Fast labours (5 hrs from first twinge, or less!) Can you tell me about yours?

[Gerdticker]

My first DC’s labour was about 5 hrs start to finish. I had her in the pool at a birth centre, it was a great birth.

I had syntonetrine 20 mins after birth, then the cord snapped and I had to have my placenta manually removed in theatre, plus a blood transfusion.

I’m really interested to hear about other people fast labours?

Did everything go to plan, did you choose to have syntonetrine/syntocinon for the third stage?

Is there anything you’d have done differently, or regretted? Or any thoughts or advice?

Thanks

@ILoveAnOwl

We waited. In fact the paramedic waited until the midwife got there and just hovered in the corner as he said it was better to leave it to the experts. I'm still not convinced he wasn't just scared of my rampent bush!

Paramedics (called by H in a panic after I gave birth) did exactly the same with me. Well actually they popped their heads round the bedroom door, saw we were okay then went downstairs for a cup of tea until the midwife arrived.

My first labour was 18 hours plus. Second was 2.5 hours

I barely got to hospital in time (midwife told me I’d be “holding on”)

No time for any pain relief, not even gas and air. It was good in a way (to get it over with so quickly, rather than enduring pain, with no end in sight for hours like the first one). But I went into shock and felt awful after giving birth. Was also very panicky and anxious because of how close I was to giving birth in the car. Sadly it took a while for the anxiety to subside.

But baby was easy going and I loved having two little ones.

Good luck!

Suggest phoning hospital as soon as you get first twinge!

Given how fast it was first time around, you should plan for a home birth just in case it happens so fast that you don't make it to hospital. The midwifes can bring the injection to give you as soon as baby is born (to get placenta out ASAP and reduce risk of PPH) and you can have an ambulance on standby to transfer you in if you do have a PPH.

I had PPH after my first birth but it wasn't a large, sudden blood loss soon after the birth; I just lost a steady amount in the hours after the birth and didn't need surgery or a blood transfusion, my iron levels were ok so they just gave me iron tablets. But they were worried about PPH when I was considering a home birth second time around and we discussed minimising the risk of PPH, we agreed on a managed third stage.

As it is, it's just as well I planned a home birth, because it was only about 3.5 hours from start to finish and I wouldn't have made it to the hospital. I stupidly assumed that going into labour would feel the same as first time around, but it felt quite different, so I was in denial for a while and didn't realise quite how fast it was progressing until I felt the urge to push. Midwife arrived when I was pushing and baby was born shortly after. No complications apart from a second degree tear which they were able to sew up at home thankfully so I didn't have to go into hospital at all. They kept a very close eye on my bleeding but it was fine, I lost a lot less blood this time (probably because the birth was more straightforward).

Obviously if there was any retained placenta they would transfer you into hospital and ditto any bleeding they are concerned about.

Anyway if I were you I would plan for a home birth just in case, even if you intend to go into hospital as your preferred option.

PS It would be worst nightmare to give birth in a car or ambulance on the way to the hospital - or in the car park or corridor or something - hence preferring to plan a home birth where I would be calmer and safer!

First time was five hours from waters breaking to birth. Minimal fuss, bit of gas and air, job a goodun.

Second time round, waters broke so I rang DH to come home so we could go to the hospital and MIL to look after DD. 25 minutes later I gave birth on the hall floor with MIL on delivery duty being given advice by the ambulance dispatcher. By the time DH got in the door 15 minutes later DS and I were upstairs in bed (me with a cup of tea) and the ambulance crew who’d arrived were in the kitchen eating M&S chocolate biscuits MIL had dug out of her shopping bag, waiting to discharge me into the care of a midwife.

@Gerdticker could you explain the not being able to wee during labour bit? X

"Is there anything you’d have done differently, or regretted?"

Yes I regret not asking doula and midwife to come immediately... I didn't realise how fast it was all progressing but wish I had got support sooner rather than labouring alone. Also wish I had got DH/doula to set up the pool for me straight away as I never did get my water birth (and it might have helped with the pain).

1st DC the first examination they did I was 10cm dilated. (I'd felt uncomfortable for about 5 hours at home before going to hospital) DC born 2 hours later. (It seemed to take forever to push baby out)

2nd DC got to hospital at 5am after waters broke at home at 3.30am. They examined me and I was 4cm so expected a long wait, but just over an hour later I was ready to push, and DC2 was out in 3 pushes. I was shocked.

Interesting to hear about second labours. DD was back to back and took around 48 hours. Next time round we will have to wait for family to drive 3 hours to look after DD before we go to hospital. Wondering whether that will be an issue!

@DaisyandRoses

Interesting to hear about second labours. DD was back to back and took around 48 hours. Next time round we will have to wait for family to drive 3 hours to look after DD before we go to hospital. Wondering whether that will be an issue!

You need to find someone closer for childcare, someone who could step in until your family arrives, at least. A neighbour or local friend.

DC1 - 4.5 hours
DC2 - 2 hours
DC3 - 12 minutes

To be fair although my labours were quick, I had grumbling contractions for a few hours before. With DC3 I was having a croissant in the deli up the road at midday, called DH home from work at 2, and it was all over by 4pm. Luckily we live 5 mins from the hospital. The midwives wouldn’t believe I had to push with 1 & 2, they took my lead with no. 3!

@RedCatBlueCat

DS1 was longer than yours (about 12 hrs from waters breaking, and 6 from contractions starting, 2 hrs in the hospital- and I had to refuse to go home when we were first assessed). DS2 was 2.5 hours start to finish. Mum (childcare) got up the M1 and arrived the same time as the ambulance. DS2 arrived 30 seconds after the paramedics.....

Paramedics cut the cord, natural third stage, then the midwife appeared....

I know you have been advised for a hospital birth, but I would have a pile of stuff easily available incase it all goes too fast, and you end up at home. Then you wont be telling DH that no, the first towels won't do, as they are white, and the second set he produces wont do because they are the cat's towels......

Haha I think you may have a point - I will take your advice and do some home prep just in case!

I could certainly see my well meaning DH grabbing dog towels out of the cupboard too.....

I was already in hospital at the time due to pregnancy complications.
I woke up at 1am I felt a bit off so stood up out of bed and my waters broke.
Called the midwife and at 1.15am she did an internal and said no rush as I was only 3 cms dilated.
18 minutes later my daughter was born. I was still standing up.
It was very intense. I remember the midwives running over but don't have a clue who caught her or much after that as it was a bit of a blur

@serialplanner my labour was pretty intense from the off, so I didn’t have much time between contractions to go to the loo, although i never felt the urge to pee anyway - was far too busy!

But knowing what I know now, as soon as I get the faintest hint of a contraction this time, I’ll be sure to go to the loo!

After baby was born, I had a retained placenta and the midwives catheterised me to empty my bladder, in case that was what had been blocking the placenta coming out (it wasn’t!)

@HettyBettyConfetti gosh that must have been a lot to take in! Was that your first baby?

@NameChange30 thank you for this wise advice. My midwife and the obstetrician both say I should plan to go to hospital.. but you’re right - what if there’s no time!

Can you expand a bit on how different your second labour felt at the start? Anything I can look out for?!

Dc1 I had gestational diabetes and spent from 16 weeks fighting off induction at 38 weeks. I went into spontaneous labour at 36 weeks, 1 hour from first contraction to delivery, just made it to hospital, no pain relief, no tears and all fine but a little shocked.
Dc2 was 12 months later, 4 hours from contraction to delivery, same as first but had to have placenta removed in theatre after cord snapped.

Dc3 was induction due to tailing growth, ended up on a drip but she arrived 20 minutes after it was administered. No time for pain relief and was very painful and left me with a BP problem for a good while afterwards.
Dc4 was induction for gestational diabetes and poor growth, pessary didn’t work but got me to 6cms dilated, so had a sweep. Contractions immediately started baby arrived 2 hours later, no issues and my best labour as it was more ‘steady’ and longer pushing stage. ( previous labours were 1 or 2 pushes).

I was very vocal about my rights and choices with DC4 and had a wonder bunch of midwives who supported this.

I was advised that dc2 May arrive quickly and to get to hospital as soon as contractions started, didn’t happen though.

[quote Gerdticker]@HettyBettyConfetti gosh that must have been a lot to take in! Was that your first baby?[/quote]
No my third

With DC1 when labour started it felt like period pain and quickly developed into contractions which felt like strong cramping of my whole uterus. It's hard to remember now but it was pretty unmistakable that I was in labour, the pain was intense.

With DC2 I'd been feeling uncomfortable for about a week - baby was low down and I'd been feeling pressure on my cervix, and that feeling just intensified. So for a while I thought oh this is just annoying late stage pregnancy discomfort/pain in my cervix. It didn't feel like period pain or my uterus contracting at all, it was very low down. In hindsight, I think it was my cervix dilating. It was painful but manageable to begin with. Basically I had an hour or two of dilating / contractions very low down and was then ready to push.

Hope that makes sense, I'm finding it quite difficult to describe!

My eldest was I suppose about 7 hours from first twinge and 4 hours from first pain, I had no idea it was labour as he was premature.

I was surprisingly okay after birth (physically).

Second was three hours after I woke up, it was pretty horrific as no.2 got stuck.

There will never ever be a third one.

@NameChange30 yes total sense, thank you

It chimes with what my midwife said - that after your first delivery the uterus doesn’t need to do nearly as much to efface as first time round. It’s main effort is just dilatingThe cervix, and then you’re straight into pushing!

[quote Gerdticker]@NameChange30 yes total sense, thank you

It chimes with what my midwife said - that after your first delivery the uterus doesn’t need to do nearly as much to efface as first time round. It’s main effort is just dilatingThe cervix, and then you’re straight into pushing![/quote]
Ah that makes sense, wish someone had explained it to me beforehand

My first was induced at 10.00am and she arrived at 2.00pm. My second, waters broke at 4.00am and she was delivered at 4.44am. My doctor said if I was to have another she would put me in hospital for the last week as I probably wouldn't make it 😃

With DC1 I had first twinges at 7am, by 9.20am I was delivering him in the car on the way to hospital. DC2 I had a planned homebirth to avoid that and had a 5 hourish labour. DC3 was another homebirth, she came an hour after my first twinge and the midwifes didn’t make it in time. No more babies for me!