Speedy births
If you’re a first time birther and you’re anything like us, you’re probably preparing for labour to take some time. But, this isn’t always the case!
The average length of labour for first time mums and birthers is said to be between 12 - 24 hours and second/subsequent births usually happen a little bit quicker.
Perhaps if you’ve birthed before, you’re going off the length of your previous labour(s) as a guide for how long your birth will last this time. But don’t bank on it!
The length of labour, just like everything else when it comes to birth can be wonderfully unpredictable. we haver supported parents who have laboured for 3 days and we have missed births due to their super speedy nature!
What is a speedy birth?
Rapid labour (officially known as precipitous labour) is defined as a birth which takes place 3 hours or less from the onset of surges (contractions).
Only 3% of births are categorised as precipitous and therefore, it’s not particularly common. However, you can never be too prepared! If you happen to fall within the special 3% of speedy birthers, being prepared is really going to help you maximise your chances of having a positive experience!
How will i know if I’m having a speedy labour?
Well, rather unhelpfully, you probably won’t! Unfortunately, we don’t tend to get much notice of these things. However, there are a few tell tale signs to look out for:
very frequent surges from the beginning (or quickly develop to be very frequent)
very intense surges from the beginning (or quickly become very intense)
very little rest between each surge
a very sudden urge to bear down or “push”
There is no way to predict whether or not you will be one of the chosen ones to experience a speedy labour. However, there are a number of factors which make a rapid labour slightly more likely:
This is a second or subsequent birth, particularly if your first birth was quite quick
Young maternal age
Babies with lower birth weight
Conditions of hypertensions (e.g. pre-eclampsia)
With the above said, there are plenty of women and birthing people who have many of the symptoms listed above, but do not experience a rapid labour. Equally, many who have none of the above symptoms but shoot their baby out in a couple of hours!
It really is completely unpredictable.
Preparation is key
If you’re reading this and panicking slightly - don’t! The best thing you can do is be aware of the possibility of a speedy labour and be prepared for the eventuality that your baby makes a sudden entrance earth side. Equally as important, is that your partner or birth companion is prepared - so show them this blog post so they’re are also ‘in the know’.
Some parents report finding rapid labours stressful and sometimes even traumatic due to their unexpected nature. Therefore, knowing in advance that birth can (although relatively rarely) happen quickly is important.
Here are our top tips for managing a speedy birth:
Call your midwife immediately, they will likely want to know when surges (contractions) began and how frequently you are experiencing them.
If you are planning to have your baby outside of the home, your midwife might ask for you to travel in to the hospital (this is when you really need to have had your hospital bag packed and ready to go!)
If you are expecting to have a home birth, your midwife might make their way out to you at this stage or they might suggest that you call 999 for a paramedic to be sent to you.
If you have the sudden and intense urge to bear down or push and can feel your baby making their way down the birth canal, call 999 immediately. The operator will stay on the phone to you or your partner and provide you with guidance until the paramedics or midwives arrive.
If at all possible, have someone with you at all times.
If it is not possible to travel anywhere and you feel that baby is about to make their entrance, get yourself into a comfortable position, preferably somewhere clean and close to the ground.
Easier said than done, I’m sure; but try and remain as calm as possible. This goes for both you and your birth partner.
Potential risks:
A labour which happens very fast holds a few increased risks, including:
slightly increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage
slightly increased risk of tearing
slightly increased risk of infection (depending on where you end up giving birth)
How can I make a speedy labour a positive experience?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - these ‘what if’ situations are where the hypnobirthing tools and techniques really come into their own!
The aim in a speedy labour is to remain as calm as possible and maintain that confidence in your body’s birthing ability that you will have learnt on your birth preparation course.
This is because, if labour happens quicker than expected it can feel to some that they have been swept up in the process which they are not in control of due to the pure speed of events.
So:
calming breathing techniques will be a great tool to help you remain comfortable and will be a wonderful distraction to offer your mind to focus on
relaxations are going to be essential to help you maintain calm
positive affirmations such as “my baby and I work together during this birth” will help to calm you
utilising all of your favourite comfort measures; bath, bath ball, soft touch massage, essential oils are also going to be of great benefit to you.
BBA = born before arrival
Occasionally with speedy labours, baby is born before you can get to the hospital or birth centre, or before your midwife or paramedic can get to you!
If this happens the most important thing to remember is S2S - Skin to skin!
After baby is born, place them directly on to your chest and wait for a caregiver to arrive. It is also a good idea to have a blanket or towel over them to keep them warm. Telephone 999 as soon as possible and the operator will give you medical advice over the phone.