Rapid labor

With each pregnancy, labor and delivery can be very different. Some women go through a typical labor process, while others may experience delayed labor or find it necessary to induce them. Still others experience rapid labor. While some women find a quick delivery a great benefit, there are also disadvantages to having a quick delivery.

Regardless of the type of birth, you can expect a healthy birth.

There are three stages in labor and the birth of your baby:

Active labor
Birth of the baby
Delivery of the placenta

On average, these stages of labor last from 6 to 18 hours. Rapid labor, also called rush labor, is characterized by labor that can last as little as 3 hours and usually less than 5 hours.

Several factors can affect your potential for rapid labor, including:

A particularly efficient uterus which contracts with great strength
An extremely compliant birth canal
A history of prior rapid labor
Birth of a smaller than average baby

What are the signs and symptoms?

Signs of rapid labor vary, but may include any of the following:

The sudden onset of intense, close contractions with little chance of recovery between contractions.
Severe pain that feels like a continuous contraction with no recovery time.
A feeling of pressure, including an urge to push, that comes on quickly and without warning. It can also be described as a push and saddle-like feel. Often this symptom is not accompanied by contractions because the cervix dilates very quickly.

What are the difficulties of rapid labor?

The most obvious difficulty in a quick birth is the emotional upheaval. Rapid labor can make it extremely difficult to find coping strategies and can deprive the mother-to-be of a sense of control. Many women are disappointed because they look forward to giving birth and are surprised at the speed of childbirth.

A very practical problem of early birth is also the place of birth. Often, by the time the mother-to-be realizes that she is indeed having a short delivery, there is a narrow opportunity to get to the hospital. In this case, the pain relief options listed in the birth plan may or may not be available.

A rush labor can have a number of other potential difficulties for the mother or baby, including:

For mother:

Increased risk of tearing and laceration of the cervix and vagina
Hemorrhaging from the uterus or vagina
Shock following birth which increases recovery time
Delivery in an unsterilized environment such as the car or bathroom

For Baby:

Risk of infection from unsterilized delivery
Potential aspiration of amniotic fluid

How you can manage or cope during a rapid labor

While you cannot control the speed at which your labor is progressing, there are a few steps you can take to bring the situation under control in the event of a rapid labor.

This includes: