Labor
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Labor
April 2003
I have two children and have a very fast labor and delivery
record. First born was 4hrs 42 minutes from waking up with
contractions to giving birth. Second was 1 hr 50 minutes
total!! We are going to have a third next year and I am worried
about my next birth. I am looking for any advice, stories or
classes that can help my husband and I prepare in case we do not
get to the hospital in time. My fear is that I will deliver
either at home fast or in the car. I would like to educate
myself and my husband on what to do if we deliver outside of the
hospital. Did you have a simial situation you would like to
share or do you know of anyone who will teach us how to give
birth? THanks in advance for your time and information!!!
jennette
Congratulations. Having been through two very rapid deliveries myself, I do
have some advice. I had a four hour labor and with my second child a two hour
labor. I hired a mid-wife for the second birth thinking that that would avoid
the problem of rushing to the hospital, but I had trouble identifying the
start of labor and communicating with the mid-wife. As a result the mid-wife
had trouble getting to me quickly enough and ended up running through the door
as the baby crowned. I advise having a mid-wife or doctor teach your partner
how to catch the baby. But really, what I suggest is that you plan to induce
the birth by the gentlest means, not protocin, at the hospital or
at home. Again, I'm not certain what the ''how'' of this is. But I know there
are gentle means to do it when the baby is term.
Best wishes to you for your pregnancy.
anon
I was very worried about an extremely fast labor and delivery when
pregnant w/ my second. My first labor was only 2 1/2 hours and we
just barely made it to the hospital. This second time around
knowing it was going to be very fast helped. First off, my husband
and I read a one page thing about emergency delivery, just in
case. After all, the baby is going to come out no matter what and
it might not be ideal to give birth in the car or at home alone,
but, chances are, it'll be OK. The next thing I did (at my
family's insistence) was that I went nowhere out of the house
alone. This may be impractical (and it annoyed the heck out of
me), but I did feel less scared knowing I wouldn't be alone in a
car/ store/ wherever giving birth. And then the other thing I did
was learn all of the signs of pre-labor and went on heightened
awareness. On the day my son was born (just over a month ago) I
was out of the house and had a very strong feeling that I needed
to go home (I really had no definitive signs of pre-labor) and as
soon as I got home things started happening and we got to the
hospital w/ time to spare ( it was a less than 2 hour labor this
time).
Good luck and don't worry. Things'll work out!
Molly G
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