Went from 3cm to 10cm in 10 minutes

[Conundrum12345]

I gave birth to my DD a few weeks ago. I was induced and my from waters breaking to delivery (emergency assisted with forceps and episiotomy) was 4 hours. I went from 3cm to 10cm in under 10 minutes. I had no time for an epidural and am quite traumatised by it all

I'm petrified of becoming pregnant again and going through labour again. Will my second labour be as quick?

The Baby was in distress when I went to 10cm. My waters broke naturally and I was just on the gel, no oxytocin.

This is exactly what happened with me. Both babies were induced. First one 0 to 10cm in 20 minutes, was back to back but turned during labour.

The second one was fast but not as fast as the first and was much easier to handle. He was unfortunately also back to back and didn't turn so came out backwards in incredibly painful style!

OP - just to say I don't think the first speedy dilation means the second will be the same, it was definitely better for me. Both were induced at 42weeks so similar conditions.

I had an induction with my first and from waters breaking to DD1 being born was less than 2 hours, I also didn't have time for any painkillers and was left very traumatised.

I had DD2 last month my EMCS (but had an elective booked in) as I was so scared of giving birth vaginally again, it really affected my mental health. The c section was a wonderful experience and I found it very healing of my birth trauma

3cm to baby in 4 minutes 😩

Pretty similar happened to me with my 3rd child. Had been checked and was 2cm, then had 15 mins of unbelievable pain and contractions, asked for an epidural, was told I wasn’t ready for that. Continued in agony for a further 10 mins, then had extreme pressure/pain and urge to push, said this to midwife who was pissing about at the other side of the room (with her back to me), she casually and disbelievingly said, “oh, really? Do what your body is telling you then” so I gave an almighty push, nearly passed out, and my other half literally did a dive to catch my son as he shot out. Buzzers were pressed, people flooded the room, and things got hectic. Nice 4th degree tear for me, for which I was rushed to theatre and spent a few hours being repaired. Fucking traumatic.
If it had been my first, there wouldn’t have been any more.

I had this with both DDs (both inductions). If I were to have another baby (not happening but let's imagine 😂) I'd 100% ask for an elective c section.

Reading this bought back quite strong memories..
I dilated very very quickly with all 3 of mine..
DS1..12 hr labour but never regular contractions after waters broke at home. Midwife was reluctant to examine me as my contractions were not regular and I was told off for making a fuss..6cm to delivery in 20 mins with cord around baby's neck x 3..I had actually just been given pethedine and was being prepared for an epidural when I started pushing so he was born very 'flat' and was rushed out to be resuscitated...he was fine.
DD.. I was blue lighted in to the hospital after a very traumatic hemiplegic migraine (they thought I'd had a stroke) 14 days overdue..labour again was about 12 hours but never regular contractions.. I was examined about 1am and my cervix was 'closed and firm'. My waters broke 10 mins later but the midwife was horrible and took her time examining me..6cm! I was rushed to delivery but she was born in the lift...at 1.20am.. very dramatic and traumatic..
I was induced with DS2 because of a few reasons one being the risk of an unattended home birth..it was awful, took 5 days (another thread) and eventually had my waters broken in theatre (baby not engaged so risk of cord prolapse).. midwife was wonderful and listened to me.. anyway I went from 4cm to wanting to push in about 10mins.. I started pushing and nothing could have stopped me..all 9lb of him was delivered/shot out in 4mins..I know that doesn't sound right but it's true.. the midwife didn't even have time to put her gloves on! She wrote 2nd stage was 4 mins
As others have said it was very painful and I was in shock.. I only had G&A with the last 2..
I understand your worries about quicker births and in my case it was much faster with each one... make them listen to your fears...
My last baby was born 26 years ago and I still think about it...

Depends on the reason for induction. Some women just don’t go into labour naturally.

Oh this happened to me with both mine. The first was completely natural, drug free. It was excruciating. The work that your body does to get you from 2 cm to fully dilated in a short space of time is crazy. No time for so much as a whiff on gas and air. People will tell you you’re lucky. Fuck that! It’s like being in a car crash. Second time I thought I was being smart and I let them induce me thinking as soon as I got a twinge I’d ask for an epidural. Didn’t happen. As soon as they put that bastard drip up I was like a wild animal. Took 35 mins after the drip to in arms. So much worse than my first. Induction contractions are not like normal contractions. I’d have done my first labour ten times over than that. Hideous. My advice would be never let them induce you. Either go natural labour or a c section. Some women react really badly to the synthetic hormones.

That would explain the forceps and episiotomy.
The baby going into distress is a known risk of induction. It’s why inductions have the highest rate of emergency c-sections. So that is bad luck really as not all inductions end up so traumatic. Your body may be very sensitive to the gel if you are 100% sure that is all you had. If you had any IV it is likely you were also given pitocin to augment your labour- if so it would be without your consent based on what you’ve posted.

Was the reason for the induction something likely to happen again? I would say for sure that if you can’t do a spontaneous birth next time, I’d take a c-section over another induction based on how traumatic this one was for you. Hopefully you can have a spontaneous birth next time.

This was my second birth! I don't know how long it took me to fully dilate but I went from barely 1cm to having a baby in my arms in 1hr 25 minutes. I totally agree with PPs though, you can request a section if you want one. I would weigh up the pros and cons though, can you see yourself coping with a section recovery with another small child running around? (Not saying you can't, just whether it's something that would be manageable for you)

I had very quick labours too. First labour I dilated to 6cm in an hour - rushed into hospital and MW kind of said well not sure we will admit you yet - then they realised how far along I was. Ended up being a 8 hour labour. 2nd was 7 hours but he was big (over 9lb). Pretty quick.

3rd was so fast - under 2 hours and very very painful. It was a massive shock and really unpleasant.

my theory is that I have hyper mobility (I have been diagnosed with linked conditions) and this has been behind the quick labours as connective tissues are stretchy.

I am sending you big hugs OP. I went through similar and baby is a year and a half now. I still think about the birth but it is more distant now. I am here if you want to chat.💐

I definitely wasn't on any drips, so it was all the gel, but your post has even helped clarify things in my mind x

Glad to have helped a bit. Sending hugs and healing vibes to you.

My first labour was spontaneous and just over five hours from start to finish. Went form 5cm to pushing in 90 mins.
Second labour was an induction and similar to you, I went from 3-10cm in just five minutes, it was a real shock, I'm not the best pusher, so that took a while and total labour time was 5 hours.

My first was a precipitous induced labour (3-10cm in 20 mins on the drip, 3.5 hours total active labour). I was told that because it was an induction it “didn’t count” and that I would probably have a normal labour if I went spontaneously with my second.

This was bullshit, despite jumping into the car to the hospital as soon as possible after the first contraction, number 2 was born in a triage bay while my husband was parking the car, first contraction to holding baby was about an hour. Good news though that I didn’t tear at all with my second, despite her being a bigger baby delivered crazy fast. But I was really frustrated that even though my husband told them on the phone that I labour very fast, I was left in triage on arrival and not assessed so had absolutely no pain relief.

Now pregnant with number 3 and planning a home birth because I don’t think I’ll have time to get anywhere else!

I was induced on my due date and from waters breaking to birth was 1hr 28mins. Midwife had examined me and I was 3cm, she went away to get some paracetamol for me when I suddenly felt the urge to push. The monitor was showing I was having contractions but I wasn’t feeling them (no pain relief) I sent my husband out to find her quick. The midwife told him that I didn’t need to push as she’d just examined me! When she came in she begrudgingly said she’d examine me again but I was ‘nowhere near needing to push’. I was 10cm. A couple of puffs of gas and air and he arrived.
I tore badly due to the rapid birth and it took longer to stitch me than it did to give birth. I lost a lot of blood and only just shy of needing a transfusion.I think my body went into shock and the days following I felt like I’d been hit by a bus. Every inch of my body ached.
I asked what would happen if I were to have another baby and was told they’d probably induce again but at 39wks. Because I didn’t feel any contractions, I possibly wouldn’t realise I was in labor and therefore it would be highly unlikely I’d make it to hospital in time. Unfortunately that second baby wasn’t to be. When I look at photos taken immediately after the birth I just look so bewildered and detached from everything going on around me.

This happened to me with my second. I was terrified of it happening again however I've had 4 more and it's never happened the same. Although my pushing stage has remained quite short

I did this. I was induced over 6 days and I had two failed epidurals. I was screaming and crying and throwing up and the midwife had checked me 10 minutes before I was 4cm, a consultant came in and demanded I was checked again and I was 10cm and ready to push. It's so traumatic and I think when you're induced by the drip your body goes into shock. You're essentially forcing the baby out when they're not ready and you're body isn't ready. It's really tough OP and after having two failed epidurals (they came to resite it but still didn't work), numbed me to the tops of my thighs so I couldn't move but I could feel everything. I feel the same way about potentially having a second.

I found it all very difficult to stop thinking about and found hard to process what had happened. People kept saying that I was lucky, or that they wish it had been as quick for them, which didn’t help.

The debrief helped me process things and ask any questions that I had. They went through my notes with me and helped me make sense of things. They also talked through options for future births so that it could be better managed.

It is definitely worth doing.

Congratulations on your new baby - I bet she is adorable!

I would say my biggest issue with those was getting anyone to listen to me that I had had a very quick labour with my first.

And this is the shame of it, that with all the knowledge of generations of modern medicine and midwifery, and mothers talking about this over and again, so often women aren't listened to with all sorts of problems occurring because of it. I'd really like midwives and obstetricians (as professions, not individuals) to explain why so many women are fobbed off about this when it's not that rare at all.

We have fairly fast labours in my family, and I have talked to my daughter about how it might be wise to have me (or a doula) as a second birth companion to make sure that she is listened to, especially as she has another medical condition too. So that her other birth partner can focus on supporting her and their own experience, rather than having to get stuck into some heavy-duty advocacy which can be difficult and stressful.

I went from 2cm to 10cm and baby born in 14 minutes due to induction.

Midwives said it was the fastest they’d ever seen.

It was incredibly traumatic and I was made to sit in a chair throughout because the midwife was insistent on putting a probe on baby’s head.

I fainted as baby was born. I honestly thought I was going to die.

I wouldn’t wish for a quick birth- it’s like going into shock.

I was offered counselling but didn’t take it. The midwife visited me two days later as she was so concerned about me. I think it may have been traumatic for her too!

1st baby 35 hours (on time)
2nd baby 45 minutes (10 days late)
3rd baby 90 minutes (induced)