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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

At what point are you considered to be in labour?

20 replies

justnally · 05/04/2010 00:01

I have 3 children and have always thought that you are considered to be in labour at the point that you notice contractions.... is this right? With my friend's first labour she told everyone that her labour was 45 mins, even though she had been walking around the house, holding onto the furniture and saying she felt really uncomfortable and in pain for most of the day... she had her second baby a couple of weeks ago and went in to be induced because she was 10 days over... anyways, she announced that her labour was 20 minutes and told everyone that it could be a world record... but her mum said that it was 20 minutes from when the contractions got really bad... I don't know why I am bothered by it. Maybe because she is lying. I don't know what she is trying to prove. Most of all I am annoyed with myself for giving a damn about it at all!!!! Can someone answer my first question and then please tell me to shut up!?
Thanks

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DrivenToDistraction · 05/04/2010 00:07

AFAIK it's official from 3cm.

I wonder if she's only counting the pushing phase? Maybe she is just of limited intelligence confused?

I count my own labours as 'real' from the point I have to work and concentrate through the contractions but say I was having mild contractions for x hours before that.

Original poster

justnally · 05/04/2010 00:13

See, I have the mild contractions stage (not too uncomfortable, maybe a little bit of pacing), followed by the "probably should go to the hospital now" bit, then the "bloody hell, give me the gas and air NOW" stage...then the "no more time for gas and air" stage, followed by the "GET IT OUT OF ME!" stage... then finally the pop "Ohhh look, a cute baby!" bit

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Original poster

justnally · 05/04/2010 00:15

thanks btw

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gaelicsheep · 05/04/2010 00:15

IME you are considered to be in labour when it is convenient for the hospital ie when a MW is free to give you any attention/pain relief. For me that was 6 cms.

I think your mum and friend were very lucky and didn't have contractions painful enough to "count" until the very end. Quite unusual.

Bumbleconfusus · 05/04/2010 05:44

I would count being in labour as from the first twinge... for example if mn calls the first stage - the first stage of labour/ early labour, I too would count everything from that point as labour. Perhaps if she says it again you could point out that what people call labour seems to vary... also to the 3cm comment, if you watched one born every minute, with many of the slow progressions, I would still say those who were 'eek-ing' in pain at 2cm were in labour too.

Also if her labours really were so short, she would have probably been induced as it would have been doubtful if she could get to the hospital in time (have read others having this happening on mn), and I noted she wasn't induced for this reason, but because she was so late. Did she have any pain relief either times other than gas and air? Because I'm pretty sure from personal experience that if you are too quick, they won't give you any.

I'm seen threads on mn about lengths of labour and the fastest I've seen for a first labour was about 4hours, and there are thousands of us here...

BlameItOnTheBogey · 05/04/2010 08:44

She might be telling the truth. I had a few hours of pacing around at home before going into hospital. I was only 2cm when I got there and dd was born 1hr 5 mins later so I was really only in established labour (from 3cms) for an hour (according to my notes).

heth1980 · 05/04/2010 08:56

It's an interesting question and I'd love to know the answer! I've always counted my first labour as being 6 hours because DD1 was born 6 hours after the first contraction. However, my waters broke 16 hours BEFORE the first contraction, so does that mean my labour was actually 22 hours?

2nd labour was definitely 3 hours because waters went with the first contraction and DD2 born 3 hours later........although if it goes by how dilated you are I have no idea at what point I was 3cm as I was already 5 when I got to the hospital..........it's all v confusing IMO!!

flybynight · 05/04/2010 10:18

My third labour is officially counted at 20 mins because it was 20 mins from 1cm to delivery. I was induced with a pessary for that one. My first (not induced) was about 3 hours using the same criteria. Precipitate labours are not that unusual.

Your friend is just attention-seeking a bit. Humour her. It will pass.

starshaker · 05/04/2010 10:23

my first (and only so far) labour was 2 and a half hours from first contraction to baby. I was induced and put on the drip but nothing happened till my waters had been broken. But as soon as my waters went the pain came fast.

Bumperliciouzzzzzz · 05/04/2010 10:38

I say mine was 5 or 6 hours, and that is from when I started timing my contractions at home. But I had none of this 'centimetres dilated' stuff as I went into hospital, despite the MWs assurring me I needn't, was ignored for about an hour till someone checked me and realised I was about to have this baby! Though my waters hadn't yet gone. DD was born 2.5 hours later.

Original poster

justnally · 05/04/2010 11:39

flybynight - blimey, that is quick!

My friend was in hospital at 8am, given the pessary at 10am-ish, baby was born after 5pm..... but still apparently it was 20 mins

My first was 11.5 hours from when I noticed the strange unfamiliar pressing feeling in the base of my spine. 4 hours of it was bad enough for gas and air and one shot of pethidine (very nice). The actual pushing part of it (I have been told) was about 40 mins, but I was not timing it myself, as was busy...

Second one - about an hour of that pinching feeling whilst putting first one in bed and eating my sausage and mash, followed by a 15 min drive to the hospital (waters broke all over father-in-law's front car seat) , plus another 2 hours and 7 minutes from when we arrived. Only allowed gas and air. Five big pushes and he was out (delivered standing up - much easier).

Third one - was 6 days over and pretty fed up. Waters broke with the first noticeable contraction. Two hours of mild ones, 1 hour 50 mins of strong ones. Another standing delivery - couple of big pushes and whooosh! Didn't have gas and air until the last hour, but wasn't allowed anything else as there wasn't enough time.

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Undercovamutha · 05/04/2010 11:46

My waters broke about 6/7 hours before the birth of both my DCs. And almost immediately after that I started having mild contractions, so I have tended to think that my labours have been 6-7 hours from start to finish.

However, if we are talking about being being in agony followed by extreme agony, I would say both my labours lasted about 2 hours.

EggcentricaGallumbits · 05/04/2010 11:52

'real' (medical/midwifey) labour is regular painful contractions lasting a minute each - every 3-4 minutes. and the cervix being 3-4cm dilated.

saying that....

a woman can be having regular painful contractions for a week without cervical dilation = not labour

a woman can be walking around for 3 weeks with her cervix 3cm dilate = not labour

membranes can rupture with no contractions = not labour or with contractions but no cervical diltation = not labour.

or you can niggle for a bit, break waters, go from 2 cm to having a baby in 18 minutes flat (like me)

sunshiney · 05/04/2010 23:11

In my experience, people eggagerate either way. Fairly quick? Baby shot out! Dragged on? Oh it was days!

Your friend is just attention seeking, we've all done it.

BexJ78 · 06/04/2010 15:17

i think there is a difference between what the HCP's call established labour (4cm dilated plus) and just early labour/latent labour. IME it bloody knacked from the start, so when you are told you aren't actually in labour, even though it is making you cry, it is a bit of a joke!
take no notice of your friend...she is just wanting her moment of glory.

MumNWLondon · 06/04/2010 22:11

I think it depends - with DD (my first labpour) first contaction was around 11pm, by 3am was painful enough to put on tens, by 7am went to hopsital, contractions every 5 mins and it was painful but I hadn't dilated at all!

But then my waters broke shortly after arrival at hospital and DD born 5 hours later.

I would count it from the point that the contractions get strong enough that you have to breathe / focus on them etc.

KatnKankles · 06/04/2010 23:51

My 3rd labour was very very quick but in reality I guess I was at home coping with it for a few hours before I got to the hospital although the contractions didn't seem too bad so I wasn't sure it was labour.

Like you I had a sudden GET ME TO THE HOSPITAL moment, 20 mins later arrived at the hospital and I was 10cms. From arrival at hospital to birth was probably 30 mins.

I'm 5 weeks away from having my 4th... I've been told to go to the hospital as soon as I get a contraction as this one will probably be even quicker...

SMacK · 07/04/2010 22:16

Technically it is from 3cm but imo that is just nonsense. I prefer to think that a woman is in labour when she says she is, after all, only she can possibly know what it feels like. For some it is hell at 2cm. How cruel would that be to say 'sorry love, no pain relief, off you pop back home til it is REAL'.

Good reaons for refusing internals imo.

gaelicsheep · 08/04/2010 00:31

Very cruel IME. OK, they didn't send me home but they made me feel pretty darned pathetic. I think I might refuse internals this time for that very reason. If a woman is in intolerable pain then what does it matter how dilated she is? Give her some pain relief!

I can just imagine it happening elsewhere in a hospital. A & E for example. I'm sorry Sir, but the Xray shows you only have a 2cm long fracture in your arm so you really aren't in enough pain for us to treat you.

MumNWLondon · 08/04/2010 10:02

Well if its from 3cm then my labour with my son was probably less than an hour. I say probably as I wasn't subject to any internal exams due to the lovely approach of the midwifes who said it wasn't necessary.

I had been in early labour from 3pm and by around 9pm we called hospital (MLU) - I was only having a contraction every 10 mins, but they were getting stronger, and I had lost my mucus plug. It was a sunday night and they said all three rooms were empty so we may as well come in even if it was a bit early.

When I arrived (only one mild contraction whole way there, 15 mins in car) and I hadn't even bothered putting on tens machine - they took one look at me, said not in established labour, no need for internal, just took my temperature, blood pressure and checked babies position and heartbeat (handheld doppler). They then left us on our own (which we were happy with) - said it was too early to get into pool. I have no idea how dilated I was but wouldn't have been surprised if not very at all - I am sure they would have sent us home had they been busy.

However, within 20 mins of arrival my waters went and suddenly was have strong contractions every 3 mins lasting minute and a half! DS born within 90 mins of waters going. With my DD (first labour) went from 1cm to 10cm in around 3 hours, which is quite quick for a first labour.

This time I am going to refuse a VE on arrival because its not relevant AT ALL ie if I am only 1cm dilated, I could still have the baby within the hour, and its 20 mins home and 20 mins back if they try and sent me home.

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