Why a quick labour isnt always best.

[redbear]

These arnt birth stories but more my experience, I see a lot of people taking x y and to have a quick labour, but I don't always think its worth it, I had a quick first labour (about 1 1/2 hr) and baby was distressed and pooed in her waters, luckly she spat it out because that could have lead to infections etc, we where kept on a ward overnight for observation. during the labour I was like a deer in the headlights it was all rush and panicking.
My second I was 5cm after a few contractions (by time I got to hospital) then my waters where broke after 5 hour later and I dilated too fast and gave birth in three minutes after, I didn't give my pelvis enough time to push all the water out of her lungs, luckily it was spotted last minute she was struggling to breath, and then they took her oxygen it was 74, she was rushed for xrays, tests a cannula fitting a drip, monitors, and put in an incubator for three days, those where the worst days of my life I would have stayed in labour for another week if it meant she didn't have to go through that (they didn't know it was wet lung they thought infection or her heart) and the worry was horrendous leaving hospital alone is horrible.
The labour itself was beautiful and everything but I wish I didn't dilate so fast. And so glad I didn't take anything to make it faster xxx

 

[Rednursie]

Thanks for sharing this redbear. Nice to hear another perspective xxx

 

[wifeywifey]

I'm with redbear, I would take long labour over short. My lo also pood in his waters but was fine but emotionally I found it so hard to bond. It didn't seem real. I felt robbed.

 

[CARNAT22]

I had a ridiculously long labour! 51 hours all in (36 at home and then another 15 hours at hospital )

I ended up on the drip and having my waters broken as I stopped progressing. Went in at 5cm and several hours later had only got to 6cm

There were a few positive though - mainly my delivery - which was totally natural and I didn't have a single graze or tear. Everyone was so impressed that I'd managed to do it after such a long labour.

However there were a lot of downsides. I'd been pushing for 2 hours and was very, very close to needing intervention. As it had taken so long James needed to been seen by dr's almost immediately after delivery. We had maybe a minute or two of skin to skin and he went on breast then Dr came in and I had to remove him... I am broken hearted that within about 5 minutes of delivering my son I was shown how to break him off of my breast.

He was given back to me, went on other breast and another Dr came in and once again my child who was less than an hour old was removed from my breast.

At the time I was OK with this, babies health was most important BUT looking back I feel a very precious time was disturbed for us and when he was 3 days old I went to expressing as BF'ing had become a nightmare for various reasons.

We had to stay in 24 hours as he had been a bit distressed towards the end. However as I'd had him at 1am we ended up being in over 36 hours... My ward was hideous!

So I have really mixed feelings about my experience.

The one thing I do seem to notice about short labours is there is usually some amount of tearing?? Probably as the body hasn't had time to fully prepare...

I remember baby crowing, them offering me a mirror (no thanks!) but I did have a feel of his head. I remember them telling me to listen very carefully to them.. They told me I needed a few more big pushes then I wasn't to push anymore.

I did exactly as I was told and out came his head, then the rest of his slithered out lol...

The actually delivery was my fave part !!! Hope to do it again one day

xxxxxx

 

[diane]

I'm sorry to hear of your experience Hun. Must have been terrifying, do you feel ok about it or have you had a de-brief or anything? If you we're to have another child would it be likely to be fast again?

 

[redbear]

By no means am I saying long labours are good btw, I just get annoyed when people say 'oh well lucky you' if I tell them my labours where fast and I feel like saying fast isn't always best!

With my first I had a lot of stitches, with my second none but the labour itself was 6 hour it was only the 2nd stage that was too fast.

I didn't know you could have a de briefing, it might be something ill ask for with my second because id like to know if I have any more if It is likely to happen again, I told my mw my first labour was fast and they sort of said well that doesn't mean your second one will be but now im thinking its obviously what my body does, my waters go on I go to 10cm there and then? x

 

[redbear]

I'm with redbear, I would take long labour over short. My lo also pood in his waters but was fine but emotionally I found it so hard to bond. It didn't seem real. I felt robbed.

Deffinatly this with my first I was in a state of shock all the time, I walked around for days with my head in the clouds and would forget id had her and think I was still pregnant!

With my second been rushed off it kick started my maternal instinct I think and bonded with her more not having her with me! xx

 

[5Element]

I am with you on this one redbear! Just had my first wee one and from start to finish took 4 hours. Luckily he was fine physically but my cranio therapist told me it is similiar to having a c-section. The babies may not have time (both physically and/or emotionally) to go through all the moves and turns inside before arriving outside. I felt robbed too - spent a long time doing hypnobirthing efore and it all happened so fast I didnt have time for anything (pain relief included!). It was actually quite scary at some points as the contractions were back to back. Something in the middle would of been nice. It was nice to see this thread as I too get the "wow you are sooooo lucky" all the time and that someone else understands how this feels helps! THANKYOU!
But at the end of the day wee man is happy and healthy (me too now) and that is what counts!

 

[diane]

Yes Hun you can have a de-brief; mine was arranged whilst I was still in hospital but I'm sure you can phone e maternity department and have a chat. It could help answer some questions xxx

 

[redbear]

thanks I think ill have to call them but im not planning on another anytime soon so there is no rush,

Yeh im so happy Temperance is happy and healthy now but how close we where to leaving with such low oxygen it could so easily have been a sad story, we literally had our coats on waiting for discharge papers! xx

 

[mumtofour]

I totally agree with red bear, I am also another quick labourer. I get no pre labour warnings, my waters break and by the time I get to hospital I'm 10cm dilated and at the pushing stage. Hospital is a 10 minute drive away. My last birth my daughter went into fetal distress and was a maconoum birth needed oxygen and assistance on delivery. My deliver was also an assisted delivery. Iv had 4 children so far and not one of my births have been lengthy or normal this has left me really anxious and labour phobia with this baby to the point I tried to push for an elective however my consultant is trying to get me through my fear of labour. The after pains are also horrendous. I also get annoyed with people thinking that quick labours are the way to go because they're really not.

 

[BunnyN]

I had a long labour (38hrs total) but I must say I think I had an easier time of it than some people with short labours. One of the reasons for it being so long is that I had long breaks between contractions which made the pain very manageable., I even got to nap a few times.

There were hard bits. Two nights and two days without proper rest were exhausting. I think the exhaustion was harder than the pain. I tried to keep eating and drinking but I was throwing up too. Progress was very slow and there was talk about going to hospital (it was a HB). I was at 7cm and several hrs later at 6cm, I didn't know dilation could even go backwards, lol. Eventually I let the MW break my waters, which I wasn't keen on but it was better than going to hospital. I'm sure if it was a hospital birth they would have wanted to use more interventions. The first couple of nights after LO was born were hard because I was so sleepy I was afraid I was going to fall asleep and drop her. But on the whole It was a great experience and I would take a slow labour over a fast intense one any day. LO remained happy throughout. Even the MW was impressed by her heartbeat. I think being slow made it easy on her.

 

[knopk@]

I might be the odd one but i prefer my short b2b labour to long normal labour. The difference was that my waters went straight away with the long one

 

[BunnyN]

I think people have bad long labours and bad short labours. A nice easy going 6 hr labour sounds about perfect to me if I got to choose.

 

[knopk@]

I think people have bad long labours and bad short labours. A nice easy going 6 hr labour sounds about perfect to me if I got to choose.

Maybe, who knows? I had a 12 hour one and 2 hour one but i guess there are so many factors, you just dont know. I had episiotomies both times btw, with the long one i also had an assisted delivery and my son had to have blood tests during it as he was getting tired.

 

[redbear]

It wasn't the length of the labour with my second that put her in neo natal it was from my waters breaking to having her was too quick so my labour was about 6 hours total but stage three was only 3 minutes!! x

 

[Firsttimepreg]

Hi , having only had one labour so far I can only comment on that one experience but I have to say I found it tough. No sleep for two days, contractions coming really fast and double peaking, waters holding everything back at the pushing stage. 10 cm and unable to push at the pushing stage for 2 hours, waters break and because of sheer exhaustion pushing went on for a further 2 hours. I could go on and on but basically I really wouldn't mind having a nice short labour this time around!

I think people can have a tough time whether labour is short, medium or long but with long you've got exhaustion to deal with and believe me it can be the thing that ends up elongating it even more, making the woman feel stressed and in my case about ready to give up.

 

[Jojo84]

im terrified of a short labour as i have to have at least 4 hrs formy antibiotics cos i have strepb

 

[Chelleyd]

Yeah your right! I've just had my 3rd 3 weeks ago and from being fully dilated to born took 2 mins and although he didn't quite have the same problems as yours he did turn blue from shock and needed a bit of help to get him going, it was all a scary blur but oh my gosh how fantastic were my midwifes!!

 

[loopylou83]

Completely agree! I was induced! Had first contraction at 4:30am and had baby at 7:35am - went from 4cm to giving birth in 54 minutes- baby heart rate dropped. I was bleeding, ventouse delivery with cuts and tears! Wouldn't change the end result for the world but was scary an was told by the consultant afterwards ( was rushed to labour ward with a consultant due to bleed) that I was 30 seconds away from being rushed to theatre! I have to say though that the midwives and consultant were amazing! I wasn't panicking at the time as they were des reset about the problems and were so supportive and calming! My oh was a nervous wreck afterwards as he knew what was going on throughout whereas I was just loving the gas and air lol! The midwives team after birth were also amazing! Couldn't fault a single one of them- was surprised as you hear so many horror stories etc x