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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Precipitate labour with first... will I have it again?

21 replies

RaindropsOnRoses2 · 03/04/2018 10:00

When I laboured with DS contractions started at 3.15am (every 1.5/2 mins) and I was fully dilated by 5.45am. Hospital didn't believe me and thought I was being a bit over the top and not prepared for pain as it was my first. When I got there I was only 2cm and they wouldn't actually admit me... I was kept in triage until DH insisted they examined me again and I was fully dilated. The contractions started so strong that I honestly thought I was going to die as they got worse... however they never did get worse. DS was also back to back.
Midwife said I was basically in the transition stage for the full 2.5 hours.

So now I'm pregnant again and whilst I'm more prepared this time and will know if this happens again due to strength of the contractions, is it likely to happen again?

If you've had this type of labour before are they more likely to believe you and actually admit you/allow you to have pain relief? I completely understand the 4cm rule for 'active labour' is there for a reason but surely if you have previous experience of things moving very fast they can be a bit more lenient with this?

OP posts:

Littleoakhorn · 03/04/2018 20:46

I haven’t had fast labours but my first was back to back while my second was the right way around. The difference in pain levels was significant- for my first they were off the scale whereas for my second I could breathe through them and manage very well. I don’t think back to back labours are something you necessarily have again but I think the speed of delivery is often similar or slightly faster.

handmademitlove · 03/04/2018 20:51

My 1st was similar. My 2nd was delivered by my husband at home after a 40 minute Labour...

Namechangedwindy · 03/04/2018 20:53

First baby born very very quickly also back to back. Very like you only when I got to hospital I was 4cm but they told me it was only the beginning and it would be a long time before baby would be born hours possibly the next day he was in my arms 45 mins later I was telling them I needed to push but they were telling me it wasn't possible....next thing his head was out.
I was worried my 2nd would be faster. She wasn't back to back but it was a much longer labour needing a synto drip in order to speed up the labour but she was preterm. Despite the fact I was on a synto drip with my 2nd the contractions with my 1st were much more painful and intense probably because there really was no build up.
They did seem to listen more on 2nd baby though

crumble82 · 03/04/2018 20:53

My first was 4 hours which I don’t think quite counts as precipitate labour. However the midwives did say that as my second labour would probably be faster I had to get to the hospital as soon as contractions started (we’re 35/40 min away) and not to wait for them to get closer together. They also had everything prepped for a home birth (even though I didnt intend to have one) just in case everything went too fast. Everyone was really supportive and understanding, DD2 was eventually born in hospital after a 2 hour labour.

earlybirdhasanap · 03/04/2018 20:54

I've only had one baby but my Labour was exactly like yours so I'm watching with interest.

Schlimbesserung · 03/04/2018 20:57

I've had 2 precipitate labours, numbers three and five. Four was over 10 hours! Five was under 2 hours from "Ooh, that might have been a contraction" to "It's a boy!".
Only one of mine (the second) was back to back and it was agony. That one was about 6 hours I think.

LovesLaboursLost · 03/04/2018 20:58

My first was slower than yours but still classed as precipitate. You are more likely to have a fast labour again, particularly if you had a fast second stage. With my second I was told to go straight in, as soon as either my waters broke or I had a contraction, so I’d have thought you’ll be told the same. I ended up with an emergency c section so don’t know how fast it would have been!

M0RVEN · 03/04/2018 21:02

Two of my friends had their first babies very quickly.

One had her second on the car on the way to hospital.

The other had her second standing outside the hospital door.

Both of them would have been better to stay at home and have their husbands catch the baby.

Cowsopinion · 03/04/2018 21:03

I think generally the rule of thumb is that births get faster.

My last birth was 30 minutes from waking to baby. too scared to have another

I'd have a chat with your MW. She may advise to come straight in if waters break instead of staying at home? Or you could have a home birth if you wanted?

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 03/04/2018 21:04

First labour - spontaneous, about 75min

Second - induced - waited for contractions - they didn't come, but DS did! I apparently birthed hime without going into labour, it was that fast they put 17 mins on my discharge notes.

But to answer OP question - they may well not listen so SHOUT. With DD1 I didn't experience cx. Told the staff for the second labour and it was all, oh ha ha, don't tell the other ladies, they'll be jealous. They clearly didn't take me seriously, totally missed me going into labour, so I freebirthed a blue non-breathing baby in the hospital loo.

So yes, tell everyone and have your DH prepped to insist.

Pickleshickles · 03/04/2018 21:06

My second was precipitate, less than 2 hours. My husband was told to expect to catch number 3 but she was a whopping 22 bloody hours!

sweetkitty · 03/04/2018 21:10

Your first labour sounds like mine I was having contractions back to back, one would end the next would start straight away. I was terrified I knew it would be painful but thought you had a build up. The MWs thought I was an utter drama queen as I was screaming the place down. I dilated 1cm to 10cms in under an hour.

Anyway second was a homebirths 2 and a half hours start to finish. Third also a homebirth 45 mins from pop there’s my water until baby out. I didn’t have a pushing stage with her she just cane out in two contractions. DH caught her head as the MW didn’t get gloveson. No4 was a hospital birth and about 2 hours but I was induced, only had one pessary and whoosh. He was the least painful. I was having contractions but could actually speak between them, I got fed up asked the MW to break my waters (I was 6cms) 4 mins later he was born no active pushing.

With my second as I was having a home birth I met the midwives beforehand and they knew I was fast last time.

yellowplumpreserves · 03/04/2018 21:12

My first was 5 1/2 hours, second was 1 hour 50 minutes, third and fourth were both around 45 minutes.

My last two were planned home births suggested to me at my booking appointment. They were significantly less stressful than my second labour which involved the staff running along the corridor pushing the bed I was one, DH running behind with the bag, and the midwife yelling "Don't push in the lift! Don't push in the lift!" I was only in the delivery room for 10 minutes before DD2 was born.

I would say you have a fair chance of a fast labour again. Talk to your midwife about it. They're used to it and will be able to talk you through your options. For me that meant midwives who delivered my last two knew that if they got a call someone had to drop everything and run. They were also great at taking DH through what to do if it looked like they wouldn't make it, and when call an ambulance etc.

Anyway, long way of saying that you will have options and should talk through your previous labour.

Bixx · 03/04/2018 21:15

I had my first very quickly. She was born in hospital - albeit very quickly after we arrived. My second was born at home after a labour of 40 minutes. It was a good thing we didn’t try to get to hospital as she would have been born on the way there.

Shinygoldbauble · 03/04/2018 21:17

I had a fast first Labour, around 3.5 hours. I was told I was only a couple of cm dilated but gave birth less than an hour later. I was not listened to or believed when I told the midwife I was ready to push. I had to really push her to examine me. When she looked she could see dd's head!.
Second Labour was even quicker, under 2 hours. I lived anyway hour from the hospital, i rang when I was on the way. They obviously looked at my notes and took me seriously as they had a wheelchair ready at the door and a delivery room ready.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 03/04/2018 21:19

I would say be prepared. My first was 6 hours, second 4 hours and third 20 minutes from waking up to having my DS at home with just my now exH. No one suggested number 3 might be so quick. If they had I'd have prepared better for a home birth, just with waterproof mattress cover etc.

It might not happen but it's best to be prepared just in case.

kiplingcakes · 03/04/2018 21:19

I had a very quick 1st labour that was also a little early at 36 weeks and DD was born in 2hrs 24mins from first contraction to her being delivered.

I was just like you and really worried when I was pregnant with DS and thought I would just go into labour when out and about with a toddler and lived in fear in the last few weeks.

However his labour was very different and I went full term and he was born in just over 4 hrs. I went into labour at around 6.00am and went into hospital around 8.00ish as contractions got worse and I was worried about giving birth in the car. They did wonder why I was in however when they checked I had bulging waters and was swiftly taken through to labour ward.
Midwife I had was amazing and could see I had had a quick labour before and she controlled the whole thing down and did not let me just push him straight out, which is what happened with DD.

I felt better having it noted about my fast labour in my birth plan (had nothing else down but that) as wanted them to not doubt my judgement and believe me, which they ultimately they did.

PinkAvocado · 03/04/2018 21:22

First labour was the fasted anyone at the hospital has ever known (I was luckily there being monitored).

Second was a few hours.

widgetbeana · 03/04/2018 22:28

First 3 hours
Second 34 minutes!

So yes!

Original poster

RaindropsOnRoses2 · 04/04/2018 10:52

Wow thanks for all of your replies!! Slightly scary...

We live 40 minutes from the hospital we have chosen - but also 40 minutes from our 'in area' hospital.

I have considered a home birth however the distance to hospital concerns me... DS didn't cope with the constant strong contractions and in the end they had to pull him out pretty quick. I worry that if it happens again an ambulance wouldn't get to us in time...

I think I will just have to prep DH and tell the hospital beforehand that I will be leaving the minute contractions start - obviously I'm not a divvy, I know the difference between braxton hicks and real contractions so if they start we will leave straight away.

Interesting what a PP said about what to look out for in the car as to whether you need to stop and call an ambulance - will definitely be asking that at my next appt!

I was begging for pain relief last time and they wouldn't give it to me I only wanted gas and air. Hoping baby will stay the right way round this time - DS turned back to back 2 days before labour

OP posts:

widgetbeana · 04/04/2018 14:14

I was given the option of having a sweep in hospital at 39 weeks. Basically to see if it would start things off. In the end I needed to be induced at 37 weeks, but it was exactly the same thing in practise, they brought me in, gave me a sweep and 34 minutes later she was born.

A friend who has precipitous labour was offered this too.
She went in at 39 weeks, was given a sweep and nothing happened, so after 5 hours hey sent her home. She was given another sweep at 39 +5 in hospital and baby was born 67 minutes later.

Ask your midwife if this is a possibility as it seems a sensible way to try and limit the risks. No actual induction drugs, but increases the likelihood of being in the right place at the right time!

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