I always warn the Mum’s who have laboured quickly that they could find themselves quite unpopular with their new chums from antenatal classes. It’s a double-edged sword really, if a woman has a short labour other women may consider has she ‘got off lightly’ and, as she can’t hope to rival them in the traumatic, epic nature of her labour, she may be perceived as not having worked so hard to bring her baby into the world.
A quick labour is not always that fantastic though, it may be over quickly, anything under 2 hours* is classed a precipitate labour, but it comes with it’s own problems. For a labour to be completed in such a short length of time the contractions are generally almost continuous and extremely long and intense, immediately. This makes it extremely difficult for the woman to adjust to labour and find a coping strategy. Also, it makes travel to the maternity unit extremely fraught, for both the woman and her companions. In precipitate labours it is not unusual for the birth to occur before the woman has reached the maternity unit, or even a place of safety, hence the tales of babies being born down toilets. Here is the first danger associated with a rapid birth, baby taking a tumble onto a hard surface and the cord snapping in the process. There is also, for baby, the possibility of the speed of the birth leaving it shocked and slow to respond, so requiring extra stimulation to encourage her to breath. Babies born quickly will often have red faces, close inspection shows it to be lots of tiny red ‘spots’, burst blood vessels, petechiae, with the whites of the eyes having burst blood vessels, sometimes leading to the iris’ having a small ring of blood around them.
The poor woman, having been totally overwhelmed by labour, is possibly in shock as soon as her baby enters the world. Due to baby entering the world at breakneck speed severe lacerations and tears to the vagina and perineum are likely, particularly if the birth was unattended and the woman was panicking. Even though her labour has been short she is exhausted, and frequently her uterus is as well so fails to contract efficiently which means that women who experience precipitate labours are at an increased risk of retained placenta and haemorrhage.
There are other, more severe and rare, complications, associated with precipitate labour. They are extremely rare and I’m not going to mention them here, but if you are interested one can be found here and here. A piece if research conducted in the 70’s by Erkkola and Nikkanen seems to show that precipitate labour does not result in adverse outcomes for newborns.
Precipitate labour is difficult to predict in a woman having her first baby. Obviously a premature labour is more likely to be rapid; induction of labour can lead to over-stimulation of contractions so causing labour to be precipitate, really it is something that just happens to some women and babies!
* If I book a woman with a previous labour and birth of under 4 hours I make a note of this as a ‘rapid birth’ as she is at a higher risk of precipitate labour in her current pregnancy. I also discuss with her the advisability of making her way to the maternity unit as soon as she believes that labour is starting and if she believes that the birth is imminent, phone an ambulance, make sure the door is unlocked, sit or kneel and grab a towel. If her previous birth had been trouble free, no retained placenta or excess blood loss, I suggest a homebirth.
I guess my labor wasn’t precipitous but it was about 4 hours and yes, they were very intense hours. And I wasn’t sure we would make it to hospital on time (we did). And the little guy entered the world blue and not breathing and ended up on a cooling blanket for 3 days.
But we are thankful that nothing worse happened.
Definitely short labors are about 0 – 60 in a very short time. It was nothing like I had planned for, that is for sure!
I knew I had a fast labour with my second baby – 50 mins – but I never knew it was precipitate! The baby arrived just after the ambulance pulled up in the car park of the maternity unit (the crew didn’t really know where they were going and because I wasn’t screaming in agony didn’t blue light me until I said I could feel the head coming down). The midwife opened the doors just as my son slithered out (I wasn’t pushing, honest – the reverse if anything). It was a good catch. Sadly my ungrateful son promptly weed on her.
~m – Poor little lad, and you! Daughters second labour was just over 2 hours, and she describes it as worse than her first, so intense. Luckily Izzy wasn’t too worried about her fast entrance.
mother of the bride – Definitely precipitate! Have you had any more babies?
I HAD A VERY FAST LABOUR WITH MY 1ST BABY, JUST OVER 2 HOURS,AND WAS IN SHOCK AFTER THE BIRTH. I HADN’T HEARD OF PRECIPITATE LABOUR UNTIL I WAS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL WITH PRE ECLAMPSIA WITH MY SECOND BABY, WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR MY RESULTS TO COME I WAS ACTUALLY STARTING TO GO INTO LABOUR, BUT BECAUSE I DIDN’T FEEL ANYTHING UNTILL THEY WERE COMING EVERY 3/4 MINS I WAS GLAD I WAS ALREADY AT THE HOSPITAL, THE MIDWIFE LEFT THE ROOM SAYING SHE COULDN’T SEE THE HEAD AND WITHIN SECONDS MY HUSBAND WAS CALLING HER BACK AS THE BABY’S HEAD WAS CROWNING, THAT SECOND STAGE LASTED 5 MINS. ALTHOUGH IT IS NICE TO HAVE IT OVER QUICKLY I WOULD MAYBE PREFER THE CHANCE TO GET USED TO CONTRACTIONS BEFORE THEY HIT YOU WITH SUCH FORCE. MY FRIENDS THINK I’M BRAVE FOR DOING IT WITHOUT PAIN RELIEF, BUT THE TRUTH IS THERE WASN’T ANY TIME.
Lisa – Interesting that you had such a rapid birth when you had pre-eclampsia as that is something that appears to happen with PIH. I think it’s the body protecting itself from too much stress.
I had a precipitate labour with my first baby, massive contractions started at 10pm and at 11.20pm our little boy was in our arms. We made it to haspital although it was all a bit manic as there were no beds ready, but he popped out absolutely fine – I had the shakes but soon recovered! No time for pain releif but didn’t really have time to think about it. I didn’t know about precipitate labour until now, when I’m expecting baby number two and it’s marked it big red letters on my maternity notes. Worried about it being even quicker second time round and hoping I’ll be able to make it to hospital in time again. Midwife has suggested homebirth but I’m nervous about that.
JO – If I were your midwife I would be suggesting homebirth as well! If you are low-risk then homebirth, as far as statistics go at the moment, is as safe as hospital birth, and certainly safer than giving birth in the back of a car!
myself and my husband are thinking of having another baby, but as mentioned before i had very fast labours and also had pre-eclampsia with my second baby. I was wondering if it is safe to have a home birth if i am at risk of pre-eclampsia or should i ask to be induced? both of my children arrived before their due dates ( daughter was 1 week early and my son was 10 days early).
Lisa – Different Trusts have slightly different policies with regard to who would be considered a ‘good’ candidate for homebirth, due to your previous pre-eclampia the Trust I work or, and I suspect most others, would advise against a homebirth.
Induction of labour is generally regarded as an intervention which should only be used when a woman or baby would be better off if birth were expedited, e.g severe pre-eclampsia, post-dates etc. as induction itself can cause problems, so it’s unlikely that the Docs would want to induce you before your due date.
Best thing for you to do would be to go to the hospital as soon as you think that you are in labour!
I had a precipitate labour with my baby born just 7 wks ago.
Actually i have had 6 kids and 4 of them have been short. 2 x 3hrs 20mins, 1 x 1hr 4mins and my labour 7 wks ago 1hr 24mins.
Interesting i hadnt heard the term precipitate labour until baby #6 though, especially when i had a 1hr 4min labour with #4.
Its listed on my discharge summary as a labour/birth complication.
I have to say with this recent birth i found having a precipitate labour quite traumatic for myself. It happened so fast i feel like i didnt get a chance to get a handle on what was happening or settle into a routine of labour. I also found i forgot alot of things that happened during my labour and birth and i was only reminded of them if someone like my husband said something to me, or it came back to me over the following days. I forgot i helped deliver my baby, as i delivered her from the armpits down. I found this to be upsetting that i forgot so much for some time. I also found that physically my body was hammered. I felt like i had been hit by a truck for well over a week afterwards. My muscles were very sore.
I find it annoys me a bit when people say i am lucky for having such a short labour. I would have preferred a bit of a longer labour.
I have a precipitate 2hr labour with first child. I had a ‘show’ at 7pm, my first contraction at 9.30pm and he was born at 11.30pm.
I found it all very scary. My husband rang the hospital when I had my first contraction and they said that he should bring me in if there was any blood. Minutes later and after trying to poo on the toilet (which I later realised was pushing) I noticed blood. We went straight to the hospital and I was having frequent and painful contractions all the way. I had several contractions on the way from the car to the labour ward. I was a bit alarmed by how relaxed the receptionists were because I didn’t feel relaxed at all, then they began to notice that my contractions were very frequent. They didn’t have a room ready, so they had to sort that out rapidly. By the time I got into a room, and my husband was trying to set up the TENS machine we had brought, the midwife told him he had not time for that. She got me on the bed and discovered I was 9cm dilated. She couldn’t find my baby’s heartbeat and asked me several times ‘When did you last feel your baby move?’. At this point I really began to worry. My waters broke and they discovered meconium in the waters. The midwife looked very alarmed and pushed the emergency button, at which point a team of doctors descended. I thought it was game-over and decided that even if my baby had died I would still have to push him out. So with a bit of help from forceps I managed to deliver. Thankfully he was fine, and was just kept in for observation. Delivered on his due date (he’s obviously just a great time-keeper) at 11.30pm. I had an epesiotomy, so I was a bit sore for a couple of weeks after, but apart from that and being in shock I was fine.
Whenever people say ‘lucky you’ to have a 2 hour labour, I think they don’t realise how distressing it can really be, and how totally out-of-control you can feel. No time for birth plan or pain relief. I’m pregnant again with no 2, so at least I’ll be a bit more prepared for it this time.
Kristi – Generally with a precipitate labour the contractions are, from the start, unremitting and intense and that’s probably why you don’t remember too much as your brain was concentrating and overwhelmed.
Catherine – Your story sounds really scary,it really doesn’t help when the midwife is also alarmed!
How about a homebirth this time?
I had a fast labor — don’t know when it started because we never timed contractions, but I had my bloody show at the hospital (we went because I was feeling so miserable I wanted to be in the hospital whether or not I was actually in labor) and he was born about an hour after we arrived at the hospital door. People tell me how lucky I am, but that downplays how traumatic the experience was. I had no time to prepare to have a child, or to adjust to labor. He was born 2 weeks early, and I wasn’t psychologically prepared for him to be here (2 1/2 months later, the nursery still isn’t done!). I was in so much pain, I couldn’t prepare myself for “I’m having my baby!”, I just wanted it to stop! I think that kept me from bonding with him as well as i would like, and for a long time I was asking questions about what happened during labor.
Thank you for your wonderful blog! I live in Australia and I had a precipitate, premature delivery with my first baby (2 hrs 46 min at 36 weeks), with no cause for the prematurity found. Planned homebirth will be likely be illegal here by the time I am delivering my second. What is the risk of a second fast delivery? Are there any resources I can look at to make an informed decision? Thanks!
My third child was precipitate. He was born in 1 hr 55 mns from first contraction to placenta. And yes, I nearly didn’t make it to the hospital! He was also really big for me – I’m only 5ft 2 and weigh around 50kg… he was a 9lb baby with a head circumference of 36.5cm! I couldn’t believe I’d had a baby that big. My first two were only around 7lb each, and 11.5 hrs and 7 hrs respectively. So Erik was definately a shock in more ways than one.
Yes, it was incredibly painful. And I thought I could not face 4 or 5 hours of this. I’ve never had any pain relief with any of my labours as I am more terrified of needles than labour pain, and the gas just makes me feel sick. I had no idea this time it would all be over in less than 2 hours. When he was born, he had those characteristic burst veins on his face, but other than that, he was fine. And so was I. I had practically no tearing… only needed a couple of small stitches. I did feel weak in my abdomen and legs, but not exhausted like you do with a longer labour. So I was pretty happy actually.
I am pregnant again with no. 4. I am told that precipitate births are more likely with subsequent pregnancies once you have had one. More likely but not necessarily assured. Nevertheless, I will be off to the hospital as soon as labour starts this time. I nearly ended up delivering in triage with Erik.
I am wondering what the causes are, if any, for natural precipitate births. I have googled it (I know the internet is not the best place for research sometimes 😛 ), but I can’t really find anything about what causes it. I understand there are alot of higher risk factors for complications post partum, but I am more curious about the possible causes of a fast birth in the first place. I had assumed that because Erik was so big, he came out so fast. But I have found that the risk is more likely for smaller babies, not big ones! So I guess that assumption was wrong LOL. Anyway, if anyone knows about causes of precipitate labour, I’d love your input.
Thanks 🙂
I HAD MY LITTLE GIRL JUST OVER A WEEK AGO AND IT WAS QUITE A SHOCK TO ME, WITH MY SON MY WATER BROKE AND AN HOUR LATER THE CONTRACTIONS STARTED, HE WAS BORN 6 HOURS LATER AFTER THE NURSES TRIED TO DELAY ME FROM PUSHING HIM OUT JUST BECAUSE THE GYNAE HADNT ARRIVED YET, 20 MINS AFTER HE ARRIVED HE POPPED OUT, BUT NOTHING PREPARED ME FOR WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY DAUGHTER, I HAD BEEN IN HOSPITAL FOR PREMATURE LABOUR AT 21 WEEKS DUE TO A KIDNEY INFECTION AND THEN AGAIN 2 WEEKS BEFORE SHE WAS BORN, WITH BAD BRONCHITIS IN THE MATERNITY WARD, I WAS 36 WEEKS ALONG AND I STARTED HAVING CONTRACTIONS EVERY 10 MINS AND ALL OVER THE SHOW AND EVENTUALLY THEY SETTLED INTO A 10 MIN ROUTINE, THEY WERE ALLOT MORE INTENSE THAN BRAXTON HICKS AND I HAD TO USE BREATHING TECHNIQUES TO GET THROUGH THEM WHICH WAS HARD HAVING HAD SUCH A BAD CHEST INFECTION I COULD BARELY BREATH, HE CONTRACTIONS WERE MONITORED AND NOTED THE INTENSITY AND AFTER INTERNALS IT WAS NOTED MY CERVIX WAS NOT CHANGING, AT ALL FOR THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF THEY CAME EVERY TEN MINS ALL THE TIME RIGHT THROUGH THE NIGHT IT WAS TIRING AND FRUSTRATING, 3 DAYS BEFORE MY BABY WAS BORN THE CONTRACTIONS STOPPED DEAD IN THERE TRACKS BUT THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS NOTED THAT MY CERVIX HAD MOVED FORWARD AND STARTED DILATING, ON THE SAT I WENT SHOPPING ALL DAY, I WAS BEING PUSHED IN A WHEEL CHAIR BEING 38 WEEKS PREGNANT AND WALKING AROUND A SHOPPING MALL WITH MY VERY ACTIVE MOM AND SISTER CAN BE FRUSTRATING NOT KEEPING UP, LOL, I GOT HOME AROUND 9 PM AND WORKED ON MY COMPUTER FOR A WHILE AND BY 11PM MY HUBBY CLIMBED INTO BED, AS I ROLLED OVER TO GIVE HIM A KISS I GRABBED HIM AND STARTED SCREAMING F%#$*ING OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! FOR ABOUT A MINUTE, IT WAS A CHOCK FOR US BOTH AND FROM THERE THE WORDS THAT LEFT MY MOUTH WERE UNMENTIONABLE, I TRIED GETTING INTO THE BATH BUT NOTHING WOULD HELP, I AM ALL FOR NATURAL BIRTH BUT I SCREAMED THE WORD EPIDURAL ABOUT A MILLION TIMES THERE WAS NO PREPARATION AND BEFORE WE EVEN REALLY REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPING I WAS READY TO PUSH, AFTER MY IN LAWS COLLECTED MY SON WE MADE IT TO THE HOSPITAL JUST IN TIME SHE CAME OUT ABOUT 12 MINS LATER NO DOCTOR NO NURSE JUST MY HUBBY IN THE LABOUR ROOM. I TORE SEVERELY AND IT HURT LIKE HELL, THE WHOLE LABOUR LASTED 38 MINS FROM START TO FINISH,IT REALLY WAS A SHOCK AND I KNOW THERE CAN BE COMPLICATIONS BUT I DONT THINK I WOULD HAVE WANTED IT ANY OTHER WAY, ME AND BABY CLEANED UP NURSED AND WENT TO SLEEP AND WENT HOME 10 HOURS AFTER SHE WAS BORN.
My middle child was a precipitate labour not that i was informed of that he was 64mins start to finish my 6 day old son again was a precipitate labour which is when i found out just how scary it can be….my middle son was born flat and remained so for 10mins requiring full resusitation my new son was flat for 20mins as he was in shock and full of gunk…..i was given no indication of what a precipitate labour was or that i had previously had one etc thankfully they are both fine but it could have been a very different story. my middle childs birth really affected my husband who thought he had lost us both and put up a wall and took about 6months to bond with him my new sons birth has made us totally appreciate how close we came to losing him (they tend to try for 20mins then give up) and have decided there will be no more babies as we may not be so lucky next time. as much as people say im lucky to have had a 64min and 36min labour they are so wrong it is nerve wracking, painful and overwhelming give me a 12hr slow paced labour over 36mins of fast and furious anyday there will def be no more for me
Tasha – I do think that there should have been a debriefing after your first rapid birth, both for you and your husband to come to terms with events but also to explain why and what this may mean for any future births.
what is the most common cause of uterine rapture aside from previous scar?can also be CPD? and precipitate labor?
fatima – CPD = large baby; precipitate labour = excessive uterine action, CS scar is most common cause of rupture though. Also multiple pregnancy, other pelvic/uterine operations, excessive uterine activity caused by overstimulation by oxytocics and a placenta which has embedded deeply in the lining of the uterus (placenta accreta).
I am so nervous, I am pregnant with my 3rd which will be due in about 11 weeks.
My first birth was 6 hours and normal, but my second child arrived in 20 minutes. woke up 3am waters broke, we didn’t even have time to drop my son off the way to the hospital. I made it to the hospital but not the ward. I had her at 3.20am in the hall way. Mum supporting me, and my hubby trying to block some of the details from my 2 year old sons eyes.
It was not the 20mins that made it scary though, but the hemmoraging after. The contractions continued for 2 hours after wards, with 500ml loss of blood.
I live in Australia in a small city were home birth is not an option, and I also live 20 mins from the hospital. What if this happens again?…what if I’m on my own?…What if I have her in the middle of the shops lol? There really are to many ways this could happen? eeek.
hi. ive just found this web site after searching for ages. I am having my second baby due in 14 weeks and i am so nervous. i have a lot of pain in pelvis (pevic girdle pain) and i also have hypermobilty which is not helping. My first pregnancy i had to be induced on the friday as my water broke on the tuesday and contractions stopped. But the scary thing was it happend so fast that even my midwife was shocked when i said babys coming she had to press the panic button for DR to come. the second stage only lasted 2minutes and i had to be rushed to surgery for retained placenta. Im scared this time that i will be in the house with my little girl and my husband wont get here from work in time. or i wont manage to get down all the stairs to the car as i live in flats. does anyone else feel like this?
leanne – As you were induced last time you can’t be certain that things will happen as quickly if you go into labour naturally. As things had happened a couple of days before the chances are that your cervix was just waiting for contractions to stat up again, naturally, and you would have had a short labour, but the fact that they started contractions off rather than your body sorting it out meant that it was super fast.
Sympathies over PGP, ouch. Are you trying a support?
hi thanks for your reply. Yeah i have a support belt but i feel it makes me worse and is just not comfortable. yeah they started my contractions off but they actually started 2 weeks before and kept stopping, would that make any difference to the labour? i feel so silly asking these questions. ive been told to have my bag ready and if needed to call an anbulance to get me to hosptial incase baby is early again. thanks for your reply
I had 4 precipitate labours. My first child i had a show at 1am in the morning panicked and got myself off to the hospital only to be told i was in the first stages of labour, gave me a sleeping tablet and told to get some sleep! I did and woke up at 11am with the worse pain from head to toe. I shouted the nurse and said i’d had this almighty pain, the nurse said she’d examine me and 7 minutes later at 11:07am from my first pain, my first little daughter was born. All three of my next labours were the same. One almighty pain, then nothing a few extra pushes and out come my girls. The longest of my 4 labours lasted 13 minutes, the other two were 8 minutes from my first almighty head to toe pain and then 12 minutes. This may sound ridiculous but they are all true, i never suffered any side effects nor did any of my 4 girls. All good weights, and all healthy girls. I never needed any pain relief all natural births. Do don’t be put off if your first is fast, and all the side effects they could lead to, i am proof its the best way to go.
hi thanks for u r information about precipitate labour
Hi
I delivered my beautiful baby girl in September last year. My labour started at about midnight (at this stage I wasnt even sure if I was in labour) and delivered my princess at 2.40 am. As we live in the country and they dont deliver babies at the closest hospital we were forced to drive to the city – my husband driving 220kms an hour whilst I was screaming in agony. She was also 4 – 5 weeks early. I had no sign at all that I was going into early labour. This is very scary as I am now pregnant with baby no 2 and worry the next one will come quicker. I had no tears. I only had to push twice to deliver her – and it barely even felt as though I was pushing – the contractions were so fierce. I had no pain relief. Overall we are very lucky as we were driving at a stupid speed. Thankfully all went well. Does anyone know the chance of me having another fast or / and premature delivery. Sally
my daughter had a very fast labour, almost 2 hrs from 0 to 10cm.. but the second stage of labour
(pushing the baby out) was 1hr 45. no time for pain relife. the baby came out with the cord around his neck, loose enough for it to be sliped over his neck, but was flat. had a heart beat but was not breathing. a crash tean was instantly called, and took over. he was then taken to intensive care where he stayed for 6 days..we have been told he now has HIE. STAGE 1. PLEASE can you e mail me to explain more about what happened to make him deliver flat, and what the future holds for a baby with hie 1 thank you
Joy – I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter’s terrible experience, you all must be so worried. Without talking to the medical staff I can’t say why baby was born not breathing, there could be several causes.
As I expect the paediatricians have explained to you, it is very difficult to predict how affected a baby with HIE will be. They are reports of babies showing no effects from being deprived of oxygen because the brain and it’s connections are immature in newborn babies and so as the brain matures new pathways can develop which ‘by-pass’ the damaged areas.
I wish I could answer your questions but to attempt to do so would be foolish as it would be guesswork. I send all your family best wishes, and hope, for the future.
I had a precipitate labour 8 months ago with my first baby and remain traumatised. My waters broke at 12.30am and I arrived at the hospital at around 1.45am. My contractions began as I arrived and were immediately painful and very frequent. The midwife tried to send me home saying they would become less frequent. I refused and then the pain became so intense I began screaming. I was finally inspected and was 6-7cm dilated, so I was rushed to the delivery unit. I was asking for an epidural in between very frequent, painful contractions and was told it was too late. The second stage was recorded as 6 minutes. I had third degree tears and still have complications resulting from that. I had to wait 5 hours before surgery to be sewn back together. I am terrified of having another baby now. I am receiving counselling but the experience has left a permanent psychological and physical scar. What can I do to recover? Are there ways of preventing / managing another precipitate labour?
Ginny – The first thng that you should do is contact the head of midwifery at the hospital you gave birth in. All maternity units have a reflections/debriefing process so you should ask to be referred to them. They will go through your notes with you and discuss everything that happened, plus be able to put forward a strategy for your next pregnancy/birth.
What you should try to remember is that no two pregnancies or births are the same and that no one can predict what will happen next time.
Hi Ginny, I had a very similar incident to you ( at the most major maternity hospital in our city) with my first child, except the midwife I had refused to even check me, she wouldnt even refer to a doctor when my husband asked to see one, I was also a high risk pregnancy with massive fibroids some larger than the babies head. Eventually she told us that I was faking my contractions and called security to make us leave the hospital. Needless to say we returned about 20min later, and was only in the front door nine minutes before my first child was born on a ultra sound table in a back room (only space they had) With the midwife and trainee standing at the back of the room still telling the ones delivering that I was faking my labour and they should send me home. MY whole labour from first contraction till end was 1hr and 40min. Needless to say it was very intense and a shock for both me and especially my husband. We recieved some counselling and a letter of appology from the hospital.
When I fell pregnant with my second child I had overwelming fear of it happening again. However this time was not so bad. Even though the labour from first contraction to end was 1hr 20min I made sure the hospital was prepared for me. I reminded them every appt. that I have fast labours and even made them write it on the front of my file. I rang them on first contraction to say I was coming in and when they tried to argue with me I just told them to read my file and would see them in 40mins. When I arrived they didnt even put me through the assessment area, We went straight to a delivery ward and my baby was born 20 mins later. I still dont think the midwives belived the baby was coming until it happened, but at least we were where we needed to be.
I am now pregnant with my third child, I am still attending the same hospital, as I cant be bothered going through my prcipitated labour history with another one, however they are also used to me, and this time around they are going to induce a week early, so we wont even have the stress of whether we will make it to the hospital or not. Having fast labours is really not easy and when the “professionals” dont believe you it is really traumatising. Just remember you know your body the best and you now have the advantage of knowing what could happen, and there is lots you can do to prepare yourself and the hospital. You also have other options such as induction and an elective c section. My third baby is due in the next 3 weeks, but if you ever want to chat just email me, because I really can understand how you are feeling 🙂 jenrich21@hotmail.com
I’m glad I found this! I have had at least two rapid births and one borderline one. My first born was an 18 hour labor (her head was stuck lol) 10 months later I barely made it in to deliver my second. It was suppose to be a water birth but I didn’t make it to the tub lol. The next one the labor all together was about 2 hours with under 3 minutes of pushing. The nurse left after checking me at 6 cm and told me stop pushing or I would swell my cervix. My last labor was around an hour or so… I was being induced and asked that they stay near and they didn’t believe me… The nurse said I was only dilated to 4 and it would still be a couple hours… I told them I never made it past 6 with the others… still they didn’t believe me… within 2 min after that very conversation… my babe was born lol
Came across this site after googling “Precipitate labour”. I had a little girl on the 16th August.
When I called the hospital the midwife told me that I could talk through the contractions so still had plenty of time and didn’t need to come in yet. I hung up the phone and called the ambulance anyway. Got to the hospital and they hooked me up to the machine, told me that according to the machine I wasn’t in labour and should go home. Finally convinced the midwife to check and she found out I was already 8cms. She got a wheelchair and took me into the birthing room and onto the bed and I was ready to push. 2nd stage labour was 13 minutes. Bub came out with her hand over her head so I had an hour and 20 minutes of stitching.
The only reason I found out about Precipitate labour is because I requested copies of my medical records and have been reading through them.
My bub was born at 10:09pm. The morning when I woke up I had some bleeding (dark clots about the size of a golf ball) I rang the hospital and they said it was probably just the start of labour. That night when I went to the hospital when the midwife went to get the wheelchair, I was on the bed and said to my Mum that I think my waters just broke (it was a gush of blood). The staff at the hospital were all a little weird and wouldn’t answer my questions when I asked it that much blood lose was normal (I got the feeling that they didn’t want to worry me, although the look on the student midwifes face was a little troubling). So can you tell me, is blood lose like that normal?
Taryn – Sounds like you had a pretty scary experience. Hand on heart, I have to admit that if a woman on the phone was able to speak during contractions then I would issue the same advice as the midwife you spoke to. Having said that, once you had got to the hospital I would not have relied on ‘a machine’ to decide whether or not you were having contractions. A midwife’s tools are her hands, eyes and ears. In your case the ears were not helping as you could talk through contractions but I hope that someone stood with their hand on your abdomen and felt how frequent, how strong and how long your contractions were.
That covered the hands aspect and the eyes should have been involved when you phoned about the morning blood clots. Some small blood loss at the start of labour is normal but if someone was telling me that they had lost blood clots ‘the size of a golf ball’ I would ask them to come in, complete with pads containing the blood loss. However, if the person at the other end of the phone had told me that they had lost some blood, about the size of a golf ball but there was no further bleeding I would have told them that this was probably a show and may be the start of labour. About the ‘gush of blood’, unless I had been there and seen it, gauged the quantity and heard how baby responded to this I really can’t decide whether it was ‘normal’ or not. It is normal for there to be a small blood loss around the time that the cervix reaches full dilatation and the baby starts to pass through, I wouldn’t describe it as a ‘gush’, did your waters go at the same time as this would account for a bloody gush? If the midwives were concerned about the amount of blood they would have called a doctor in, so there lies the answer really. If a doc was called then no, it’s not ‘normal’ but if the midwives carried on then it was okay. The other thing to take into account was that baby had her hand on her head which, as she was descending, may well have caused internal tearing causing the bleeding. Unfortunately there is nothing anyone could have done to prevent this.
I know I haven’t really answered your questions, just explained why things may have happened during your labour. I hope that when you looked at your notes a midwife was there and able to answer your questions. If there wasn’t it may be an idea to contact the maternity unit and ask for a debriefing session.
I have four children: a five-year-old, two-year-old and one-year-old. My last two births were precipitate, the later coming in just one hour. My fourth child is due in two weeks and I am very fearful of my upcoming labor. I go to a group of doctors and midwives. Two of them have agreed that perhaps I should be induced before my due date so that I do not risk having the baby at home. I had my last prenatal appointment with a different midwife and she had the opinion that every birth is different and I shouldn’t make any assumptions. I have done a lot of research on precipitate labor (consulting medical journals and texts as well as websites). I feel I carry many risk factors. I also am Hispanic and have a history of large babies both in my family and with my own children (all over eight pounds with the last being nine pounds). I find large babies and fast labor a dangerous recipe. Is there a way to prevent precipitous labor if this third midwife’s opinion over- rules and I am forced to experience another traumatic birth?
Hi All was just reading Christina’s concerns, and have to say I feel the same way. Both my labours have been very fast, the first being 1hr 40min and the second being 1hr and 20 min. We live an hour away from our hospital, and this baby is way bigger than the other 2. At 36 weeks it was weighing in at 4kg or 8 lbs.8o. We have decided on being induced next monday. I dont know if it will be any less traumatic however at least I know I will make it to the hospital and I wont be giving birth on the side of the road. Can let you know if it is any less traumatic being induced if you like 🙂
Shortly after my water broke, my labor stopped and the baby went into distress. They were prepping me for a section, when I insisted I was going to deliver. I went from 4 cm dilation to full dilation in about one or two minutes, and the entire thing took 12 minutes from start to finish. Turns out the woman I heard screaming during that time was me. I delivered in a small assessment room and had to be taken in a wheelchair, baby stuffed between my legs, cord still attached, into the delivery room.
Yeah, shock pretty much describes it.
The baby is fine now, and has received scholarships to university.
I was really scared of the needle they were going to give me for the epidural and we always joke that’s why she was born so quickly. I never did get a needle.
I have just been googling precipitate labour as I had quite a traumatic experience with the birth of my daughter 5 years ago. My reason for concern is that after 4 miscarriages I am now 28 weeks pregnant and starting to worry about the impending birth!
I had, what was later explained to me in councelling, silent precipitate labour. I basically had no idea I was in labour. I popped in to hospital for some reassurance as I had a bit of pink leaky fluid at 7.45am. The midwife examined me at 8.10 then, a bit like in a cartoon, the blood drained from her face and she visibally displayed shock! My daughter’s head was visible and I got rushed in to theatre for an emergency c section (which was always planned due to 2 previous uterine prolapses). Whilst the surgical team were perfoming the c section, my (male!) midwife was trying to stop her being delivered vaginally. It was extremely quick (about half an hour), was very frightening and I did go in to shock afterward. My daughter also needed some neonatal care as she was 5 weeks early and stopped breathing. I haven’t found any material regarding the ‘silent’ aspect and wonder if there is any reading out there as I really need some reassurance as to what to expect this time around. I am very nervous that I’m going to deliver without any warning again and I would prefer to be in hospital than in the supermarket or at home! Is there any advice you can give me? Many thanks
Hi Penny, I dont think I can help you much with the “silent” part of a precipitate labour, however, all 3 of my labours were precipitate, the first 2 were 2 days overdue and under 1 1/2hr from the very start till the end, and the 3 one was 2 weeks early and 2hrs 55min, only because he got stuck. He came out blue and not breathing, but due to the quick actions of a wonderful midwife, is alive and kicking. I think Iwas inshock for weeks after the births and I did find it stressful with each labour. By my 3rd pregnancy (not counting the misscarriages inbetween) I went looking for some support on the net. I found an American (although they have ppl from all over the world) forum About.com pregnancy and childbirth. These ppl were great and very helpful. The Midwives were supportive and if they didnt know they found out, and the other mums and mums to be, were reaaly great (just like having a while you are pregnant family). It might be worth you while to drop in and sign up – its a free service- and they could have the answers you are looking for……
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?folderId=1&listMode=13&nav=messages&webtag=ab-dddec10
Hope this helps and all the best with your pregnancy Jen 🙂
My first labour was 9 hours, start to finish and far more traumatic then the second and third. Induced, overreactive to the pitocin, overdone on the epidural, and then vacuum used and a tonne of stitches afterwards!! My second labour, induced again, but 4 short hours of back labour later, and no chance for pain meds-out came a beautiful 9lb baby boy!
Baby number three was my silent-precipitate labour….I was induced at 11 am…went back to be checked at 4 pm and was 3 cm. I felt NOTHING. I walked around the hospital for awhile, still feeling nothing and went back to be checked around 630. So I hopped in the shower at the hospital, enjoying the warm water as the contractions slowly began to pick up and hurt…I got out of the shower at about 745 and BANG! went into transition! they checked me and said I was 7 cm…at 750 my water broke and I said “I need to Push!!” to which of course, the nurse said “you cant youre only 7 cm..let me check again” she checked again and said “omg theres a head there! time to push!” and pushed the emerg button for the doc, who didnt make it into the room.
At 8:01 my little guy came out. 8lb 3 oz, 22.5 in long. One and half hours from the time it actually hurt, to the time he came out!! He was healthy, but very mucousy from the rapid birth. They kept us a couple extra days just to help clear the mucous out of his lungs. He also had a problem with his gag reflex until he was about a year old as a result of the rapid birth. But today hes a happy, and SUPER busy 3 year old!!
I’m now 36 weeks with number four, and wondering how things will go. I had a LEEP surgery done less than a month before finding out I was pregnant, and the doc says it could affect my cervixs ability to dilate. Either it goes super fast and possibly early, or they have to pry it open….needless to say, I”m hoping for another rapid birth!
I am a 24 year old senior level Associate Degree Nursing (RN) Student, with plans on working while I obtain my CNM in Texas. I had a precipitate labor with my second child at 41 weeks & 6 days – I felt a strange pop near the fundus of my uterus around 12:00 am, contractions commenced at 12:15 am at 1 minute long and 2 minutes apart, followed by a frantic 1 a.m. rush to get to the midwife (who since I had at least two episodes of false labor in both pregnancies told us we should wait another hour just to be sure and was subsequently not so nicely told by me that I was beginning to feel urge to push and we were coming her way whether I had the baby in the car or on her front stoop without her). Needless to say 10 minutes from our home my now ex-husband gives up on my midwife plan because he doesn’t want a baby born in his truck and pulls in to the closest hospital. My 9 lb 2 oz baby girl was born at 2 a.m. I spent most of the 15 minutes that I was in the hospital arguing through clenced teeth with one nurse that I needed “to be on my knees and pushing” though she insisted I “wait to push for the doctor” on my back…
My first birth (7lb 7oz boy at 38 weeks 3 days) was a scheduled induction because I was young, dumb, and believed that it would be okay because my doctor who was going on vacation the week of my due date said so. I had pitocin, epidural, and the whole 9 yards… my son was born forceps assisted, severely bruised by said forceps, and not breathing after 8 hours of labor. He started breathing after 2 minutes thankfully. That is what pushed me to seek care with a midwife, and I plan on using a midwife again if I have another child. I know I am at risk for another precipitate delivery, but home birth is beginning to sound more attractive anyways given that I think I could handle just about any labor after my second… Thank you for recognizing that those of us with short labors didn’t necessarily get off easy.
MamaJ – My pleasure to highlight that short does not necessarily mean any less traumatic!
Hi, my first labour was just under one hour which was a shock itself having only just got the hospital, however despite the midwife putting on my notes that I was at high risk of precipitate labour when I did go to the hospital after a show on the due date of my second baby I was sent home, I was also 2cm dilated. My husband was not happy knowing that my second baby would come a lot faster, and she did and was born into the toilet. I went into shock and was rushed to the hospital with very low blood pressure. During my home visit I asked my midwife what would happen if I had a third baby and she told me that I would have to have a home birth, but my question to all those in the know is, could I have insisted on staying at the hospital after the show?
Elisia – Short answer, yes. Longer answer. If you weren’t having contractions then probably why they sent you home BUT did they keep you in for a couple of hours for observation? Since your cervix was 2cm dilated this may have been a clue that labour was kicking off silently and, given your previous history, they would have been wise to be cautious. Did you and/or your husband say you didn’t want to go home? If so this should have been documented in your notes and so who ever sent you home should then be really, really cautious about insisting you go!
I insisted with number 3, and after much arguement, settled on being induced 1 week early, so i could be in hospital when i went into labour. Both my previous pregnancies had been over due by too days, so i was quite happy with that. However number 3 went 2 weeks early, so a week before i was to be induced. Luckily we made it to hospital as he got stuck, and came out not breathing and quite blue. Everything turned out fine, and if we decide for one more i would still definately try for being induced again 🙂
Oh that is awful they sent you home. I really fear that will happen to me.
I have had 3 precipitate labours and i can say they dont get any easier, but the worst thing is having to argue with the midwives on duty that you are actually giving birth. I have to say I have done that with all 3 and find it extremely stressful. 🙂
Wow! I’m from Australia and you don’t know how relieved I am to find this thread. My first was born almost 5 yrs ago, and it wasn’t until I became pregnant with my second that I became aware of ‘precipitate labours’. My son was about 3 1/2 hours long but was also face up, and it has taken me all this time to be able to try and face the thought of labour again. I’d been told previously that the pain and terror I experienced was my own fault as I panicked, and that I should feel lucky I had such a fast birth. BUT it just hit so quick that I couldn’t prepare myself, and it was the most terrifying event of my life. I literally thought I was being torn apart and in the last hour I was thinking, ‘I am going to die – what a relief’. The midwife was NOT nice at all – it was like I was just in her way. She accused me of purposely missing the bowl as I vomited which occured at the same time as my waters exploded and she complained to me that she then had to clean up the mess!! She also told me that I was not allowed off the bed, as I was putting my baby at risk. After 3 hours of excruciating pain with nothing but gas which didn’t work – I just used the mouth piece as a stick to bite on – and being stuck on my back the whole time, my son was born beautiful and healthy. However I ended up with PND and my husband is still traumatised by it and refuses to talk about it or to be there for our second who is due in two weeks. This time however I have beautiful doctors and midwives from a small country town and I’ve also had counselling which has helped alot. The plan this time is to be induced a week early (which is this Monday!!) and to have an epidural which to be honest feels like a God send. I feel like I can face it again as I have a team of understanding people behind me, and this time there is a plan – which still may not work but at least its something! Wish me luck 🙂
Hi, Im from Aus to and just thought I would let you know I have now had 3 precipitate labours and ok they dont get any less painful, but I did find the second one much less emotionally taxing. It was kind of knowing what was about to happen. My Husband was also traumatised by the first time, but please let your Husband know, he found it much easier the second time, and he also had more of an idea of what was happening, and what to expect. We both wish you the very best of luck, and Im sure this time round will be much better 🙂
I am just now realizing how traumatized I am from my very fast labor with my son, 2 months ago. He is my third child, and my other 2 labors were smooth. I don’t know much about the first, because I had an induction and epidural. The second, my son, was a scheduled induction and was born in 3 hours without any pain medication. I thought the whole experience was wonderful, and when my third child was born I did not want any pain medication, as I knew it would be fast. I was very upset to find out the baby was breech, and was scheduled for a C-section. Fortunately, when I went to the hospital I insisted on one more ultrasound, and he had flipped over. (I highly recommend doing this, by the way. They would have operated if I hadn’t insisted!) I went home, only to go into labor naturally 7 hours later. Within the first 1/2 of labor, my contractions were 60-90 seconds apart, and VERY intense! I don’t know if it was a precipitate labor, but he was born a few hours later with the cord around his neck and meiconium in the amnitic fluid. I went into shock for about an hour, shaking uncontrollably while they stitched me, forcefully massaged my uterus and injected me with a few different meds. I kept asking what was wrong, because I had not reacted like that when my other children were born, and they said he was just born too fast. I couldn’t even hold or feed him for an hour. People think I’m lucky because I wasn’t in labor for 20 hours, but I think it’s hard to know someone else’s pain. If I ever have another child, I wonder if it would be safe to work with a midwife in a birthing center. I’m not brave enough to do it at home!
hi,
I had a very precicitate labour with our first baby, 22 minutes from 0cm to her being born! As yoy say, most of my friends think I got off very lightly. However, I had really nasty tearing, a haemorrage and my blood pressure dropped really low and stayed about 80/50 for hours. I kept passing out and remember very little of our daughters first few hours 😦
Thankfully our daughter was fineand suffered no ill effects from her rapid entry to the world.
I am due with our 2nd baby in 10 weeks and I am down for a home birth as a ‘just in case’ but I am being induced at 38 weeks but only by breaking my waters, no drugs, so I am in the right place at the right time and don’t end up giving birth in the supermarket!
very useful info
Hi There, I am from Oz.. My first two children were preciptate labours. My uterus also contracts very quickly post birth (which is extremely painful esp when breastfeeding), and midwives always comment on how fast my measurements go donw in the days after birth/.First child we arrived at hospital with her crowning (I had not idea what was going on!) Second child we headed off ASAP when I felt the first twinge and was 10cm when I arrived. Obs wanted to induce for the second one to avoid out of hospital delivery, but I would not agree unless over 40weeks, and as bub arrived 39wk, 3days we avoided induction. Obs said it would probably only require breaking waters to induce me. Now pregnant again and induction has been suggested for this bub at 39 weeks. I am worried that if I already have a “powerful” uterus, then the risk of overstimulation, haemorrhage etc with induction would be high (if drugs were requried post rupture of membranes). The whole ‘cascade of intervention scenario…..thoughts/evidence welcome
Hi there-i wish i could post this to all the women i know who have made out i got off lightly as you stated or that they suffered as opposed to me! i have had 5 daughters and all timings are from 1 cm to holding my baby with the longest being my first at 1hr 40 minutes, then i had a 68 minutes, a 44 minutes, about 55 minutes (slower apparently as sympathy epidural given as my baby had died before hand) then my last record baby totalling 35 minutes!when it hits it hits!and within minutes it’s one long agonizing stretch til baby comes where i have felt myself drift out of consciousness through pain.i shake uncontrollably and have horrendous after pains with weeks of blood loss.there isn’t the joy of pain relief and no back rubs or different positioning techniques-it’s where you happen to be! first time i was terrified as no one tells you this is possible in antenatal classes! my contractions hit a couple of mins apart with awful severity yet i’m only 1cm,then i seem to dilate in one go.very traumatic!
Hi, I have 3 children aged nearly 14, nearly 11 and nearly 2. with my first I was young and naive, I went into hospital with contractions, wasn’t really sure what was happening, the contractions were not regular and the midwife contemplated sending me home, just then my waters broke and the pain was excrutiating, like one long contraction, My daughter was born at 36 weeks within half an hour. With my second, I was actually supposed to have c section as I had such a bad time with the first, tearing and stitches etc, but I started having contractions and went to hospital at 35 weeks; they talked me out of a section and instead offered me epidural which was put in early, however this made the labour last over 12 hours, I was exhausted, they had to break my waters for me and my son was eventually born by ventouse. They gave me an episiotomy and within ten days I had an infection and all the stitching had come apart. All in all, the horrific labour experiences together with problems during pregnancy (placenta abruption with the first and early labour almost at 26 weeks with the second) I was put off having any more babies, Then I remarried and my husband had no children of his own, we discussed it for over a year before I made my decision to have another baby. This time I had close monitoring from the start, they classed me as high risk and said there was a high chance I would deliver early again. My consultant agreed early on I could have a section this time due to my past experiences. Then 2 nights before I was booked to go into hospital for the section, my waters broke in bed at 12.30am. My contractions began within 15 minutes and we made our way to the hospital at break neck speed, all the way I was praying to get my section but secretly knowing it would be too late. We arrived and I could hardly get out of the car. They brought me a wheelchair and I arrived in my room at 1.45 – my daughter was born at 2.21 am, after 2 pushes and with only gas and air – on her actual due date. I was terrified, but this time I didnt even tear and she weighed more than my other two babies, I am now 39 and contemplating having another baby, but the fear is very real to me still, even though the last pregnancy was a dream and the labour worked out ok in the end. I am convinced I will have a fast labour this time, can’t see me going overdue. I am really worried this time I won’t make it to the hospital. My GP says I should have probably had counselling after the first 2 births and am suffering from PTSD. I am really worried about it. What are the chances of me having a fast labour again? DO ambulances carry gas and air? Could I call one to take me to the hospital quicker if I was in labour?
Amanda – Quite a complicated obstetric history, but thankfully your last birth seems to have been perfect. Your GP could refer you for counselling now, it may help you currently to cope with your stress and view the trauma from a different perspective. Will it help should you decide to have another baby, personally I feel that to emphasise the positivity of your third pregnancy and birth is the way forward.
Ambulances do carry gas and air, fear not. Should you call one though to get you to hospital quickly? I’m in 2 minds really. Is there an ambulance stationed near you or would you have to wait 20 minutes and then be attended by a paramedic in a car? My view, if you are within a 20 minute drive of the hospital get in a car and have someone drive you there, no gas and air but faster!
I, too, am so pleased to have found this. My first labour was 2 hours from start to finish. Woke up at 1.15am with a bit of period type pain. Then within a few minutes my contractions were 4 mins apart and my waters had broken. Called the ante-natal ward. They told me to come in and they’d have a look, but no hurry. After an awful car journey (the pain!), got to the hospital and crawled through the ward’s doors on all fours. Midwife examined me and asked if I had an urge to push. Well, yes, but I honestly didn’t think that I could be at that stage. I was prepared for hours of labour. Apparently I was fully dilated and she could see the baby’s head. I just couldn’t believe it and was so confused and bewildered. Got wheeled round to the delivery suite and within three pushes, my little girl was born, just 2 hours after waking up. Everyone says how lucky I am, and in some cases I am – healthy baby girl and no complications – but it took a couple of weeks for me to really get over the shock. It is a problem not having any time to prepare yourself for the delivery. I am now pregnant with my second and am considering a home birth, but am worried about what would happen if there were any complications. Been watching too much tv with scary birth stories, but it has made me think what would I do if there were a problem. Nearest hospital is 30 minutes’ drive with no traffic. Anyone had a home birth?
I delivered my daughter (first child) 3.5 months ago. From the first contraction to her delivery was just under 60 minutes, with water breaking 15 minutes before the first contraction.
We never made it to the hospital. I tried to time contractions but they just felt really intense and close together, so we left for the hospital. I didn’t think we’d make it, so I directed my husband to the closest medical center, which just happened to be a stand-alone emergency room 10 minutes away.
There was no doctor on duty at the time (6 AM), and the nurses tried to arrange for an ambulance transfer to the maternity hospital. I was on a bed in a simple curtained room, no privacy at all. As the paramedics pulled back the curtains to move me, my daughter started crowning. I felt all the air leave my lungs and was gasping to breathe. I started screaming, sobbing, and writhing in pain, my body basically took over, almost like I was posessed.
Physically, the labor itself wasn’t too bad. I did have 2nd degree tearing in 3 places and required a good number of stitches. But emotionally, the birth was terrible.
I do not like talking about childbirth with other mothers. I find myself jealous of their “experience”. They truly got to experience labor, contractions, excitement, fear, and anticipation. They got to mentally prepare themselves to become mothers. But I almost feel like I was thrown into it. My daughter was born at 36 weeks, so I was not psychologically prepared for my pregnancy to end, and I had nothing at home ready. But to then have labor be 60 minutes of mind-blowingly intense contractions followed by spontaneous vaginal delivery in the emergency room, I was basically shell-shocked for weeks. Even the ambulance ride to the maternity hospital (in which they separated me from my baby) I just laid there and stared out the back window in silence.
my first baby came after 4 and a half hours after the first contraction. my contractions started 10 minutes apart. my second baby came after one hour and a half. i am kind of worried about having a third child as my second labour was progressing super fast and my husband was throwing up and really worried when labour started as we made it to the hospital. i am still grateful i had a rapid labour but my husband thinks it was one very terrifyng experience.
i had my first baby 9 days before due date and the second 7 days before due date.
i want to get pregnant again, and I’m planning to be monitored for a couple of hours every night at the hospital after i pass 37 weeks or so.
what do you think?
Very interesting. I was induced with my Son, and he was born in 4 hours start to finish. It was fast and painful, no build up to the pain, but being my first I thought this was all fine. He was a big baby 9lb 1 oz, and I did tear, and did have a big bleed immediately after the placenta delivered. However I had a water birth and was on my feet within 5 minutes of delivering to get out of the birthing pool with baby at that time still attached! Wonderful and went pretty much the way I wanted though I would be scared of an even faster delivery should I ever have another!
I’ve had 3 quick labours and I’m now pregnant with my 4th. Baby number 1 was 1.5hours from waters breaking to in my arms. Baby number 2 was 20mins from waters breaking to in my arms (this one sent me into shock and I got PND). Baby number 3 was 45mins from waters breaking to in my arms. My waters Always break first, then come the massive contractions then baby. Very Very frightening. My 3rd birth was the best as I was prepared, as was my midwife. I had a home birth and it was wonderful, midwife made it to my house just in time to catch bubba. Homebirth ROCKS!!
Wow i never knew this had a name. i think i had a quick labour and birth with my 3rd child. Contactions kicking in at 7.00 but was not in astablished labour, then about 9.00 took to a birthing room as i was making so much noise i was frightening the other ladies then at about 9.45 the mid wife came in as i was begging for pain ralief. so she said we will see if you have started to dilate as she pulled my pants down to start my waters burst and baby shot out all in 1.min 16 second. My labour pack was not even open and the midwife was totally shocked lol.is this known as a rapid labour?
Now i am on baby number 4 do you know if there is a chance of this happening again and if so what should i do. Thank you
I am almost 27 weeks pregnant with my third child. My first was 18 years ago, born at 31 weeks. The second, 15 years ago was 37 weeks but with threatened preterm labour from about 25 weeks on. I have some mild contractions for weeks or months before delivery that I am constantly told are Braxton-Hicks because they never seem to last more than an hour and are never predictable. I also do have Braxton-Hicks but they feel completely different. The only true indication I had both previous times was my water breaking, then rapid intense contractions almost immediately. My first was born in an hour and a half from water breaking. The head was so far down the birth canal that I only felt a pop and then had very minimal leakage. Being my first and so early, I wasn’t even sure it had broken but the intense contractions sent me quickly off to the closest emergency room. There I was told first by the geriatric volunteer in the pink striped uniform “Oh no dear, you’re not pregnant but we’ll have the doctor see you just to make you feel better.” I guess she was put off bu my screaming in pain and called over a nurse who insisted that my water couldn’t have broken but decided to check anyway. When she realised it had she insisted that it would be a long time since it was my first baby. A couple of minutes later I was being rushed down the hall to a delivery room and had my son about 10 minutes later. The second one was 45 minutes from water breaking to delivery. Now with my third I have also been diagnosed with an incompetent cervix and placental insufficiency. I have had a Mcdonald cerclage inserted at week 22. At this point I am terrified that I will not have time to get to a hospital (the closest one is 40 min away) in time for the stitches to de removed before delivery. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Oberlo. You don’t mention which country you live in. This may make a difference in how your pregnancy is monitored. Certainly in my area of the UK, if you have placental insufficiency, you would be intensely monitored with both growth scans and doppler’s to monitor how well baby and the placenta are coping. I cannot reassure you about whether you will get to the hospital in time if they do not decide to bring the birth on because of the placental insufficiency, all I can say is that the MINUTE you feel that ANYTHING is happening, set off for the hospital.
Thank you for your reply. I am in Canada and yes I have doplers about every 2 weeks at this point. I see my regular OB and a specialist who is 21/2 hours away. The specialist is under the impression that I will be able to deliver at his hospital in the city. My regular OB is a little more realistic in saying call an ambulance and get to the nearest hospital, they will transfer me if there is time. What kind of damage might be done if the cerclage isn’t removed before birth?
I had a precipitate labour of 35min with my 2nd child, no signs of labour until contractions hit at 1.5min apart and the intensity is like nothing id felt before. I’d had prolonged retuputre of the membranes from 37weeks and wonder if the lack of waters contributed to the speed of my labour. I didn’t make it to hospital and gave birth on my living room floor then had quite a hefty blood loss and had to be rushed to hospital and I was worked on for a total of 4hrs to stop the bleeding and was left on a drip for a further 3hrs.
I’m now pregnant with baby number 3 and am in discussions with my consultant as tho whether an induction would be necessary. She seems to think not and that I should just come to hospital as soon as labour starts so they can have everything ready to stop any possible bleed. I think it will be needed tho as I live 30min from the hospital and almost 40min from any family member who could be called upon to have the children. Do you think I have a good case for induction?
I have had 3 children and rapid births with each one, getting shorter and more intense each time. I went into shock after my 2nd and 3rd with the 3rd being most painful even though baby was similar size to nr.1. Maybe this was due to the short and unrelenting labour. Someone else wrote earlier they felt like they had been run over……I concur, hit by a truck I said shortly afterwards. Everyone says how lucky I was to have short labours and I smile and nod but its scarred me, particularly the 3rd labour. It has put me off having any more children!
Vicky- yes i think you do!! i’m pregnant with my 4th and final baby, my last baby took 3 hrs and i live half hour from hospital and i am really freaking out about making it! you are heaps quicker than me…i would be pressing your midwife about it!!
I don’t know for sure if mine was precipitate but when I spoke to my new obgyn and told him that my last child was 2 weeks before due date and had contractions for maybe 5 hrs… when I arrived at the hospital I was only 1 cm dilated. 45 minutes later with intense pain and shaking I was checked and I was 3 cm then half an hour later I was 9 and the urge to push overwhelmed me while they were scrambling to put an IV in I rolled on to my back and thank goodness they had’t taken apart the bed because one strong contraction and my son came out the dr barely had one hand gloved to catch him… I think my water broke on that too… So here I am with my fourth child and I am so scared I am going to go into labor and not make it and experience that pain again… My first two children weren’t fast at all around 12 hours and not very long of pushing but with the first child I received and epidural and the second child I got one but they had to take it off because of my blood pressure dropping… So I have had a well rounded experience with labor expect the long for days labor but I am just concerned with this child I will be having in about a month or so that something bad is going to happen. The dr said he will induce me at 39 weeks but what if I don’t make it that far? Especially with the pain and pressure I already feel and I have never felt that before with the first three children… Just little scared I guess
Thank you for this information on precipitate labour. I am glad that you say that even though it’s a short labour it’s not necessary better and in fact, can be traumatic, which is how I feel about my experience.
My first labour was very fast…within the hour and it was a very scary and unpleasant experience. It began with my waters breaking…very heavily…and then the contractions started almost immediately. It only took about ten minutes for me to realise that we needed to leave…and NOW! My partner was so confused, as after childbirth class we were taught not to go immediately, and that there would be stages…but when I started yelling at him, he got the picture pretty quick. The drive to the hospital pretty much consisted of me being on all fours in the front seat, throwing up. When I got to the hospital the first thing they said to me was, “why didn’t you call first?” Well, it didn’t take them long to figure out that I was about to give birth. I was quickly checked and told I was fully dilated. Next thing I was in the birth suite and told to start pushing. It was absolutely awful. I had no time to meet the midwives or get to know them….it was pretty much …get on the floor and push. Pain relief not even an option. As I was pushing it was the most incredible, undefinable agonising pain I have ever felt. Is this normal for the pushing stage? As I have heard from other women that they actually found the pushing not as painful as the contractions themselves…that they got some relief from the pushing sensation. Well, this is definitely not how I felt. With each push I felt like I was tearing apart. Just when I thought the pain couldn’t get worse the nurse told me that the baby was “getting tired” and that I needed to stop screaming and use that energy on pushing. Seriously, I couldn’t believe she said that, as I was trying all I could. Knowing that the baby was ‘tired” was even more terrifying as I didn’t understand what was going on…was he going to die? At that stage the nurse told me my perineum was too tight, and she cut me…next thing the baby slipped out…the relief was so overwhelming, relief that he was alive…and relief that I didn’t have to suffer the pain anymore.
Can you please tell me, if it’s normal to feel that extreme intensity of pain while pushing, or is it made worse by the fast labour? Also, do you have any idea what the nurses meant when they said the baby was tired…Would it have been due to my fast labour?
Thanks so much
Jess
Oh and I am pregnant with my second baby hence my reason for looking this up as I am starting to feel very, very nervous about the birthing experience.
My second (who is 20 months younger than his brother) was a precipitated and hence (unplanned) home birth. I called my husband at 7.48pm (phone record!) to say I my water broke and I felt my first contraction. At 8.10pm ( phone record 2!) I was screaming to him “the baby is in my arms”
I was all alone with my toddler lying on the bed sleeping blissfully while I screamed blue murder giving birth and then wondering what the hell I was supposed to do with the mite that slipped into my arms like jelly!
He’ll be 2 tomorrow and is perfectly perfect:) But I’m nervous about going for a number three:( What if it happens again and I’m not as lucky.
I have had 3 rapid labors. They were all extremely painful and left me in shock. The first 2 were with a 9 and 10 pound baby boys. The 3rd was with my 6th child an 8 pound girl. I was having early labor all day but by 8 pm they turned painful. It took us almost 30 minutes to drive to the hospital . I was at a 6 then. Twenty minutes later the doctor came in and said she wanted to break my water to speed things along not realizing my history of rapid labor. By then I was an 8. Ten minutes and 2 pushes later my daughter was born . It was the most horrific labor and pain in my entire life . My body never had time to stretch and my daughter came out with her lungs filled with fluid and unable to breathe so they used a machine to suction her out. Afterwards I was in so much pain I could hardly move or even hold my daughter. My body went into shock and I began to shake still laying frozen in the stirrups on the bed. It wasn’t until I asked for a heated blanket and some hot tea that I was able to move again . My daughter vomited amniotic fluid for the next 24 hours after this until it cleared her system . I have read that having pelvic floor weakness is what causes this type of labor to occur. I hope I never go through that again.
I think my previous midwife needs to read this – not sure if she’s aware of it!!! My waters broke at 9.30pm. We went to the hospital though I’d had no contractions. The doctor examined me and told me I was 1-2cm. As I was strep B positive, I was kept in so they could keep giving me antibiotics. I still hadn’t had any contractions by lunch the next day so I was induced. From the first contraction to my daughter being pulled out by forceps was 3 1/2 hours. At no point did the midwife believe how far along I was. From the first moment when she asked if the doctor had checked if I was dilated and I replied 1-2cm to whem she finally deigned to check me herself only to say with surprise “Oh, you’re ready to go!” She just kept telling me that I as going to be there for ages as it was my first after all and with your first things have to happen in a certain order with subsequent babies it can all happen at once, but not with your first! She even told me there’s no real comfort in labour when I asked for a heat pack for my back which was sore after being stuck I the same position for hours with monitors on. I’m now at 27 weeks and even though I’m told that it was quick because I was induced the first time, I’m super scared about another quick labour and not getting to the hospital! I’m in Australia.
My last labour (number 4) was 1hr 52min from 1st contraction to the placenta being delivered. (number 3 was quite quick too, but was aware something was going on, had a bit more of a build up) Hospital is 30mins away, but we did just make it!! (Only due to my OH breaking the speed limit and me sitting in the car seat properly stopping her coming out…) She was born shocked and developed cephalhaematoma, oh and also a bit cold (she was born in A&E as we didn’t have time to get to the warm maternity unit) She warmed up in a day and the cephalhaematoma eventually disappeared. Midwives were saying if I have anymore they’d at least have to put a home birth pack at my house, if not a planned home birth.
My first baby was born after a prolonged second stage. My midwife just let me be as baby was not distressed but in the end it turned out that he was sunny side up and had shoulder dystocia. The surgeon placed him in the right position via forceps for birth but did not actually deliver, as per our wishes, and I was so fully dilated that they didn’t even bother with an episiotomy (which I’ve been told is extraordinarily rare). I ended up pushing out bubs myself but ended up with severe vaginal nerve damage.
Since then the proceeding four babies have all been precip!
My labour with Number Two was so mild that by the time I realised I was in active labour it was too late to get to the hospital and she was delivered by paramedics on our dining room floor. Three and a half hours of labour, but only about a ten minute second stage.
Number Three we went to the hospital as soon as I knew that I was having regular contractions. The midwives didn’t want us to come in so soon as they were only 15 minutes apart, but one we explained that we had a BBA they were happy to have us. Another three and a half hour labour, with ten minute second stage, although this time my body definitely went into shock. Bubs was absolutely fine but spat up black tarry gunk for the first twelve hours, which the midwife explained was due to the rapid second stage.
Babies Four and Five were planned hospital assisted homebirths. The hospital midwives actually suggested this due to knowing that I had had two precip labours.
Baby Four was three hours and only ten minute second stage, all fine.
Baby Five was my quickest but definitely most painful birth. Two and a half hours, but only 5 minutes for the second stage and definitely full on.
With all my precip labours I seem to breeze through the first stage, but as soon as I transition it’s been absolutely awful.
Yes, you do get to see your babies quickly, and that’s wonderful, but the body really doesn’t have time to adjust to labour properly.
Wow this post is old but wonderful. My first was born at 36 weeks, 11 minutes after arriving at the hospital. The pain was so intense and confusing that I didn’t get in the car to go to the hospital until two hours after my water broke (contractions only started after water broke). My son was born in about 2 and half hours. No briefing or anything about precipitate labor. Even when I asked why it had happened that way, all I got was a shrug. With my second, the same thing happened where my water broke and then intense contractions. Had the good sense to get right in the car. My second son was born 10 minutes after I arrived at the hospital, making my labor a little over an hour. It is intense and scary and I’ve been told many times that I got off easy and that I should have 10 children because of how “easy” it was for me.
With my first I was in labour 7 hours, my middle one was an hour and a half, almost had her in the back of my dad’s car! My third, which I had a gap of 14 years, was much quicker! She was breech so I opted to have a c-section as I knew I laboured quickly. I was in hospital for this procedure (thankfully!), however 20 minutes before I was due to go down I went into labour and she was out within 15 minutes from the first contraction! I think I was I total shock having her that quickly, however it was afterwards that I started thinking of all the what if’s…. I could have had her whilst shopping at the supermarket, whilst driving the car. It was awful!
Interesting posts, but my experiences were quite different to most. I had 6 children (youngest is 20, so some time ago).
1st: 4 weeks early, 8.5 hours from start to birth, fairly easy 2nd stage.
2nd: 4 weeks early, breech vaginal birth, 8 hour labour. No drugs with any labour but only those first two were ‘intense’ by late first stage.
3rd: 6 weeks early, mild contractions most of day, to hospital for observation, slept, woke at 1am in ‘transition’. Baby born less than 1.5 hours later. No pain or distress, baby well (initially tube fed but breastfeeding by 4 days and home by 9).
4th: some threatened early labour but born full term, nearly 4kg. From first sign of labour (release of waters) to birth was 1.25 hours. Contractions not painful, felt calm and in control, baby born ‘in the caul’ on a birth stool. Only complication was some retained ‘bits’ which were carefully extracted by the doctor.
5th: full term, mild contractions most of day, 1.5 hour active labour, strong sensations but very manageable, retained membranes which I felt were caused by synthetic oxytocin in managed 3rd stage.
6th: full term, first contractions 8am, labour room 11am, born 12 noon, calm and relaxed, enjoyable! Spontaneous 2nd stage as waters gushed, physiological 3rd stage complete by 1.50pm. Baby vigorous.
Fast can be good…
Hi my contractions start and I went to the maternity 2 times and I was 1 cm so they constantly because was my first labour sent me home, I kept saying that I was contracting. 3rd time I arrived screaming naked on ambulance bed and I was 2cm, I was ignored left on my own until my husband checked down there and saw the head. This was less than hour after I arrived baby came out with 2 pushes, with no antibiotics that I needed. Now I’m pregnant with my second one 10 months later, still scared I have group b strep again and also I’m fast labour. I’m thinking to ask to get epidural and to be induced as well. I’ve been have nightmares about it, I’m worried if they will do it or not.
Hi, thanks for the great post! I’m expecting my third and am hoping you might have some insight or advice on how best to proceed with/plan for the birth. I would REALLY like to have another home birth, as I did with my first. However, after my second (born after a straightforward 2 hour labour in hospital and very quick/immediate delivery of the placenta) I had a pph, believed to be due to small bits of placenta being retained. They didn’t measure the volume of blood lost, however put me on oxytocin? iv drip and had to manually remove whatever placenta had been retained. I actually felt fine the whole time, apart from the excruciating pain of the manual extraction, and my vitals remained fine, however I was on drip for quite a long time and had to stay overnight for observation. My midwife mentioned that I have a good chance (30%) of having another pph with my third, and that I also have a very high chance of having an even faster labour, which might make it hard to even make it to the hospital in time. (With my second, it was 2 hours from the first sign of any cramping to her being born. By the time we got to the hospital I was already fully dilated and I gave birth probably about 5-10 minutes after being given a room). Given all this, I’m not sure where i should plan on delivering. I would MUCH prefer to be home, and even more so because I’d obviously rather not have to deliver in the car or roadside, but also don’t want to be stupid given the fact that I might have another pph. If i were to deliver at home and had a pph, we are very close to a hospital, so could ambulance in fairly quickly, however, my midwife mentioned it would be me going on my own with my husband and baby at home and the thought of being separated from the baby so soon is also far from unappealing. I’m driving myself crazy with what-if scenarios and have been researching pph and precipitate labour to try to make a sound decision. My midwife advises planning for a hospital birth, but is willing to do a homebirth with the understanding that she’ll send me in if there’s any significant bleeding. I really wish I could just relax with a plan for home birth.. but would I be taking too high a risk? I would really appreciate any advice. Your site has been most informative, so thank you!!!!!
Hi!
My first was born at 40+6w, and after a stretch and sweep in the afternoon (post term midwife appointment at hospital), my labour started at around 9.30pm that very night…. Made it to hospital and DD1 was born at 2.12am. I went from 5-6cm to full and ready to push in less than 30 minutes. I was just told that was pretty darn quick for a first!
A couple of years later, 39 weeks along, my waters break as I was sleeping at 9.05pm….contractions didn’t start until 9.20pm….I arrived at hospital, and within 12 minutes, I went from 7cm to standing up birthing my second daughter. I was planning a water birth, and they were filling up the tub, but never got that far 🙂 she was born at 10.52 so just about 1.5h from 1st contraction to babe in arms, of which less than 3 minutes pushing.
I was told for next bub we might need to consider a home birth!
I do have very intense BH contractions from verrrrry early on in each pregnancy, around 12 weeks onwards, so my uterus is classified as hyper contractile. This probably has an impact but now admittedly am scared of how it could go with a third bub… 😥
My uterus was so well contracted they struggled to find the fundus for the after birth assessment a few hours later, as it had retracted so far low already!
Am in Australia, any suggestions to manage a future pregnancy/birth?
I do prefer to be in hospital to have access to care if anything at all goes wrong though…
Hi, im in Aus too. I have had 5 precipitated labours all under 2hrs from start to finish. We once considered home births, but sometines with fast labours the baby can also go into shock. We always leave for the hospital on first contraction and leading up to the birth made sure the hospital was very aware that i had precipitated labours. There is nothing worse than arriving only to argue with a midwife when you are in full contractions. After number 3 got stuck and dragged my labour time out to 1hr and 55min, and the fact he wasnt breathing (All worked out well and being in the hospital they had all the equipment to revive him) i decided there was readons why i had such quick labours and for 4 and 5 just dealt with it. I never make plans I just relax and go with it. That works for me best.
I’m having my 5th shortly. My dr has mentioned not pushed the idea of inducing. I am not big on interventions. However, I’m fast. My last labors were wonderful with no problems; but traumatic. In fact I was not expecting the trauma. My last one was fast, hard (to say the least), messy and super traumatic. I like to labor at home and have been able to make it to the hospital with time to deliver, however the move in transition does make it difficult to maintain control. Laboring in the hospital is also not something I would like to do. We have decided against a home birth because my husband is not comfortable with the idea. At this point, I’m just wondering if getting an epidural and induced wouldn’t be wonderful. But would it slow things down.. Would it really be worth the effort and would just being induced slow it all down and keep me there for 6 or more hours? I guess I’m just feeling a bit unsure and indesisive. After all, it’s nice to be over quickly despite it all.
Julianne,
I thought the same as you when I became pregnant with my 7th child and having a history of rapid labour for all the previous. I tried have an induced labor with an epidural to try and slow things down and be less traumatic on me and the baby. Unfortunately, everything backfired on me.
Not only did the epidural not take effect like it should and wound up only numbing my legs but not my abdomen, it did nothing to actually slow down my labor at all. From the time the epidural went in to the time my baby was born was under 3 hours! I went from 5 cm to 10 cm in aprox. 3 contractions. If I hadn’t rung the nurse for help, the baby would have been born in the bed with me.
The only thing that stopped me from pushing the baby out before the doctor got in the room was the epidural, so it did save me about 10 minutes time, LOL.
My suggestion is to not get induced, do not get an epidural, but just do a lot of walking around the vicinity of the hospital, say at a near by shopping center or park. That way when you labor does actually start, you are close to the hospital and not caught off guard at home. This was my original plan in the fist place but I became impatient and scared and decided to go for an induction instead.
Not only that but once they break your water and you don’t continue to dilate they almost always insist on a C-Section which is not good for you or the baby. Trust your body to do what it’s supposed to naturally without interventions. Good luck to you on the birth of your child. 🙂
Thank you for writing about this, it’s hard finding information about. My first child was born 4-4,5 hours after first sign of anything (water broke, MD told me to go back to sleep while I did, then woke from contractions 2 hours before birth). The second child was born 40-45 min after fist sign (water broke, hard contractions 5 min later). Now I am getting ready for number 3. Problem is, due to my age (45 yrs) the MD says I have to give birth at the hospital, but it is 30 min driving away without rush traffic. What do you think my chances of actually making it there is?
Is there anything a woman can DO during this to calm things down a little? I read one thing that said lay on the left side. But nothing else.
Any other positions? Scents, teas? Anything?
Thank you!
While at home, the first 10 minutes of contractions came in normal waves, first 5 minutes apart then after 10 minutes they were suddenly two min apart, then suddenly it didn’t stop and it became one long contraction that wouldn’t let up. It was more like an excrutiating muscle cramp that I couldn’t have stopped if I wanted to. We got to the hospital in 10 minutes and was rushed into triage, she was born 5 minutes later in triage. It was 10x’s worse than my first child. I remember in triage, they kept telling me not to push, I was screaming at them I wasn’t. She was born with sever petechial hemorrhage in both eyes, but she scored a 10 on both apgars, and was perfectly healthy. Because she was so large and came so quickly I needed reconstructive surgery. My body didn’t have time to prepare which happens during normal contractions, so my recovery was much longer than my first.
My first one was born after 6 hours and my second one in 1.5 hours. I had asked for a homebirth, so I was prepared at least mentally WHERE I was going to have my baby. Woke up early, feeling uncomfortable, went to the bathroom and my waters broke. Feeling sleepy, I tried to go back to bed but my husband thought it’d better to call the midwife. She arrived within half an hour, examined me and said I could start pushing. Contractions were strong immediately! My daughter was born half an hour later. A little bit of a shock, but being in familiar surroundings with a midwife I knew and trusted helped a lot. Sidenote: I had been having bad pelvic pains for weeks beforehand and the previous week I had been examined and I was already partially dilated. No complications, no tearing (which had happened in hospital with the first baby), very quick recovery, on my feet in the kitchen the same afternoon. When my son woke up he found a brand new sister in her crib while I was having a cup of tea from my very own china. That was in the UK, 1996.