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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Fast births - reassurance please!

19 replies

Chipandspuds · 01/08/2014 06:11

I'm probably being silly but had a horrible dream that I'd gone into labour and only just managed to get the hospital and was 10cms dilated and told to start pushing but DH was still making his way to the hospital from work (approx 1 - 1.5 hours journey door to door).

I'm 23 weeks pregnant with DC2 and I'd like to put this worry to rest! DS1 was a relatively quick labour (5.5 hours) from waking up with an ache to delivering him and I arrived at the hospital 9cms dilated with an hour in the birthing pool until he was born. When they discharged me they advised me to come in quickly when I had a second baby.

I think the main thing that is worrying me is that DH won't be there. I guess the best solution is for him to check out how long it would take him to sprint to a train station from his office and the longest he would need to wait for a train in the off-peak daytime hours and then catch a taxi to the hospital. Having DH there was a huge help at DS's birth and it was all very calm and a good experience, I just want the same again!

I didn't realise I was worried until this dream!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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lanbro · 01/08/2014 06:25

My first was 6hrs, second less than 2. Waters broke first both times so I had some warning.

Can you afford for dh to get a taxi the whole way if necessary, if that'd be quicker?

Hakluyt · 01/08/2014 06:29

Would it help if you thought about an alternative birthing partner locally? Have you got a sister or a best friend who could step in?. I don't want to add to your worries, but second births are often quicker.........

LizzieMint · 01/08/2014 06:31

I had this worry too for my third - had had two labours of 2 hrs 20 mins and 4 hours and at the time I was pg third time, DH worked 2.5 hours away. I planned a home birth and was just going to call him the minute I had any sort of twinge. As it turned out, I went massively overdue (18 days) and as I went in daily for monitoring after 14 days over, he had to start his paternity leave early so he could come in with me to those. Third labour in the end was 3 hours from first twinge to delivery.
Does your DH drive? Could you hire a car for a couple of weeks if that would be quicker than waiting for a train?

Mumof3xox · 01/08/2014 06:34

My last labour was five hours from first twinge to her being in my arms

I do worry if I had a fourth how quick would it be!

I got to the hospital two hours before she was born after having sat in traffic!

emsyj · 01/08/2014 06:38

Don't most labour's start in the evening/night time anyway? My first started about 6.30pm with waters breaking (as DH was on his way home from work) and contractions followed about 2 hrs later. I went from zero to 10cm (arriving at hosp 9cm like you) in 4 hours (although then had crash section, so no second stage) so I was worried about this too with DC2 as DH works a 1.5 hour drive away on a good day with no traffic! In the end I asked him to work at home for the last week or so - would that be an option? I also had a midwife come to me at home when I was in labour, so I knew there would be someone with me if needed - but in the end my waters broke at 9.30pm so DH would have been at home anyway and my second labour was no shorter - 6 hours from waters breaking to delivery (at home).

emsyj · 01/08/2014 06:39

Sorry I don't know where the stray apostrophe in labours came from!

Mumof3xox · 01/08/2014 06:39

My first two I had slow labour for days which did start in the evening tbh but birth 3 my five hour one started in the morning

It was lovely tbh cause I had a full nights sleep and then not long actually in labour so I was no where near as tired as with dc1&2 afterwards

TanteRose · 01/08/2014 06:44

emsyj funny, I always thought that most labours started in the early mornings!

mine were

first labour - 1am waters broke, 6:30am gave birth
second - woke at 5am with contractions, gave birth at 8:45, about 50 minutes after arriving at the hospital

you may need to get an alternative birthing partner, as someone suggested

Original poster

Chipandspuds · 01/08/2014 06:49

I like the idea of DH working from home the week before - I will bide my time and ask him if he could do this! I think driving to work might not be possible as DH works in Central London so he'd probably be faster on a train and I think the congestion charges would be too much.

DM will be coming to stay for a week before my due date to help look after DS and the plan is that she can look after DS while DH and I go to hospital to have the baby. If worst came to worst I could ask a neighbour to look after DS and DM could be my birth partner.

DM always says most people have their babies in the night or early hours of the morning but DS was born at 11.00am! I'm sure it will be fine really.

I guess at least this time I'll know roughly where I am with the labour and know when to get myself into hospital with or without DH!

I do feel a bit silly for worrying about it as most people worry about having long labours!

OP posts:

Original poster

Chipandspuds · 01/08/2014 06:54

I did think about a home birth but I feel more relaxed in hospital. We have a midwife led unit at our local hospital and the normal labour ward is upstairs so if there are any problems or you want an epidural you can just go up in the lift. The midwife led unit is a bit like a hotel with your own room and ensuite bathroom!

Also DS didn't cough up after being born so a few hours later he needed a tube up his nose to suction the gunk out and then sounded like Darth Vader all night. He had three very gunky sneezes the next morning, so for reasons like that I think I'd be happier in hospital as well.

OP posts:

FriendofDorothy · 01/08/2014 07:02

My first labour was about 3 hours from first mild pain to delivery.

I had my second baby on Monday. Labour was 2 hours 29 minutes from waters breaking to delivery.

LoveBeingInTheSun · 01/08/2014 07:08

I put myself down for a home birth just invade, you can always go to hospital anyway.

With your second you might find you know more and can say yes this is it and call your dh earlier than you might have with your first iyswim.

I had my second half an hour after arriving at hospital, went through transition in the car do only just made it.

bakingtins · 01/08/2014 07:18

My labours were 7 hours, 2 hours, 80 minutes ...

Did you have any warning leading up to it first time? show? Twinges? If not I think you need a plan for childcare and an alternative birth partner because it is likely to be quicker. I nearly didn't get to hospital with DC2 (was in the car by the 2nd contraction with Dc3)

Original poster

Chipandspuds · 01/08/2014 12:57

Eek 80 minutes bakingtins! With DS I just woke up in the morning feeling a bit off, then within 30 minutes went from 'oh that feels like a period ache' to having proper contractions.

My back up plan if DH happens to be at work when I go into labour is to call him straightaway and he can meet me at the hospital. If I feel like it's going to happen super fast or want someone with me then I'll ask DM to ask my neighbour to have DS and she can come into the hospital with me.

Hopefully I'll go into labour on a weekend - not that we get a choice in these things

OP posts:

vallinnapod · 01/08/2014 13:02

Reading this with interest...DS was 6 hours from first twinge to cuddle.

I am planning a HB for DD as I am assuming she will be quicker....and as easy...please lie and tell me I am not deluded

IShallCallYouSquishy · 01/08/2014 13:05

My first was 2hrs 55 and made it to hospital (10min drive) quick bit of gas and a few pushes.

Second was 1hr 7mins and all I can say is thank goodness I was induced and already in hospital as DH works 40 min drive from home!

scarletoconnor · 01/08/2014 13:09

Can you have a plan B? A friend/relative who lives close by to come with you until your dh gets there / baby arrives?

BBQsAreSooooOverrated · 01/08/2014 13:15

My labours have been about half the length of the previous one. Shortest was 1.5hrs, I saw community mw and was examined, found to be at 4cm and dd was born 1 1/2hrs later.
Didn't feel the contractions up until then so felt quite smug I was 4cm, it soon kicked in though!

angelopal · 01/08/2014 15:51

First was 6 hours start to finish and second was 3.5 hours.

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