Let’s Talk About: Precipitous (Rapid) Labour
As we know, labour and birth can be somewhat unpredictable. There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to birth, particularly if you’ve never given birth before. The majority of us don’t know when our baby will be born, what labour will feel like, who our caregiver will be, what circumstances will arise in our labour, etc. The list of unknowns is loooong!
The length of labour is another huge unknown. There is literally no way to know how long a labour will last for each individual birther. I have known parents who have laboured for 3 days and I have known some that have laboured for only a few hours. The average length of labour for first time mums and birthers is said to be between 12 - 24 hours and second/subsequent births usually being a little bit quicker.
However, most of us expect to labouring for sometime before our baby finally makes their appearance. But, this is not always the case!
what is precipitous labour?
Precipitous labour, also known as rapid labour, is defined as a birth which takes place 3 hours or less from the onset of surges (contractions).
It is thought that 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 bithers, 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 precipitous 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 few to experience a precipitous labour. However, there are a number of factors which make a precipitous 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 and, equally, many who have none of the above symptoms but shoot their baby out in a couple of hours!
It really is completely unpredictable.
As I said in the beginning, the best thing you can do is be aware of the possibility of a precipitous labour and be prepared for the eventuality that your baby makes a speedy entrance earth side. Equally as important is that your partner or birth companion is prepared - so give them this blog to read so that they are also in the know.
Some parents report finding precipitous labours quite stressful and sometimes even traumatic due to their unexpected nature and the speed of the events. Therefore, knowing in advance that precipitous labour is a possibility and what to do if you go on to have a precipitous labour is both good birth preparation, and can maximise your chances of having a positive birth experience regardless!
What do i do if i think i am having a rapid labour?
Here are my suggestions:
Call your midwife immediately, they will likely want to know when surges began and how frequently you are experiencing them.
If you are expecting to have your baby at the delivery ward or birth centre, your midwife might ask for you to travel in. (This is when you really need to have had your hospital bag packed and ready to go. If you’re hospital bag is not packed, grab as many essentials as you can but do not delay going to the hospital (you’ll be able to worry about any forgotten items later)
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 it’s 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 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 positions, 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.
fast labour? sounds great! what’s the downside?
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 precipitous labour a positive experience?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - these ‘what if’s’ situations are where hypnobirthing tools and techniques really come into their own!
The aim in a precipitous 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 hypnobirthing 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 precipitous 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 care giver to arrive. It is also a good idea to have a blanket or towel over them to keep them warm. But telephone 999 as soon as possible and the operator will give you medical advice over the phone.