Dreading another fast labor - Page 2

[zuzunel09]

I thought that once you test positive for GBS, that's it.  They haven't tested me yet this pregnancy, so maybe there's hope on that front.

[Lousli]

I just had my second fast labor (my first labor was fairly quick for a first timer, but not super quick) and I ended up with my third epidural.  While I know that MDC is more natural-birth friendly, and honestly, that was my intention going in, I just was not able to handle the intensity of my labor, and I'm okay with that.  I probably could have been better prepared, and I know there are people that have labors like mine and make it through without medication.  If you really want that, I'd do a lot of research and preparation in whatever method sits best with you philosophically. 

I will also say that the good thing about fast labors is that if you do end up opting for pain medication, there is less likelihood of the "cascade of interventions" happening in my opinion when your labor is progressing at a mile a minute.  I ended up dilating from a 5 to complete in about an hour, possibly a little less, and gave birth about 40 minutes later.

[Lousli]

Also I wanted to say about staying home as long as possible while GBS + that if you are giving birth in a hospital, it might mean that they will want to keep you and the baby longer after birth or run additional tests to monitor the GBS.  Since my labor was really fast and started with my water breaking, and I was GBS +, they didn't get the full dosage of antibiotics into me.  Fortunately they didn't keep us there that long (gave birth at quarter to 12 on Wednesday night and was released Friday morning at 11) , but they did do a blood test on me and two blood tests on the baby 12 hours apart to check our blood counts.