quick arrival).

Labour was actually something like 2-3 hours, but I was in denial that it was "real labour"- I didn't get "the show" until about an hour or less before she was born and waters only broke as she came out I think!!

I wouldn't live too far from the hospital.

My second was pretty quick. I can't say how long I was in active labour because I had the baby within 40 minutes of arriving at hospital. If we had left it any longer DD could easily have been born in the car (hospital a 40 minute careful drive away). Who knows at what stage "active labour" had started. I would say I felt properly "in labour" from around 6 am. DD born at 8.40 am, so I think it was pretty quick.

Got propess pessary at lunchtime. Nothing til 2am when had mild cramps that woke me up but didn't stop me going back to sleep. 6.30 am woke up and waters broke got to hospital at 7.15 and baby born at 8am.

All very quick! The opposite to my first baby.

10lb 8 baby and quick labour though meant 3rd degree tear

ds 72 hours, dd1 8 hours, dd2 less than 2 hours with less than a minute of pushing. in retrospect i shouldnt have pushed all the way through the delivery, when they told me to wait and pant, but there was literally nothing i could do. it did result in a postpartum hemorrhage though, more to do with the force of the birth than the speed though,

DS was about 4 hours
DD was less than 45 minutes from first twinge to birth - she was delivered at home and DH arrived back home from his journey into the office, literally in time to catch her! DS slept through the whole thing.

If you think its going to be so quick as to not make it to hospital then my advice is get someone to stay with you. Having said that personally I was glad I was by myself, it simply wasnt an option to get to hospital and end up giving birth in a car!

Keep phone numbers to hand - MW, Maternity hospital and of course 999. And if possible 2 phones, I had MW on the landline and 999 on the mobile.

If you are on your own, make sure a neighbour has a key. Other than my son waking up my biggest worry was how do paramedics get through locked doors? Apparently the answer is they have to call the police.

And my MW assured me that if it happens that fast its likely to be an easy birth because if there are any problems things slow down (hopefully in time to get to hospital or a paramedic to get to you)

My SIL was induced with her DC4. I spoke to her at 2:45pm and she said nothing was happening, not a flicker of anything. At 3:15pm I got a text from my brother saying that he had a son.

Apparently, she suddenly said at 3pm "I want to push". The MW at first said "Don't be silly", then examined her, looked panicked and said "I'll go and get your notes." She came back 5 minutes later to find my brother with the baby's head in his hands, looking terrified slightly anxious.

She was on an antenatal ward. The other mums-to-be looked a bit worried about how things were done in that particular hospital!

DD1 - 1 hr 35 . Waters broke teh day before .Was put on drip at 8.30 then they gave mi an epidural round 9.00 as the doc had time and the midwife could administer when needed. After 30 mins they wondered why the pain was getting worse. They checked and I was 8cm. DD1 was born at 10.30 - DD was 40+3 weeks
DD2 waters slowly broke round lunchtime. Went to hosp at 16.30 was put on monitor for 45 mins - slight discomfort. HAd to wait to see doc at 18.15 before they could release me or whatever. I had 2 contractions in that time. DOc saw me at 18.30 said I was to be admitted. DH went off to do paperwork. I sat with midwife and started contracting.DH came back to find me in full labour he asked for pain relief for me but midwife said baby would be there in next hr. She was wrong baby arrived within 38 mins of starting. The same doc that checked me out me at 18.30 was dumbstruck....Said it was a record for the hospital from start to finish. The previous lady had done 40 mins !
This was at 38.5 weeks
They said if I was to have another I should come in as soon as any sign of waters breaking. However No3 is not planned......

Less that two hours here.

I woke up at just after 3am needing the loo.
On the way there my waters broke.
Sat around for 45 minutes hoping my contractions weren't going to take ages to start.
All of a sudden hit by very strong, fast contractions.
Left house as 4am
Found I desperately needed to push in the car on the way there.
Arrived at hospital and 4.30
DS arrived at 4.55

It was very painful and quite violent. I would liked a bit on build up. I was in daze for a good week afterwards.

If I do it again, I'm booking a homebirth.

my first labour was over 48 hours and was the most painful experience and i said i would never do it again then i got pregnant again and i was so scared after the first experience i told the MW i wanted a c section but she said no i went into labour with my second child and after 35 minutes start to finish and only two pushes my DD was born i was so happy that it was not long and painful i did feel out of control in both labours but more with my second labour as it happened so quick my body went into shock so still ended up staying in hospital for ages

I've had three DCs and went from 28hrs of labour to 2.5hrs to 1.5hrs I had HBs for all three which I would wholeheartedly recommend as there is no way I could have got in the car with Nos 2 and 3 once things got going as they went from 0-60mph in a matter of ten minutes.

Hypnobirthing was good as well along with the pool (igf you can get it filled in time!)

Mine wasn't that fast by comparison with some of you, but just under 5 hours from first twinges to baby felt fast for a first one (particularly at 37 weeks so was massively unprepared and in denial that it was happening!).

Waters went 8pm, but absolutely no contractions. Drove self to hospital as they wanted to check was definitely waters and all OK. Hour being monitored, but no labour. Went to 24hr Tesco to buy all the things I didn't have for hospital bag. Got home 11pm ish - DH arrived home at about same time (was at friend's house for dinner the other side of London). Settled in for long night (had done hosp tour the day before and told average 1st labour at least 22hrs). Started frantically packing hospital bag at about 11.30 when period pain like twinges started. By 1am was on way back to hospital and DS arrived at 4.20am.

They did fill the birthing pool for me when I was in labour, came in to tell me it was ready - I said 'can't move' through gritted teeth, was examined and ready to push! They suggested that perhaps one of the midwives could have a hot bath in it to not waste the water!

first - elective caesarean for medical reasons

Second - waters went 8.30 am, no pain at all til 1 pm then mild contractions, hardly dilated. 5.30 pm - terrible pain, contractions close together, born 9 pm.

Third - got to hospital 9 pm as contractions painful and close and trickling waters, told me hardly dilated and could go home. I refused. Examined 9.30 pm as I was telling them I was in agony and still in room with other people - was 10 cm, cue MW grabbing wheelchair and running with me to delivery room. Got onto bed whilst pushing but then she was stuck as back to back so registrar called and manually internally rotated her, ouch, she was born at 12.50 am, no pain relief and no stitches although a ruddy great 'superficial' tear.

26 hours with DD1 I am afraid (but back to back, cord around her neck, twice, so no wonder she couldn't get out fast!) now 16 weeks pregnant with DC2 and hoping (from evidence above!) that the second one is going to be ok. And also no lying on the sofa watching tv while on maternity leave waiting for this one to be born!

DS1 was 3 hours 5 minutes from waters breaking to delivering the placenta.

DS2 was 2 hours 45 minutes from first contraction to delivering the placenta.

I'm now pregnant with DC3 and am seriously considering a home birth because I'm not convinced I'll get to hospital this time!

CinnabarRed -- Have a home birth the MW told me that if i went on to have a third then i would prob deliver it in the hospital car park as my last labour was 35 mins start to finish and i had my DS on the floor of the hospital

boohoohoo LMAO!

"Hello, nice to meet you. Would you care to catch this slippery baby just shooting out of my fanjo?
So, how did you meet my sister?"