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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

From 4 cm to birth in 3 mins......

14 replies

facefull · 17/02/2011 13:50

I am 34 weeks pregnant with 5th baby (all boys!) But with this one I am really worried. My last labour was very quick in that when I was checked I was 4cm and waters broke in process. Midwife left me at this point and I had huge a contraction. The next two contractions I had a huge urge to push and not even a gun to my head could of stopped me. First push head out, second push out he popped . Needless to say I gave birth on the bed.....no midwife and Husband was still driving back from work to hospital. I was totally alone and my poor little son had a purple face from the speedy birth.

What I was wondering is, Is it possible to go from 4cm to 10 cm in one contraction or could I have forced my cervix open by pushing before I should of done. Really worried I done myself damage or that it will happen again.

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:

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MarniesMummy · 17/02/2011 13:55

I'm not a medic but I'd assume that if it happened before it could happen again and discuss what would be the best way to manage it if it did with your midwife.

going · 17/02/2011 14:00

I go straihgt from 5 cms to 10 cms. The midwive got her gloves on just in time to catch my second as it was unexpected! With my third I didn't feel the urge to push for about 40 mins after reaching 10 cms, was 5cms when midwife broke my waters and 10cms when she checked to make sure cord was okay as had polyhydramious.

Make the midwives aware and they will be prepared.

Tangle · 17/02/2011 14:26

I'm not a MW, but everything I've read says you can't force your cervix open by pushing -you'd be much more likely to make it inflamed and bruised. If you had that strong an urge to push it was because your body knew it was ready to birth your baby (which it did, very effeciently :o)

Let the MWs know so that they can be prepared and, between you, you can make a plan you're all happy with. How long had you been in labour before you were found to be 4cms?

Sparklies · 17/02/2011 19:23

I went from 0-7cm in about 20 minutes (and probably all the way to 10cm shortly after but I wasn't measured) yet it still took 1.25 hours to push DC1 out. All because there was a tiny "lip" of cervix left for an hour. Once that was moved, she came out fairly easily.

So yep, I don't think you would have done yourself any damage. They suspect my incompetent cervix was as a result of pushing against that lip for an hour, which is very different to baby just flying out!

Maybe your midwife measured wrong? It's not impossible.

nappyaddict · 17/02/2011 19:34

I would be wondering if it's possible she could have measured you wrong?

How regular were your contractions up until the point you were measured at 4cm and how long were they lasting?

ooosabeauta · 17/02/2011 20:08

Yes it is possible - I went from 2 to 6cms during one VE according to the midwife, and then went from 6-10cm in the following 10 mins. The midwife said she just felt the cervix 'ping' open. That was an induction, so not totally natural to happen like that, but yes it is possible.

The only downside of it happening that quickly if you then deliver shortly afterwards is, IME, that the plates of the head don't go through the squeezing the do in a longer labour, so they can take a while to even out and your baby might be snuffly because the mucus hasn't squeezed out. I saw a cranial osteopath who said he could help and did some gentle treatment to rectify.

Alimat1 · 17/02/2011 22:55

Yes - ooosabeauta - got it spot on.
You often get women going this fast - well not often, but it does happen and does catch you out.
Often dont have time to even open a delivery pack or get your gloves on.

Tell your midwife what happened last time - she will keep her gloves handy!As its your 5th - the chances are you will probably labour quickly again, but you never know - this one may give you an hour or two to get used to it! Its generally once your waters have gone that the pressure from the direct contact with the head (as opposed to the bulging balloon of waters) pushes and remaining cervix away. If your waters go - press the buzzer if noone is with you - so you have a midwife in the room with you

some women love very fast deliveries like this, others are left very shocked and traumatised by the speed of things.

you will not have done any damage to yourself - dont worry.

Babies that come out as fast, do often have a very bruised conjested little face and can be very vomitty until the mucus clears.

Good luck

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 18/02/2011 08:25

Yes, I tend to do that. DD1 looked like she'd been dragged down the path by her face, friction burns from speed of exit with an audible pop. I was feeling a bit tender too.
She was DC2 and for the last 3 I've been induced 2 weeks early so that I can be in hospital in a controlled environment. Did it again with DC3. DC4 was a little bit longer but still speedy with back to back very effective contractions.
DC5 was a different matter altogether, but that's a whole other story.

EverettUlyssesMcGill · 18/02/2011 08:32

Oh GOD this thread has made me want another baby!

I hope it all goes well for you OP xx

BUnderTheBonnet · 18/02/2011 14:35

Don't blame yourself for pushing "too early".

The need to push is caused by the position of the baby's head (Ferguson Reflex, I think), and is totally involuntary. MWs and doctors who tell women with this urge to resist is are insane. It's like insisting they sneeze with their eyes open.

I wouldn't worry about it any more. Try this link which talks about involuntary pushing (although the article is about a cervical lip it's still interesting, and there are a few comments below the article which sound like your birth).

boohoohoo · 18/02/2011 15:04

OP I gave birth in seven minutes, no contrations before, with first contraction my waters broke and then I had overwhelming urge to push, no midwife was at home with DH, sis and her BF. My poor DS looked like an alien when he was born with a very pointy head!!! I did go into a form of shock, couldnt stop shaking for about an hour, just couldnt believe what had just happened! I agree with BUnder tho I really think pushing comes naturally and we do it when I bodies tell us. I am trying for another baby as well and am a bit nervous about how quickly the next one comes, DS was my second, DD was born in an hour and a half.

nappyaddict · 18/02/2011 15:11

So you only had one contraction before needing to push? Are you going for another homebirth this time?

susiey · 18/02/2011 21:52

I went from 3 to delivery in 10 minute wth my third.
I was in hospital having an induction it took about 7 hhours to get 4 and then it went really fast.
Midwife had to press the emergency button to get help.there was no way I could have stopped that pushing urge once it came.

BUnderTheBonnet · 18/02/2011 21:54

Don't think she's got much choice !

At least you'll be prepared for the idea of a quick labour boohoohoo. My DD was a 5 hour labour, and that felt pretty darn quick so WOW for an hour and a half with your first!

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