Rapid 1st timers- your stories please!

[ellideb]

I was wondering if any of you had a 'quicker then expected' 1st labour. I'm interested to hear your stories, particularly if it happened at home, planned or otherwise. It would be reassuring to know that not all 1st labours are long and drawn out!

15 minutes ChasingSquirrels!!???? thats incredible

we aren't actually sure - but waters went at about 11.30pm, I had my first contraction at 11.44pm (and then called the mw) and ex-H made a 999 call after ds2 arrived, which we later checked and was made at 11.59pm.

At 12 noon I had an internal examination because I had abdominal pain and was told was definitely not in labour. Was 35 weeks so not unexpected. Went home and took 2 paracetamol as advised. At 3pm felt much worse and decided to get some stuff together and go back to hospital. By the time we arrived just after 4pm, I was screaming every 5 mins. Got sent straight to delivery ward (with me protesting that I'd been told this wasn't labour and I really didn't want to waste their time) and on examination was told was 6.5cm. DD born at 6.32pm, with no further pain relief (not that it didn't hurt!)

There was a woman next bed tome years ago in for monitoring at term (I was only 7 weeks, hg)

thry took her a drink at 9 (IIRC), all well

by 9.15 baby born, plascenta delivered and all done with - thry never got her off that antenatal bed even!

Woke at 3:40am saying 'that's defo a contraction!' waters broke at about 7:30 got to hospital about 8:30 - MW who examined me was looking at me as if to say 'yeah I'll ahve alook then we'll send you home' but then announced she could see lots of hair and I was 9 cms! DD born at 11:20am.

This would ahve been quicker if MW hadn't been dealing with two other birth including twins!

hospital 1:30 am (contractions but manageable)
DS born 4:30 am

Planned home birth with first baby. Went into labour with a big fat contraction so intense I knew it was 'it' Another one two minutes later. Was alone. Messaged DH, coped for an hour on my own with contractions lasting 90seconds with a 30 second gap, telling myself not to be a wimp. Called hospital (eventually, phone engaged 4 times) to send MW, they said one would ring me back in about an hour. Went to loo, waters went with a bang, started to push. Stopped myself pushing with mega contractions till DH got there, called back MW who didn't believe us. Eventually called ambulance because MWs weren't arriving.
Ambulance came. MWs eventually came, told me not to push, moved me into the bedroom saying I couldn't have a baby in the bathroom and I pushed her out in ten minutes.

The entire thing from first contraction to birth -- including 90 minutes of fighting pushing - was 3 hours. Could have been two if I'd gone with it.

Was very scary to go so fast. I've had a second trimester MC too and that was a slow build up, much more manageable despite circumstances.

I want AT LEAST eight hours next time. Pushing babies out that quickly isn't good for them or you - no time to adjust especially with baby one. There's a reason these things usually take a long time. I was in shock for hours and so was my baby.

My 1st baby woke up at 5.50am with some aching, phoned the labour ward at 6.45am ish but coping ok with pain. Then the contractions suddenly had no gap and we left the house at about 7.10am. i started pushing 10 minutes down the road , got to the hospital at about 7.35/7.40am ish.
Got to the labour suite and was fully dilated and the midwife could see his head. My gorgeous boy was born at 7.52am weighing 7lb 11oz with no pain relief and no stiches. So about 2hrs.

2nd DS was a planned homebirth, started to feel like something was happening about 5.30pm ish so phoned hubby home. Pain started about 7.30pm so phoned the midwife who arrived at 8.00pm, i was convinced i'd called her too soon but was 7cm dilated (That was my first and only examination in two labours). My second gorgeous boy born at 9.29pm, again with no pain relief and no stiches. So about 2.5hrs.

I conssider myself extremely lucky but get a bit pissed off when people say i had it easy. It was quick not easy and the pain was so intense so quickly.

Waters broke at 5am and had Tom at 9:22am. It took me ages to get in my dads car because I just couldn't move much! I tore quite badly though. I thought it would be more painfull than it was, and I had no pain releif. I had had a placental abruption and Toms cord was in a knot, so we were very lucky really.

I reckon another one may not be as quick and painless!

My first, and so far only, was 7 hours from what I now realise was the first contraction until his arrival. From the first contraction that I actually thought 'hey that is a contraction' was about 3 1/2 hours.I was fully dilated when I got to the hospital and ds was born 25 minutes later with a pause in the middle because they told me not to push as they didn't have a midwife for me.

With DD1, my waters broke the day before, but I was not in labour - but had to stay in hospital. At 5pm, I was doing countdown on the TV in my hospital ward - contractions were starting but manageable. By 6pm, they hurt and I was moved to delivery. By 9pm the baby was out. So I had 3 hours of painful contractions, but boy did they hurt!

DD2, I was stood outside the hospital waiting for the carparking machine to hit 9am (when the new charges kicked in - refused to pay for two days!) Labour really started by about 9.45am and baby was out by midday (3 hours really). Again, bloody painful but that was back to back.

Have to say, I was in labour and still managed to get the countdown conumdum

1st, 4 hrs. 2nd, 2 hrs. 3rd, under an hour.

Midwife wouldn't have been there for no.3 if my friend hadn't had the foresight to chivvy her along. Walking and talking quite normally right up until about 20 mins before actual birth. Only realised I was bearing down when I heard it in my voice!

Careful what you wish for elli!! My midwife says that the most difficult births tend to be both the quickest and the slowest, for their own reasons.

I'm interested in what Peachy said about endorphins... I find that potentially extremely relevant to my experiences. No time for pain relief, no time to create my own!

(I don't consider G&A to be pain relief as such, more a piss up in a cannister! as experienced with no.1)

pmsl about piss up in a canister

I am finding all this very interesting to read as my ds took a leisurely 106 hours to arrive.

My mate had a 3 hour job and was home six hours later, she and baby shellshocked, problems bf, back in hospital with infection...the lot. So I know that fast isn't always pleasant.

I have heard it say that quick babies are often vigorous though? True?

Yes some good points about endorphins. I don't feel as worried about long labours now as I initially did though. Ideally medium length labour please with very little pain!

Good Luck ellideb - you never know it might be great! I heard so many bad stories I was nervous to say the least! But DS1 was 4 1/2 hours just gas and air and TENS, pretty intense once things got going (no time for the food, music, massage etc they bang on about at your antenatal classes) but at least very quick! Had no problems, stiches or anything so fast can be good. Needless to say I keep quiet when people tell me their gruelling birth stories now...

Hope your baby is listening and gives you an easy ride - but hey, at least it will be out!

Thanks LooseyC What happened with your 2nd?Did you have your 1st at home?

Woke at 6am with a tummy ache (at 36 weeks). Got worse so thought would take myself off to hospital at midday as I was a bit worried. (Didn't bother with a bag or anything).Was examined and told was 6 cm dilated and that I was having contractions (didn't realise). After 5 hours of bearable contractions they broke my waters (agonising) and then had 20 minutes of excrutiating pain before DD born at 6.30pm. Was in hospital for a week so was over the shock before I had to go home.

I had a 4 hour first labour. It does mean the contractions are really intense, but I would ratherhave that than hours on end of milder pains.

DS2 was less than 2 hours

DD1- 8 Hour labour with epidural

DD2- Was induced at 6.30pm.DH went home at 9pm.10.30 went to nurses desk as I kept getting backache and thought was contractions.
Contractions came on quickly and was given paracetamol.Asked for epidural and the mw said couldnt have one as only 1cm dilated.
She went to get me pethidine and then called DH.She told him I was distressed but not to rush back.I had DD 10 minutes later and DH missed it.DD born 12am so hour and half labour.

First labour was 7.5 hours start to finish. Did about three hours at home the rest at hospital, some in the water but got out to give birth. No pain relief at all!

Second was 2.5 hours by the way (too fast.) Third is going to be at home - hopefully SOON

4 hours from first proper painful contraction till birth. (8 hours if you count from when waters broke). Got to midwife centre and laboured and gave birth in the pool, with gas and air.