History of early-ish and very fast labours

[shirkingworking]

Hi - just wondering if anybody else had this combination? I have two children and am 30 weeks pregnant with my third. DC1 arrived 2.5 hours after waking up, at 38 weeks. DC2 arrived just over an hour after first twinge, at 36 weeks. I'm worried about (a) having the baby on my own (i.e. not getting to the hospital on time and not having a medical professional nearby) and (b) having the baby early - if I have another fast labour it would mean they wouldn't have time to give me steroids to help the baby's lungs develop (or anything to try to slow labour down). I know quite a few people on here have had precipitous labours (sub 3 hours) but I don't think I've read about the early and fast combination? I know premature labour is more likely to be fast so it must happen quite a lot.

I realise that just because my last two babies came quickly and early, this one won't necessarily, but I also know that if women have a history of precipitous labours they are more likely than not to have another subsequent rapid labour, that is normally even faster...

By the way, I've been told by my midwife there is no point in setting up for a home birth as it will take longer for the midwives to get to me than for me to get to hospital. (Exactly the same as what I was told when pregnant with DC2, living somewhere else at a different hospital.) We did try to get things in place for a home birth anyway (just in case) but DC2 arrived at 36 weeks so they hadn't dropped any of the "stuff" off yet. Because DC2 was technically premature, they don't "let" you have a home birth, which I understand. Besides, I am far more comfortable with the thought of having the baby in a hospital in case the baby (or I) need help.

And, induction (so I can have the baby in hospital with help around...) won't work as the doctor told me they won't do that until 40 weeks.

Anyway, a very long winded post but - has anybody had to deal with similar labours? And did you cope? I totally couldn't handle the pain and screamed my head off for both previous births.... I must have been a total nightmare for the midwives. I'm after some reassurance!! Thank you...

p.s. Husband has been googling how to deliver a baby (in case he has to) but that's not massively reassuring as he faints at the dentist and was rather wobbly at both births... He's showing willing but not sure he's able!

Bl**dy hell!! Thank goodness you were in hospital anyway at the time. Do they know why they were all early? Yup, I was supposed to be seeing a consultant yesterday and ended up with a clearly junior doctor who just (nervously) repeated the NICE guidelines to me and said they wouldn't induce me until I was 40 weeks... Had the cheek to write in my notes "reassured to come in at first sign of labour". I was not reassured and the problem is the first sign of labour was an hour before the baby was born last time. At least it was that long I suppose! Good luck Whatsonemore.... I'll be keeping an eye out for news!

I had this. I don't have much advice to offer other than ma ke sure in your notes it's written v clearly that you have fast Labour's so that the midwives believe you. Also, when I was under shared care at each consultant appt when a registrar called me in I said no thank you I want to see the consultant, they said ok but you have to wait, I said fine I don't mind and eventually I saw the consultant. It was more important to me to have continuity of care and senior experience design input than worry about waiting, so worth trying this approach if you have another appt.

None of this helps with your main questions but I hope it's helpful in some way!

Good username! Thanks - wish I'd followed that advice yesterday and waited for a consultant. Yup, I'll have it written in capitals on the front page of my notes. (The first time I was pregnant my lovely GP wrote "WANTS AN EPIDURAL" on the cover of my notes to try to make sure I got one - didn't work, obviously as DC1 born 20 minutes after I arrived at hospital. But it was nice of her to try to help!)

Did you have any warning at all before labour started? I had 2 hr labour for Ds2 and nearly didn't get to hospital, then just 80 mins for DD, but I did have a show the morning before and a day of being slightly achy/twinges, so I had Grandma in situ for childcare and DH in the car with the engine running We were in the car by 2nd contraction and at hospital 30 mins after labour started.
When I'd discussed it previously I'd been told to dial 999 if I thought baby was coming fast and they'd blue-light me to hospital or to the birth centre which is much nearer but midwife-led. I was supposed to be in delivery suite because of previous PPH but had been told the MLU was the closest access to syntocin because ambulances don't carry it.
It might help to go through various scenarios and have plans in place. I worried about it a lot, in the event I was there with nearly an hour to spare allocated a v senior midwife who was totally unflappable and it all felt calm and controlled.
Good luck!

should have said DD was at 37 weeks so not strictly prem, but earlier than expected as my others were 40 weeks.

Hi bakingtins - nope, no warning annoyingly.... But it's encouraging to hear your story. Sure it'll be fine... Really good luck whatsonemore...

This is me!!! I am on dc4, currently 31 ish weeks. Ds1 36w 3h 1min 5lb 7, ds2 36 +2 1h 15min 6lb 5, dd 35+5 37 mins 5lb12.

Hospital is 1h20 mins away from me (proper welsh hillbillies lol!) midwife is based 40 mins away. Home birth only real option, DP being taught how to deliver a baby next week :-/ midwife has said that after 35 weeks if I wake up with so much as an achey little toe she wants me to ring and she'll sit and eat cake at my house rather than wait for me to have a contraction and miss it! Home births are the norm around here and the midwife is quite happy that should I deliver at 36 weeks and she suggests a transfer I will tell her to shove the ambulance somewhere because it's safer to do it at home than in a cramped ambulance on a country road probably with a few inches of snow about! I am aware that I am lucky with my midwifery team because they are so used to it- when someone suggests they want a hospital birth round here they have to search for the forms it's that rare!!!