Precipitous Labour

mirrorwall14

Hi everyone, I'm posting here to see if anyone has just come through one that might be able to reassure me! I had a failed induction on my first, they couldn't even get in to break my waters after four gels so they gave up. While waiting overnight for the c section I went into labour myself. Recorded labour is 1hr and 6 minutes. It was hard, fast and completely terrifying. I was transferred to labour ward at <1cm to give me gas and air as the contractions were coming right on top of each other and they couldn't give me pethodine as his heart rate wasn't good enough.

I'm now pregnant again and I'm terrified. If labour shortens for the second, which it anecdotally will then I probably won't make it to the coombe in good traffic, never mind if it's rush hour. We also have a toddler to sort out this time and I definitely couldn't drive myself at the speed they started last time. My mum also had precipitous labours so it does run in the family

I will definitely speak to the midwife/docs when I get to my 12 week appointment but I'm wondering if anyone else has gone through this and how it is managed? Or is it just unmanageable and myself and my husband need to figure out how we'll manage ourself if this one comes faster and we don't make it?

fits

Is it possible that the gels contributed to your previous experience? I've no useful advice only wish you luck.

spottybananas

Would you consider planning for/learning about homebirth? At least then you'd both know what to do if it did happen faster than you could get to the hospital. (I wish I could have a homebirth for number 2 so I think this sounds like a great option!)

catrionanic

Can it really get any faster than 1 hour 6 minutes??? Do you have a neighbour that you could leave the toddler with so that you don't have to wait for a family member to travel to collect him?

Digs

I posted this exact post last year when pregnant with my second! My first labour was just over an hour and with a toddler to handle on my second I had the exact same concerns.

While the staff in the hospital where very reassuring, there's not too much planning that can be done. As you know labour is unpredictable. They said that statistically second labours are shorter alright and not to hang about at any signs and call the fire brigade on the way without hesitation if I felt the need

Second baby was born after just 30 mins of labour we made it to the hospital on time. One thing that helped was my parents basically kept our first daughter for most of the week before number 2 was born. They're just up the road so she was in and out to see us a lot, but really if we hadn't had that help I would have been so panicked. Otherwise if you feel things happening pop number 1 in the car and the hospital staff can mind her until someone can come take her for you.

I do want three children and am seriously considering a homebirth if we do have another. I have had perfect, non complicated labours though so far, but with the times of each my labours I fear for the third!!

Edit: gentlebirth was worth gold to me too. To keep me calm both towards the end of the pregnancy worried about all this and during a ridiculously fast labour.

Beanybabog

Get a copy of your medical records from the hospital and ask them can you talk it through with someone. I heard that they'll do this with you if you're very concerned about your last labour.

Also, don't know if this is an option everywhere or something you'd consider,but I do know someone who had elective c sections on baby number 1 and 2 due to an intense fear of labour. Obviously this won't help if baby arrives early but they do schedule it ahead of your due date.

Toots

My friend's mum had this and I know on her first two kids both arrived at home before the ambulance got there.

AFAIK she was brought in early and induced for subsequent pregnancies to make sure they were born in the hospital.

Romantic Rose

I don't have much advice but from my own experience, my 2nd labour was actually much longer than my first. I was told all along that I'd be quicker 2nd time around and I wasn't. I've spoken to others since and they had the same experience as me.

Try not to fret, every labour is different. I'm sorry I don't have too many words of wisdom.

shesty

I think if I were in your position (which I haven't been....both my labours came naturally but were relatively quick at 7 and 5 hours ....)I'd try to figure out a few strategies. Firstly, talk to the hospital.A lot.Shout it from the roof tops, at every single appointment, tell them you are worried about this.
Secondly I'd seriously consider going for gentle hippo or wisebirth courses, to learn some techniques so you can manage if you find yourself somewhere other than the hospital.

Definitely consider a homebirth. Both of mine were in the hospital and were natural with just gas and air, so it can certainly be done at home! You would want a midwife present, I think there may be midwives that do this.

Finally, might I suggest looking into the option of a doula?I don't know if it's possible, but someone who would come to your home once labour starts and get you through it. Leaving your husband free to worry about the car and driving or whatever,(as fast as he can!!) meaning you have the help and support of a third person when you need it? It would be help for your husband too, just keeping everything calm and allowing him to try not to panic!

Sorry I can't help more, but best of luck!!

mirrorwall14

Thanks to everyone who replied. I have will definitely talk to the docs and Midwife when (al going well) I get to that appointment in June. The doc did say the following morning when he checked me that we would need to talk before I go through labour again, I guess I'm trying to anticipate that

To try and answer some of the questions
1. I don't know about the gels, they are supposed to just open the cervix not cause the labour to be fast (that's usually an oxytocin drip asfaik) but I'll ask
2. The idea of giving birth at home scares the crap out of me not least because my toddler had the cord around his neck twice when he got out and needed some immediate assistance but I will prep it obviously. And scare the crap out of my husband preparing him
3. No idea about inducing early to avoid it, I know they planned that with my mum on her fourth but she ended up going the week before at 36 weeks anyways. It's something I can definitely ask

Moonbeam

My longest labour was about 2 hours,my shortest was recorded as 3 minutes.
3 were under an hour from feeling a bit unwell to holding baby.
I think the failed induction is probably what made it really hard for you,this time hopefully you will go on your own and there will be no "interference" with the labour.
How far are you from a hospital?

Moonbeam

Digs wrote: »

I posted this exact post last year when pregnant with my second! My first labour was just over an hour and with a toddler to handle on my second I had the exact same concerns.

While the staff in the hospital where very reassuring, there's not too much planning that can be done. As you know labour is unpredictable. They said that statistically second labours are shorter alright and not to hang about at any signs and call the fire brigade on the way without hesitation if I felt the need

Second baby was born after just 30 mins of labour we made it to the hospital on time. One thing that helped was my parents basically kept our first daughter for most of the week before number 2 was born. They're just up the road so she was in and out to see us a lot, but really if we hadn't had that help I would have been so panicked. Otherwise if you feel things happening pop number 1 in the car and the hospital staff can mind her until someone can come take her for you.

I do want three children and am seriously considering a homebirth if we do have another. I have had perfect, non complicated labours though so far, but with the times of each my labours I fear for the third!!

Edit: gentlebirth was worth gold to me too. To keep me calm both towards the end of the pregnancy worried about all this and during a ridiculously fast labour.

I don't want anymore but if I do I think a homebirth is realistically my only option!

January

If you don't want a homebirth I think realistically you're looking at arranging to be induced before your due date (which carries it's own risks, if your body is not ready to go into labour an induction can end in a cesarean) or taking a chance on going into labour and having a quick birth and not making the hospital.

Prostin gel certainly can cause contractions on its own, if it doesn't then syntocinon is used, so it's possible your induction didn't fail that it just took a while for it to work and when it did it was fast and furious.

Digs

Fwiw I was public with holles street. A consultant mentioned in passing after discussing my first labour they wouldn't induce a second labour for a fast first birth as a pattern hadn't been formed and they couldn't reasonably predict based on one birth. It wouldn't justify an induction. Third and subsequent pregnancies definitely- which would be an option for me next time if I chose, ARM and "off I go" in his own words (both my babies arrived minutes after my waters going). This suited me personally at the time as I prefer not having intervention. Something to consider OP, it might depend on your hospital, then again it could be down to how loud you shout - if it's something you really really want push for it.

Millem

Mirrorwall congrats

Gosh I never thought about this! They told me I had a spontaneous labour as went from say 10cm to 3cm in maybe 30 mins. They just said go to the hospital straight away next time which is what I plan on doing. Jeekers you have got me thinking now!!!!

Edited!! It was 10cm to 3cm not 7cm!

January

Millem wrote: »

Mirrorwall congrats

Gosh I never thought about this! They told me I had a spontaneous labour as went from say 10cm to 7cm in maybe 30 mins. They just said go to the hospital straight away next time which is what I plan on doing. Jeekers you have got me thinking now!!!!

I went from 3cm to 10cm in 20 mins. I was in hospital though so it wasn't a big issue. Coincidentally, on my 4th I went overdue and had to be induced.

mirrorwall14

Thanks Millem. Congratulations yourself

Yeah home birth is not really a choice I'm comfortable with so it'd be more likely to labour on the move while racing to the hospital lol. I take on the suggestion of help on call, that's doable. At the very least the grandparents could meet me at the hospital.

I guess my biggest fear is if I am home alone with the toddler while the husband is at work because there is no way on earth I could drive with the speed it came on the last time. I could chat to my mum about staying with me closer to the time if needs be. Realistically though if I'm home alone with the toddler it'll be an ambulance and have stuff ready in the house I guess. I'm 35 minutes from the Coombe in good traffic and an hour or more in rush hour.

Having said all that I was in and out of the hospital three days a week for a month before my first was born with high blood pressure so if that happens again I'm more likely to be near the hospital!

Oh and it was over 10hrs since the last gel and I was <1cm when the contractions started at 1 minute apart. I was still <1cm on move to the labour ward. Was 10cm and pushing 45 minutes later

Millem

Tbh I am not going to think about it!!!!!
I would be so upset if my husband misses it!!!! He actually works near the hospital so hopefully he could just nip in if needs be! Toddler wise I am thinking if it's morning I will get him to stay with monte/minder and if it's after monte I will ask my next door neighbour to hang onto him. Granny and granddad could come over and collect etc. Both sets have keys to our house!

It's honestly something that has never entered my head!!!!

Digs

Mirror wall - your hospital will absolutely tell you that. If you're on your own ring the ambulance straight away and if you're with someone and stuck in traffic etc ring the ambulance. You wouldn't be expected to drive yourself at all! I was told it's a very common occurrence. Try not to panic, you'll be fine

Moonbeam

I had to stop the other half travelling from 36 weeks and get someone to stay in the house to mind the rest of them just in case .
I can't even imagine a long labour or have any idea what it like to go gradually in to labour,All my babies came as my waters broke .
I think once you know that when you begin to feel unwell and odd at that late pregnancy stage that you just need to get to the hospital it makes it easier .
You can get a Garda escort if you need it but ring the next station on your way so they can meet you .

rainbow kirby

Anyone from my antenatal group who had a labour under 2 hours was advised by the community midwives to consider homebirth for #2. Not for everyone, but worth considering.

Roesy

I had under 4 hours for my first and about an hour for my second and third. Mine we were all inductions though. I like the idea of home birth but after a vacuum delivery and Post Partum haemorrhage on my my first I wouldn't have considered it. I was concerned that if I started labour myself at home on my second and third that I'd be in trouble in terms of getting to the hospital as we are 40 minutes away with no traffic and over an hour at certain times of the day. I also was worried about what to do with my kids if I started(first was 20 months old when second arrived, second was 15 months old when 3rd arrived). I was told come straight to the hospital at the first suspicion that I was starting and that if I had no one to take the kids to bring them with me and arrange for someone to collect them from there. As it happens it didn't matter as I was brought in and started for different reasons on each.

mirrorwall14

Reading back on this now a year later and hopefully will be more relevant this time. I requested my records as soon as I got pregnant this time and I have a list of questions for my 12 week appointment Wednesday week.

Also done lots of reading in the last few days and while it was precipitous in timing I’m pretty sure I had hyperstimulation of the uterus. I remember wondering wtf they were making me take my inhaler but salbutamol is one of the things that can make it slow apparently. Very interested to read my file now

Mondo123

Was your last Labour as fast as your first? How did it go for you ? Did you make the hosp ?

mirrorwall14

Mondo123 wrote: »

Was your last Labour as fast as your first? How did it go for you ? Did you make the hosp ?

Unfortunately I miscarried shortly after this thread. 10+2 now so looking more positive this time. Booking appointment is Wednesday week so I’m looking forward to asking questions then

Mondo123

Oh gosh I'm really sorry. Very best of luck in your booking apt I hope it goes really well for you an that you have a healthy pregnancy. All the best x

CheerLouth

Congrats on your pregnancy! I'm really sorry about the miscarraige - fingers crossed that everything will be ok for you from now on!

I didn't have quite such a tough time as you on my first but it was a fast, hard labour which was really scary! I think it was the lack of control more than anything for me! Like you, I was really worried on my second that we wouldn't make it on time. But every labour is different & my second baby actually took a lot longer but it was a total dream because I was so calm this time! I really second Digs advice on Gentlebirth. I used it & found it so relaxing throughout the pregnancy & keeping me calm during the labour and birth. I've no real advice but just to say a hard first birth doesn't mean a subsequent one will be as tough!