What's a "quick" labor?

I hear a lot of women say lately their labor was over and done with pretty quickly. What's a "quick" labor though? Maybe it's a dumb question, but I am curious!

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

My water broke at 11pm, DD was born at 7:04am. Active contractions for only about 4-5 hours. My OB considers that a quick labor.

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

i was probably going through early labor the whole day at work and didn't know it. the contractions weren't much to speak of. was able to go to sleep, no problem.

woke up at 2:30am not feeling quite right. had my first "real" contraction at 3:07am. was ready to push by about 8:30am, but the OB wasn't ready for me. Started pushing at 9:30am, gave birth at 9:59.

so, from start to finish, just under 7 hours.

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

not sure but i think under 10 hours?

i could be TOTALLY wrong

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

With DS#2 I was admitted at 11:30am. They gave me pitocin because I was 4 cm and had inconsistant contractions. Around 1:45p.m. I was in a lot of pain. At 2:30p.m. I felt pressure like I had to push, 2:45p.m. I was really pushing, 3:00p.m. he was being cleaned off. I thought that was pretty fast.

DS#1 I was admitted at 6:30p.m. and he was born 4:44 a.m. I was in "active labor" alot longer.

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

With number 2, My water broke at 6:15, and my son was born at 12:26. Went in the hospital around 8, then should have started pushing around 11, but my blood pressure kept on dropping so they wouldn't let me. I pushed him out in less than 7 minutes, four pushes (not even full pushes...they kept telling me to stop so the dr could get ready)

I was told with my next one that I had to come to the hospital even if my contractions were really short and mild because I go quick (with # 2, the contractions were less than 30 sec long, and weren't painful---but I got an epi, because I was told it was do or die time!)

With my first, my labor was about 8 hours....so pretty quick for a first time.

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

We were admitted to the hospital at 4:45 am and DS was born 12 minutes later so I think that qualifies. I pushed 3 times and there he was. They told us to get there ASAP when the time for #2 comes

I labored at home for like an hour before we left for the hospital. Who knew!

Needless to say I would love another such birth

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

I believe I started early labor the night before my DD was born. But I went to the doctor at 10:30 am...was 3.5 cm and contracting...but I chose to go to a park and go walking. My contractions got really close, so we went to the hospital at 4:00. I was 5 cm and that was "active" labor. I had her at 11:54 pm after 1.5 hours pushing. They said that was fast.

I actually felt like it went quick. I wasn't in a lot of pain at all, and enjoyed my experience. I never felt like it was SOOOOO LONG. I got lucky I guess???

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

I got to the hospital at 1:30 pm and had her at 2:18 pm less than an hr !! In total I was in labor for 5 hrs

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

This baby I started having contractions at 9:50am and she was born at 2:25pm...I started contractions more than 3cm dilated, was was 5cm at 12:15pm when I arrived at the hospital, and started to push at 2:00pm...this labor was about 1/2 as long as my first...4 1/2 hours total

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

I started feeling pressure around noon. By ~2p (for my weekly appt) I was 3cm and my water broke. I was 5cm by 4ish and by 6p I was fully dilated. DD was born at 8:23p that night. Despite the over 2 hrs of pushing, that was a quick labor.

Message edited 11/27/2008 8:04:57 AM.

Re: What's a "quick" labor?

Contractions began at 1:30 am at home, got to the hospital at 2:30 am and was already 4 cm. Got the epi 45 minutes later and I was already at 9 - that was super quick dilation. My baby was born at 6:35 am. 5 hours start to finish and only 1/2 hour of pushing... and he was my first. LOOOOOOVED it!