[mummy marja]

My first birth was 6 hours, and the second was just 1.5 hours from start to finish. I know this one could go longer, but I need to be ready just in case it's similar to Wyatt's birth. This time we have an hour's drive to our birth place, so I want to have everything ready--there will be no hanging around at home for things to pick up--we're going immediatly!<br><br>
I'm planning to have birth supplies in the van just in case we baby is born on the way. Midwife told DH that she'll prep him on emergency birth procedures so he'll know what to do. I also have a doula friend who lives about half-way there so we could always stop in there and give birth if I don't think there's time to make it all the way. She would just LOVE that.<br><br>
I'm glad my body is able to give birth so efficiently but I'm really hoping to have time to at least get to our birth place and settle in before it's pushing time. That's how I'm going to visualize it!

 

[MissAnnThrope]

I have quick births too. But my 3rd was not going to follow the lead of her older sister and brother. It took 10 hours to get to 4cm and another 9 for her to be born. This was after having an epi and pit started. So you just might be in for a long labor if the 3rd is a wild card holds true for you as well. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[chase_mommy]

Wow mummy marja! I can only hope for what you have had. My first birth was 24 hours from water breaking then induced with pit but had a vaginal birth. My second was 12 hour from water breaking. I was thinking I would be in great shape if this one was cut in half from the last, being 6 hours but 1.5 hours... wow, wow, wow!<br><br>
I think you are wise to be prepared for the birth on the way, that is a haul with such short labor history. I hope you have a nice short birth... but not to short. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[homew/two]

Me too. Actually I have long labors but they are silent- I don't feel a thing unless I put my hand on my belly and feel it get rock hard (like BH's).<br><br>
1st birth went to weekly checkup and was 4 cm they said to come back in 2 days (if I didn't go into labor before then) went in and was 9 cm. Didn't feel a thing until my water broke a few hours later and then 45 mins of absolutely awful labor and pushing(picture nothing to transition in 1 cxt)I was a mess- tense, fought the pain, loud high pitch screams instead of low moans, just no build up in ctx intensity = scary 45 mins.<br><br>
2nd birth they checked early I was 2 cm check- a week later, at weekly check up, I was at 10 cm (37 weeks) felt nothing til water broke then baby in 30 min. Knew what to expect and had wonderful birth<br><br>
3rd time- who knows - I feel like I might follow in MissAnnThrope's shoes and finally have the hard long labor, but I'm also going to have an emergency kit in the car and house just in case and have that ready by 36 weeks. I will also be checking myself for dilation and watching that. I think I can watch my dilation and get to birthing center w/ plenty of time.<br><br>
My big issue is if water breaks at home, I feel like w/ history I'd have a baby in the car(20 min drive), but I really don't want to call an ambulance (I'd have to go to different hospital w/o my midwives) and not totally comfortable w/ a UC at home. So dh and I have to really talk about what to do "if" water breaks at home.

 

[jennica]

I'm expecting a fast birth. Ds's birth was 6 hours total, from first contraction to birth. I dilated from 3 to 9.5 in just an hour and a half. It was not good to have that fast of labor for me. It was so painful and the contractions were sporadic and didn't follow any pattern and their was no early labor to get used to what was happening. It was terrible and I am not looking forward to it being that fast or possibly faster this time. Especially because for me fast seems to mean really horrible overwhelming pain. I'm not even drinking RRL tea this time because I don't want to do anything that will make things go faster. I'm having a homebirth though, last time I had to ride 45 minutes to the hospital and that was just miserable. I'm afraid it will be even faster than last time though and I'm really not happy about it - it's my biggest fear actually. Everyone thinks it is so great that the labor was only 6 hours, but for me it was like being hit by a freight train and there was just no way to cope with that kind of intensity. My midwife is 45 minutes away, which is also a concern, but I'm pretty sure there will at least be time for her to make it. I might luck out though and get a longer labor, but the pattern is usually that the second labor is half the time of the first, so it will probably be 3 or 4 hours long.

 

[mataji4]

My labors were 7, 6, 1.5 and 40 hours in order. I'm just going to have everything organized- birth supplies, clean towels, food/drinks for labor- so if it's fast I'm ready and if it's not I'm still ready : ) I'm going to try hard not to expect any kind of time frame at all.

 

[craft_media_hero]

I want to be ready in case it's fast because our midwife is three hours away, and I had a fast labor (under six hrs from first contraction) with my first.<br><br>
BUT I was induced kinda <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> and I know it can be so different from one baby to the next. So I'm also trying to fortify myself in case it is a really long haul, too. *shrug*<br><br>
I will be staying mindful about not rushing it at the beginning and trying to take it slow and being really aware of how I'm opening up at the beginning and then moving into the more active phase. Idk, that's how I visualize it, but I'm trying not to be too tied to any one vision and just stay open to this birth being exactly what it needs to be.l

 

[welsh]

First labor was 4 hrs from 1st ctx to delivery.<br>
It was very intense, no let-up between contractions. Thank goodness for hypnobirthing!<br><br>
I'd had a cervidil pessary inserted an hour prior and was scheduled to be induced with pit the following morning...didn't need that!<br><br>
I knew it was going quickly when I vomited and told DH I didn't think I could do it w/out drugs. Ah-ha! Self-doubt is a sign of transition! Thank you Bradley book!!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"><br><br>
My OB at the time swears that my body did the fast labor and not the cervidil but we'll see what happens this time...<br><br>
The hospital is only 7 miles away but I will also have the community midwives to call on if I don't think I'll make it out of the house.<br>
This is what I'm secretly hoping/planning on <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[mamakaryn08]

I had a 4 hour labor with DS. The first two hours were cake (in fact, I was in total denial) and then I hit transition. I was 8cm when I checked into the hospital and had DS an hour later. Even in transition, things were very managable at home, things only got chaotic when I got to the hospital. Nothing was under my control anymore... everything was this huge emergency and if I could change it I would've just stayed home.<br><br>
So, that's why I AM staying home this time!

 

[jennica]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>mamakaryn08</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15384057"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">things only got chaotic when I got to the hospital. Nothing was under my control anymore... everything was this huge emergency and if I could change it I would've just stayed home.<br><br>
So, that's why I AM staying home this time!</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
I totally agree! And I am hoping things are much less painful at home than they were trying to fight people off in the hospital while labor was speeding along out of control.

 

[mamakaikai]

My first birth was 6 hours including 35 minutes of pushing. This was from the very first contraction. All of my contractions were about 2-3 minutes apart and very intense with back labor for about half of it. Once the baby turned everything was much calmer. But until then, once I'd had a handful of contractions, I was way off in labor~land somewhere and there was no gradual initiation into birthing.<br><br>
With my last pregnancy I had some pretty serious pelvic pain and it hurt really badly. I couldn't change positions very well at all. In fact, in labor, it was impossible for me to get onto the birth stool even though the kind midwives tried their best to help me. I've been seeing a chiro who has been adjusting me since 20 weeks and has done an amazing job. I am relatively pain free and can move easily. The chiro said my pelvis was tilted up on the right side and angled forward. So she thinks that if this is how I was with my last birth, she suspects that this birth could be really fast.<br><br>
Given that my first birth was 6 hours from first contraction to birth, and that my pelvis has been repositioned, I half expect that this birth could be very quick. My mother delivered all of her babies in a couple of hours or less.<br><br>
That said, I am also preparing for a long and challenging birth because you just never can tell.<br><br>
My plan is to have everything ready at home. All birth supplies and linens towels chux etc will be in a basket or two by 36 weeks. That way everything can be brought in and set up quickly. The midwives will leave the oxytocin and ergo in the fridge so it will also be here if needed. We will inflate the pool at 36 weeks and leave it set up in the room, with all water attachments in the closet ready to be used. I'll also make sure to get a hospital bag packed, with an emergency kit if needed if I deliver on the way since it's a 40 minute drive to the hospital if there is any traffic at all.<br><br>
I have all the numbers on the fridge and in my cellphone and everyone in the birth team is ready to rush over when I call.<br><br>
That's how I am preparing the stuff and logistics. Mentally/spiritually, I am just trying my best to prepare myself for birth in general, be it fast or slow, easy or challenging. Eitherway, you can only do so much to prepare. As long as I have done my best to get things ready, my mind will be at ease to go to birthland and do what I need to do. Hopefully, my birth team will also know what to do: be quiet, hold the space, and set things up for a safe and peaceful birth.

 

[hapi2help]

If I prepare for one, does that mean I will get it? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"><br><br>
I was induced with my first, start to pushing was about 6 hours, but I could not push him out so I had a csec. This one is a VBAC and faster would be better to avoid interventions at the hospital. As with any hospital birth, the clock starts once you walk in but with a VBAC I imagine the clock will be even tighter.<br><br>
My mom had me, her 3rd, after 2 contractions. I basically fell out of her. My sis has 2 - 1st was 2.5 hours start to finish and her second was 45 minutes. If I go like them, I could go fast.

 

[chiromommy]

I am preparing for a quick one, but ready for (and somewhat concerned about ) the third baby unknown. My first was 6 hours (homebirth), 2nd was 4 hrs (I had a 45 minute drive to birth at my midwife's house). My midwife is 1-2 hrs away this time depending on where she's staying when I go into labor (she splits time between 2 cities). All involved are prepared for me to have the baby before she gets here, but I'd like a nice 6 hour labor please <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"> I'm hoping for at least enough time to fill the birth tub and possibly have the waterbirth I've never managed to have. Four hours was way too quick and disorienting. I have big babies with big heads. Pushing them out sucks.

 

[lrgs]

I don't know.........my labour with DD was about 12 hours but when my water broke I went from 4-10 cms in an hour, 15 minutes of pushing. I have no idea what to expect this time. We have over half an hour to drive to the hospital so I'm just a bit nervous about when to leave because I planned to labour at home for awhile. MIL was a mat nurse for years and caught lots of babies so I was thinking of having her drive to the hospital with us <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[APGoddess83]

Definitely preparing for a fast birth! My oldest was induced due to pre-eclampsia and my 2nd was induced bc my water broke first and then on the monitor my contractions were very big and close but I wasn't feeling much so they were concerned. I know now after two more naturally birthed kiddos that I just don't feel a ton of pain during labor...more pressure and a menstrual crampy type feeling. My 3rd labor was about 4 hours if that and I got to the hospital just in time to push (it's about 25 minutes away). My 4th was about 2-3 hours and she was crowning when we got there and my doc didn't even make it...luckily the doc on call was awesome! With my last two I also walked around for the last 5-6 weeks about 4-5 cm dilated so that helped the length of my labors I'm sure! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"> At my first appt with my ob this time she said she was worried about me not making it in time and I better come in immediately and not wait like I did with the others, lol. I sure hope this little guy follows suit and I have a fast, easy labor with him! We'll see soon!

 

[UCmamaToMany]

Always quick births for me so far. But then again we birth at home too, so I am not too worried about making to a different location, thankfully.<br><br>
#1 scheduled c/s for breech presentation <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br>
#2 3hr 50min<br>
#3 1hr 45min<br>
#4 2hr 50min<br>
#5 1hr 40min<br>
#6 45min (biggest baby too at 10lbs 9oz)<br>
#7 1hr 30min<br><br>
I do not anticipate going longer than 2hours again. Would be nice to birth as fast as I did with #6 though. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Who likes to be in pain for long?! LOL<br><br>
My birth kit is done and when time gets closer and depending on how dilated and effaced I am I will probably have a traveling birth kit available in our van. I've had one on hand with my last 3 JIC we needed to birth away from home.

 

[MJB]

My first was 6.5 hours, my second was 8 hours. I'm hoping this one will be quicker but expecting a similar (6-8 hour) labor. I'm having a UC so I don't have to wait on anyone. I have been reconsidering waterbirth because filling the pool took so long last time and it was really the most annoying thing.

 

[jennica]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>MJB</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15387282"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My first was 6.5 hours, my second was 8 hours. I'm hoping this one will be quicker but expecting a similar (6-8 hour) labor. I'm having a UC so I don't have to wait on anyone. I have been reconsidering waterbirth because filling the pool took so long last time and it was really the most annoying thing.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
I'm going to try to rent a tub and we will keep it filled and heated around my due date (Ds was born on his due date). My midwife said we can keep it filled for 3 days before having to dump it and fill it again, so we will just be refilling every three days before the birth.

 

[LindsayK]

DDCC....<br><br>
My active labor with DD was 2.5 hours long plus whatever of the back pain you count as back labor, but that's kind of hard to quantify! I am preparing for a short labor with this one - being more mindful of when labor gets going, taking off for the hospital as soon as we hit the 5 minutes between contractions mark, etc.<br><br>
But.... on the other hand, I don't want to get so emotionally prepared for having a short labor that I can't go with the flow, and deal with a long labor. I used to stress about how to deal with another short labor, but now that I feel settled about that, I stress about dealing with a long labor. Gah! Can't win!<br><br>
I agree with many of the PP who said that such a short labor was really hard because I never got in the labor mindset, or settled, or concentrated or any of that. It just hit like a ton of bricks, and went from "Oh wow, my water just broke, how exciting!" to "OMG, this baby is coming NOW" <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment"><br><br>
So, I am sort of hoping for a slightly longer labor, like maybe 5 hours? I mean, not too much longer, labor fairies, but just a little longer, please???? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="innocent">