Quick labors?

ShimmerAndSass · January 2016

Has anyone had quick labors?

I was in labor with my DD for 4.5 hrs total! 7 minutes of that was pushing and it only took 3 pushes. I went from 2cm to 9 cm in a matter of an hour. My labor would've been much shorter had the midwife on call not taken nearly an hour to get to the hospital and get prepped.

I'm hoping for another quick labor like my mom had with all three of her pregnancies and like I had with DD.

PSUBecky23 · January 2016

Mine was abut seven hours. No idea how long I pushed. It was an almost perfect L&D

bookworm982 · January 2016

My first labor was over 24 hours, but for the first 18 hours I wasn't progressing at all and things were calm enough that I actually went to a friend's baby shower. Once things picked up, it moved pretty quickly.

With my second labor, my baby came 20 days early and contractions were pretty manageable so I was in denial that I was in labor. By the time I realized this was the real deal, it was less than an hour to DS's birth. I started involuntarily pushing in the car on the way to the hospital. An ER doc came to my room just in case while the OB sped there. The OB walked in the room, put on gloves (no other prep), I pushed for one contraction, and that was it. I was admitted after my son was born. That labor was surreal.

With my third labor, I left for the hospital as soon as I started having contractions, and I was still happily talking through them and could walk just fine. I actually got to check in and chat with admissions, walk to L&D, and was sent to triage because my OB was out of town and the traveling OB who was covering didn't believe I labored as fast as I did and I was handling things well. Once they finally checked me in triage (40 minutes later) I was at a 7. I got sent to a delivery room, another ER doc was called up because the traveling OB was taking her sweet time arriving (I really don't like that woman), and things sped up. The OB showed up as I was involuntarily pushing again, got gloves and a gown on this time, and caught DS2 in one contraction an hour after I arrived at the hospital.

Funny side note. My sister had her second DS in November. She labors even faster than I do. They made it to the hospital, but my BIL (thankfully a first year med student) caught the baby even though the OB was in the hospital and literally running to the room. My DH is terrified of an accidental home birth because it's a possibility for us since each of my labors gets shorter, and I'm already down to 2.5 hours. Our running joke now is that I'll make it to the hospital, but he's still playing catcher.

RedMar · January 2016

My water broke around 10am and that was the only reason I called the OB bc I had no feeling of contractions. Things didn't start to get real until around 11pm, labored for 9 hours until 8am. I pushed for 3 hours (unmedicated) until the OB threatened a c-section or episiotomy. I chose the latter bc I was stubborn and didn't want to ditch all of my hard work of laboring/pushing. As soon as I was cut, DS came flying out of me! Hopefully it's less pushing this time around. That was exhausting!

@bookworm982 - nice job remembering all the details!

bookworm982 · January 2016

@RedMar I love details, and I wrote out all my birth stories shortly after they happened so that I wouldn't forget them. I love hearing other people's stories, and I wanted to make sure I remembered mine.

You are amazing for pushing 3 hours unmedicated! My deliveries are unmedicated, but after that long I don't know if I could do it.

crispy11 · January 2016

DD1 was a stat section when I was only 4 cm for placental abruption so it was not a short experience.
DD2 had a normal length labor, maybe 12-16 hours, but she popped out in about 7 minutes and 3 pushes. It was so amazing after hoping to have a vbac for so long. I'm pretty sure I was just crying all over her. Such a great memory!

fabcrab · January 2016

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bunnymay · January 2016

I had active labor for approximately 12 hours. I endured painful contractions for 5.5 hours before I got my epidural. The hospital could have sent me home because I was only 2-3cm dilated, but my OB gave the green light for the epi. Then, during the night, the monitor stopped recording my contractions (when they replaced the paper, something remained disconnected) so the nurses thought I stopped contracting and fell asleep (I was 38w). My water broke and the nurses were shocked that I was 9cm! They rushed to get the on duty OB (not enough time for mine to come in); I pushed for 30 minutes and she was out!

ETA- autocorrect

kaileighbug · January 2016

With my son my water broke and he made his appearance 2 hours and 38 min later. He was out after 2 pushes. My contractions didn't start right after my water broke either.

With my daughter my water broke and she made her appearance 2 hours and 14 mins later. I don't remember how many pushes. I do know it would have been a faster delivery except her doctor wasn't there. They made me breathe thru contractions and not push. I finally told them get ready here she comes. The doctor walked in and put on gloves just in time to catch her. I had a few contractions before my water broke but nothing painful.

irishblessings916 · January 2016

Wow. I can only hope to have a shorter labor this time. My water broke around 5am when I got up to pee (I was still on the toilet when it broke). So I woke DF up, finished packing my bag and then called my OB about 6am. He was out of town, and I didn't care for the on call OB, but I had no choice. From the time my water broke to the time the OB got there my contractions weren't painful but were irregular. So they gave me pitocin. Yeah then it got real. Had an epi, my son's oxygen level dropped, they had me lay on my side for an hour and napped (didn't feel like I slept) they got me back up to finish my epi and I was ready to push. An hour later he was born. That was the shortest 11 hours to this day, lol!

myjessesgirl · January 2016

My SIL has nice short labors. I, on the other hand, spent nine weeks with preterm labor contractions, then delivered at 41 weeks 1 day after 27 hours of full labor (the day before I was scheduled to be induced). Three and a half endless hours of pushing. Hoping that this time my labor is shorter! But I don't mind the labor part as long as the pushing part is shorter.

LeslieCHNC · January 2016

Mine got shorter with each delivery. All three were inductions for medical reason. DD was well over 48 hrs, I was induced at 32 weeks due to eclampsia. But only one push, she was tiny and there no Doc in the room. Nurses wanted me to do a practice push before taking me to the OR close to the NICU. Happy to report she is a string willed healthy girl who is about to turn seven!
DS#1 was about 12 hrs total...docs. were taking their sweet time and only had to push a few times.
DS#2 was 4 hrs total...my body was ready and I didn't need the full induction to get things going. Only pushed 3 times.
It will be interesting to see our baby #4 goes!

Shiva14 · January 2016

I actually hope to have a longer labor. My first labor with DS was 1 hour 45 min from the moment my water broke at home (no contractions prior). Between DH possibly being at work 45 minutes away, the hospital being 1 hour away from us and needing someone to pick up/ watch DS I wouldn't mind a bit more time this time. As soon as my water broke contractions were 1 min apart and I couldn't talk through them. I was 9 cm dilated when we reached the hospital. That won't be a fun situation if I'm alone with a 2 year old...

mrt · January 2016

My first was 14 hours from water breaking. Had to be given pitocen a few hours after water breaking because things were not happening. 3.5 hours of pushing.

Second baby was 12 hours from water breaking. Went from nothing to intense contractions every 3 minutes as soon as my water broke . 2+ hours of pushing.

I'm hoping the pushing portion is shorter this time. That part is exhausting.

camichael84 · January 2016

With DD, mine lasted less than 11 hours. Water broke at 10pm and I had no contractions at all at that point. They started around 11:30, and were instantly hard and on top of each other. Got an epidural around 3am, and was only 3.5 cm at that point. Was a full 10 by 7am. They wanted me to labor down because DD wasn't engaged enough in the birth canal, but I begged to push around 8am, and she came shortly after 9am.

Hoping this one goes as quickly and smoothly.

0SeaMonkey0 · January 2016

Well, I don't think most people would consider my first labour quick. But it was perfect for me.

I started having mild contractions at 11pm. Continued mild overnight, was checked at 7am the next morning and was 1cm but 100% effaced. Went home and continued with mild contractions until noon. They got a bit harder for a couple of hours but still easily manageable, going through my regular day as much as possible. My midwife called at 2 because she was surprised I hadn't called back. I said the contractions has tapered off but she asked me to come in. I was 5 cm and totally floored because it had been so easy and I wasn't expecting much progress!

I was admitted at 3pm and spent the next three hours walking around outside. Contractions were every 5 mins but only about 30 seconds long and still mild. I could walk around the hospital no problem without making a scene. At 6 pm I was 7cm and really only experienced active labour from about 7-10pm. DS was born after 10 mins pushing.

So my labour was long but kind of short at the same time? The hard part was short anyway. My original birth plan was "give me the damn epidural" but I ended up doing it med free totally unplanned

RedMar · January 2016

I wonder what less than an hour of pushing feels like

hopefully I'll find out!

mommytimesfour · January 2016

My second labor was really fast. My water was broken at 8am at 2 cm to start my induction and I was fully dilated at 11am. Because everything happened so quick, baby's head was still really high so they had me labor down for about an hour and half (I had an epidural in place). I pushed for 30 minutes.

RedMar · January 2016

Question, many of you have said "labor down". Does that just mean you are on your back bearing down when a contraction comes in to play? Have any of you delivered squatting with the pole bar's assistance?

Tennis11785 · January 2016

Ya'll are making me so hopeful for a quick and easy labor! Love hearing good stories! I feel so often you hear the horror stories.

I wonder what the percentage of women who have "quick" labor.

AnnaS930 · January 2016

Day before my scheduled induction (10 days after estimated due date) woke at 7am with mild contractions, by 8am they were timeable at about 5 minutes apart. I took a shower, did the dishes, washed some towels and woke up my husband. We went to the hospital around 10am and I was 4cm with contractions around 5 minutes apart (I think). I labored throughout the day walking around, nothing too bad. I pushed for about 25 minutes and delivered my son before 8pm that same day. Only a couple of hours were actual painful labor. I opted against the epidural because my contractions were more manageable up walking around. I did have a dose of pain meds which helped an hour or two before pushing to steady myself. All relatively easy.

crispy11 · January 2016

@RedMar Laboring down is when you let the contractions do the work a little longer after you reach 10cm instead of starting to push as soon as you hit 10cm.

RedMar · January 2016

@crispy11 dang I wish I had known that. I was "stretched" once I hit 9 and wish I could've let things progress more naturally. I feel like I could've labored down for an hour before I pushed for 3!!

diagonalley · January 2016

I woke up at 5 am with what I thought was a stomach bug. By 8 am I realized I was in labor. We were at the hospital by 10 and baby was born at 3:38 after 45 minutes of pushing. He would have been out faster but the cord was wrapped around him twice and kept pulling him back in. It was short to me, but not 4.5 hours

revlaurawittman · January 2016

My first was a week late and I was in labor three hours start to finish. So quick and easy.

My second was three weeks early and I was in labor for 27 hours. The pushing was quick though. We were so worried it would be as fast as the first and we wouldn't have time for my in laws to arrive to watch ds. The timing turned out just fine. I drive myself to the hospital and my husband came later. Haha

But I have absolutely no idea what to expect with this baby because my two laboratory were so vastly different.

KimmySchmidt · January 2016

My first labor was long and horrible. Actual labor was the worst experience of my life.

The super short version is that my water broke on Monday and that I had the baby on Wednesday morning after 3.5 hours of pushing and a call to the neonatologist for the suction. 4th degree tears. 1.5 hours to stitch me up. Months of physical therapy.

Probably should have had a c-section, probably don't have a choice about it this time.

ETA: Do not google 4th degree tears. Consider this your warning.

KimmySchmidt · January 2016

ShimmerAndSass said:

Has anyone had quick labors? I was in labor with my DD for 4.5 hrs total! 7 minutes of that was pushing and it only took 3 pushes. I went from 2cm to 9 cm in a matter of an hour. My labor would've been much shorter had the midwife on call not taken nearly an hour to get to the hospital and get prepped. I'm hoping for another quick labor like my mom had with all three of her pregnancies and like I had with DD.

Reading this makes me hate you a little. I'm not gonna lie. Very jealous.

Akiratani · January 2016

With my first I was induced with pitocin starting at 6 am. My midwife broke my water around noon and I hot the epidural at 2. By 6 pm my midwife started pushing for a csection so she could "catch her flight by 10". Well I didn't go for that. She checked me at 7:30 pm and I was at a 9.5 cm so she had me start pushing. DS was born at 9:05 pm.

With my second I went in at 8 pm to get the cerdival and before the put it in I was already at 4 cm so they held off. By midnight I hadn't progressed at all and I'd had no contractions sonthey put half a pill on my cervix. The contractions started shortly after but I slept pretty well until 6 am. My Dr broke my water at 7:30 am and I was at 10 cm by 10 am. My Dr came in and started getting ready at 10:15 and told me to do a couple practice pushes but quickly told me to stop after one push. My DS #2 was born at 10:20 am after 2 pushes.

I really want my body to go into labor by itself this time with out any induction procedures. I hope it will be short like the second labor too haha.

erinmarie86 · January 2016

Yes!! After having my first i thought, i can do this again! but now i'm getting nervous about having 2 babies! Ek

I lost my mucus plug around 4AM...water broke around 5AM...headed to the hospital and arrived around 7:30 (we took our time cause i wasn't really feeling much and wasn't even too sure if my water broke or if it was just more mucus coming out)...baby arrived at 9:30...i think i only pushed for 3 contractions. He also came 3 weeks early. It was great!! I just hope i'm this lucky again!

I also ate dates which is supposed to soften your cervic...i think they suggest starting around 32/34 weeks

WineNChocolate · January 2016

Jealous..of all my speedy deliver moms! I was 72 hrs of labor and finally had to be induced. Fingers crossed this one is more eager to say hello.

ejmo68 · January 2016

Man I had 19 hours of labor with my first and I am so hoping the second time around if much faster. If my water breaks again I plan on laboring at home for a little while because being at the hospital that long waiting sucked.

crispy11 · January 2016

KimmySchmidt said:
My first labor was long and horrible. Actual labor was the worst experience of my life.

The super short version is that my water broke on Monday and that I had the baby on Wednesday morning after 3.5 hours of pushing and a call to the neonatologist for the suction. 4th degree tears. 1.5 hours to stitch me up. Months of physical therapy.

Probably should have had a c-section, probably don't have a choice about it this time.

ETA: Do not google 4th degree tears. Consider this your warning.

This is terrifying! My first baby (born via stat section for a reason unrelated to size) was almost 10 pounds so part of me was worried to vbac for fear of something like this. I guess it has to go better for you this time, right? Are you planning a c-section? That will be a quick "labor."

sareej521 · January 2016

My first was 19 hours from start to finish but I think it would have been faster had I been able to move around like I had originally planned. It started off with her grinding her head in my cervix which caught my attention after something my mom had said and progressed nicely into consistent contractions 2-5 mind apart so we called the hospital (2 hours away!!) and said we were on our way once hubby got home from a fire call and when we got there and I stood up my water tore and I was 3-4cm. It was really full of meconium so I had to stay in bed and monitored 99% of the time because of her heart rate so I think it slowed labor down! They came and checked me at supper time and I was 7cm so they rebroke my water and 5 mins later I was pushing and had her a half hour later exactly 12 hours after arriving!

homebird · January 2016

It probably wasn't technically a quick labor from start to end, but with Graham I only spent 5(ish) hours in the hospital before he was born. I did a good bit of laboring at home though ... maybe 8 hours on my own.

Much quicker than my first which was well over 24 hours. * shudder * I hope to never repeat that again.

RedMar · January 2016

@ejmo68 - I totally agree. My water broke @10am and I didn't call for about 7hrs. They were upset I didn't let them know as soon as it happened, but it's not like I was having crazy sex or anything to cause infection. The less time in the hospital, the better!!

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