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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Subsequent labours after a very rapid birth

31 replies

Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles · 17/10/2021 18:22

Hello,

Expecting dc3 any day and feeling very anxious at the prospect of another very rapid birth (dc2 around 40 mins). I was told to go in at the first sign of labour, so went in this afternoon believing things were starting only to be made to feel like a massive time waster 😢

I am very worried that with dh working approx 25 mins away, and needing to get dc1 and 2 to childcare, there's a very real risk of being alone or in transit when baby decides to come! The midwife really didn't seem to understand my concerns or empathise at all, merely pointing out how desperately short staffed they are- which isn't very reassuring, as much as I sympathise!

Does anyone have any experience of very rapid births- were subsequent births any different?

Home birth not an option for various reasons.

OP posts:
DockOTheBay · 17/10/2021 18:31

Even if home birth is not an option, it might be sensible to have some stuff on hand at home just in case. If you're at home by yourself and have a very quick labour, you might not have much choice and the baby may arrive before an ambulance or your husband can get there.

Original poster
Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles · 17/10/2021 18:52

@dockothebay oh yes, I'll have some things to hand just in case of emergency, just wouldn't deliberately plan for a home birth Smile

OP posts:
DockOTheBay · 17/10/2021 18:57

Ah thats good. My second birth was about the same speed as the first (around 4 hours) but I knew what to expect a bit more so went in earlier.
I would just keep going in if you think things are starting. If they make you feel like a time waster, that's rubbish, but better than giving birth on your own or in the car.

PanicBuyingSprouts · 17/10/2021 20:09

If you're worried about getting DC into childcare, have you got somebody nearby who could help put at short notice like a neighbour or friend?

Original poster
Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles · 17/10/2021 20:15

@dockothebay yes that's true, i just came away feeling really rubbish for time wasting even though i was told to go in at the first twinge! Really puts me off going.

@panicbuyingsprouts I've only really got my mother in law, who is around 10 minutes away but i feel not enormously reliable with answering the phone/setting off immediately despite clear instructions! I suppose whatever happens we'll just have to deal with it and it'll probably be fine, its just the anxiety building up 😥

OP posts:
DockOTheBay · 17/10/2021 20:18

I just came away feeling really rubbish for time wasting even though i was told to go in at the first twinge! Really puts me off going. yes that's really not great that they made you feel that way. How far from the hospital are you? Is there anywhere closer you could go if you start getting twinges so there's not such a long way to go if it does turn out to be labour? Or even just somewhere nice a 5 minute drive from the hospital, you could park up the car and listen to the radio for half an hour to see if things progress at all and be close enough to get there quickly if it does.

PanicBuyingSprouts · 17/10/2021 20:19

  • @panicbuyingsprouts I've only really got my mother in law, who is around 10 minutes away but i feel not enormously reliable with answering the phone/setting off immediately despite clear instructions! I suppose whatever happens we'll just have to deal with it and it'll probably be fine, its just the anxiety building up*

I do feel for you. How old are the DC? Could they call 999 in an absolute emergency?

Honestly tough, I'd be tempted to keep inviting friends around for coffee in the hope that if Labour does start in the day, you'll have a friendly adult in the house! Smile

BBOA · 17/10/2021 20:22

First birth was c. 4 hours and 2nd was dropping son off with neighbour at 8.30 and baby born by 10! The midwife was dithering around somewhere thinking I had hours to go as I was emptying the gas and air canister in the waiting room! Do you have a local taxi company? Not ideal but if your husband is 25 mins away it might get be worth having number to hand. Maybe be you can ask MIL to keep you posted of her whereabouts too. Plan z would be just get in a taxi and take kids via your mil or tell her to meet you there. Any nice neighbours or reliable friends to have on standby?

ladyp87 · 17/10/2021 20:26

I've just had DC3 after two quick labours (under and hour each) and he was actually my longest labour. The midwives did say though third babies are a nightmare as they are either awkward (like mine) or really quick but have a tendency to be the complete opposite of what you expect. I was planning a home birth for this reason but ended up a hospital birth, home birth wasn't even attempted. It's probably best to try and plan for all eventualities. Not much help I feel but a bit of experience

5zeds · 17/10/2021 20:30

All fairly quick here 6hrs, 20mims, a couple of hours, a couple of hours.
I’d go to the hospital if you feel it might be time but just sit in the cafe/ waiting room. If it progresses you are where you need to be.

Howmanysleepsnow · 17/10/2021 20:30

My first was 1hour. My next 2 were planned inductions at 38 weeks to make sure I was in hospital (home birth wasn’t an option as they could only guarantee a midwife arriving within 6 hours of labour starting) and had childcare.
They were 45 and 38 minutes from the first contraction (pessaries only, no drip)
My 4th was induced at 37 weeks due to slowing growth. He clearly was less ready and took 3 hours from the first contraction.

Jujujuly · 17/10/2021 20:31

My first labour was about 2 hours 45 mins from first contraction to birth so I stressed about this throughout my second pregnancy. I had similar issues - hospital 30 mins away and needing to sort childcare for DC1. I planned a home birth but in the end labour was almost exactly the same length as the first one - around 2 hours - so I would have had enough time to go in anyway.

Nellodee · 17/10/2021 20:37

My first was three hours. For my second, I arrived as the midwife was going off shift. I asked if she could please get the gas and air ready, as my previous baby was very fast. She laughed and told me she would be long home before I gave birth.

Baby was here before she got her coat on. I still haven't had anything stronger than a paracetamol to deal with labour and I wasn't even planning on a natural child birth. Its very hard to get people to listen to you when you're in labour.

Whstdoyouthink · 17/10/2021 20:40

I was the same, was brought it to me induced. Once again that the midwives laughed at me and told me it would be hours….an hour and half later.

Good luck OP!

Original poster
Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles · 17/10/2021 20:42

Ooh, actually just staying in the hospital cafe or somewhere near by is a great idea, not sure why i didn't think of that!

I don't have much of a network here unfortunately, my dad died recently and my mum has since (understandably) had a bit of a breakdown so my usual fall back plans have gone out the window.

In a perfect world baby would come when my eldest (5) is at school and little (2) at nursery, i dont necessarily mind being on my own, just i dont want them to be here with me and feel scared about what's happening. I've told my oldest what might happen to try and reassure him. I suppose all we can do is deal with it as it comes!

OP posts:
BBOA · 17/10/2021 20:43

@Nellodee. That’s an understatement! I had the same same response….’ Don’t worry it will be a while yet…..do you want me to fill the water for a water bath…..you can use the bath to clean yourself if you like?”

Flumo · 17/10/2021 20:55

My first labour was 19 hours, second was 1 hour and my third was 6 hours.

yikesanotherbooboo · 17/10/2021 21:11

I had 4 hours then 20 minutes and was really uneasy when pregnant with DC3. For medical reasons they were a planned section at 38 weeks but I was still relieved when the day came as it is a good half hour to hospital always assuming DH was nearby and the DC taken care of.

yikesanotherbooboo · 17/10/2021 21:12

Btw OP, don't feel bad for doing what seems right at the time. You made the right call going up and should do so again in a similar situation.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 17/10/2021 21:18

DD1 - 90 mins total but 45 min "proper" labour

DTs - pessary in 2am, nada till 8am - sudden big twinge at 8.20 and DS arr 8.33 and DD2 8.46 so around 25 min total

mrssunshinexxx · 17/10/2021 21:54

@Nellodee what is it with people thinking they know our bodies better than we do ?!

RandomMess · 17/10/2021 22:05

Absolutely book for a home birth so they can drop off the kit. You can opt for hospital birth at any point and never indeed to have a HB but having that kit in your house or in the car with you en route may be invaluable!!

Lorw · 17/10/2021 23:43

My SIL ended up having her second on the bathroom floor, they’ve told her if she has another she will have to be induced early as her labour was like 10 mins 😂

Can’t you ask them to be induced? I dunno how likely that would be though.

Original poster
Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles · 18/10/2021 07:11

Thanks for all your replies so far.

With regards to induction, the midwife yesterday basically said they're too short staffed to induce for "social reasons" rather than medical reasons, which I guess is fair enough. Though for some reason she really fixated on the childcare of the other kids, which isn't my main concern at all, I'm not asking to be induced just to arrange childcare 😂 she kept saying "everyone with other children has these concerns" but not everyone with other children has precipitous labours, so that's not true.

I was assured I'd be listened to and my concerns taken seriously if I had another, that definitely doesn't feel like its been the case!

OP posts:
PanicBuyingSprouts · 18/10/2021 07:18

With regards to induction, the midwife yesterday basically said they're too short staffed to induce for "social reasons" rather than medical reasons, which I guess is fair enough. Though for some reason she really fixated on the childcare of the other kids, which isn't my main concern at all, I'm not asking to be induced just to arrange childcare 😂 she kept saying "everyone with other children has these concerns" but not everyone with other children has precipitous labours, so that's not true.

I was assured I'd be listened to and my concerns taken seriously if I had another, that definitely doesn't feel like its been the case!

That's awful. Can you call your own MW today and tell her that it's really worrying you and see what she can do?