how long where you in labour?

Rachel - posted on 04/10/2009

1 hour 48 mins!! She fell out!!! 6lb 3oz (3kg). Gas and Air, TENS. Was given pethidine 5 mins before she was born but it didn't get to my system til after she was born.  Was a really good labour, enjoyed it. Can't wait to do it again but next time (4th pregnancy, 3rd labour) it will be a home birth I think. I've done 2 hospital births and they were different and good but too easy to warrent the use of a bed.

Alaina - posted on 04/09/2009

I'd had a regular check up at 38weeks and I hadn't felt him moving too much so they sent me to the birthing inn to have a non stress test. I was having contractions so they decided to keep me. I went into the hospital on Tues at 5:00PM and he was born Thurs. 1:15AM. They didn't break my water until Wed evening, and I think I was 4cm when they did that. My doctor insisted that I have an epidural before they broke my water. I can honestly say that besides being a little uncomfortable, I didn't feel any pain, before or after the epidural. I could feel the pressure when it was time to push, he was out after 45 minutes of pushing. 8lbs 3oz. I think the worst thing about the entire labor process was not being able to eat! I was starving the first night I went in, by the second day I was so greatful when my husband snuck me in 4 saltine crackers, they may as well have been steak!

Josephine - posted on 04/09/2009

I started havin mild contractions on the Tuesday, got sent home from hospital, then kept going back in becos the pain kept gettin worse, then on the Thursday I think they got fed up with me lol, cos they kept me in. I had gas and air, paracetamol, and pethidine. Then on the saturday morning, they gave me an epidural, which took three goes cos I kept movin...i hate needles lol...My waters broke just after they'd put the epidural in, they kept asking me if I needed the epidural topping up, I kept saying no. When I asked for it to be topped up, they did, and I started pushing! It takes 25mins for the epidural to properly take effect! Argh too soon lol! But 10 mins later at 9.12pm on the saturday, my gorgeous baby girl was born, weighing 5lb 6oz!!! I'm glad I through all that pain cos I've got a beautiful baby girl! I can't say my partner felt the same though, when I'd bitten him n punctured his hands and arms with my nails! Lol

Lauran - posted on 04/08/2009

I was a week over due when my water broke, and I wasn't dialated at all so they started me on Pitocin.  Right from the begining the pain was too much for me.  I got a shot of Stadol.  About 7 hours after the Pitocin was started I got my epidural, at that point I was 3 centimeters.  5 hours later I was ready to start pushing.  Took me about 50 minutes of pushing to deliver my daughter.  Thinking back, it could have gone faster, but I was so scared of the pain, that I held back.

Lisa - posted on 04/08/2009

for my first child 46 hours,my second i was put n labor,for the third about an hour and had noth n 4 pain,for the 4th child about 5 hours and the fifth i had cecerian she was breach,my six child a week due 2 a car accident and my prior cecerian and my last baby approim..11 hours she was born a day after her daddys birthday april19 th.....

Wendy - posted on 04/08/2009

12 hours from time Pitocin was administered.  Little guy had the cord wrapped around his neck and was wedged in pretty tight.  His heart rate was dropping with each contraction & was not coming back up as quickly as they liked - so I was rolled back & forth several times.  When the doctor checked me, I was complete & baby was born with 2 pushes.  1st baby was all natural with Pitocin.  I wanted to go natural with baby #2 as well, but after 10 1/2 hours & still dilated only to 3 - I got the epidural & was able to relax enough to dilate completely.  Hoping for all natural with baby #3 in early November.

Lisa - posted on 04/08/2009

after 7 u hav things a little under control!

Lisa - posted on 04/08/2009

12 hours

Hannah - posted on 04/08/2009

i'm not entirely sure how long my real labor was but from the time water broke to the time my daughter was born was 21 hours and 45 mins!!!

Dawn - posted on 04/06/2009

I was in labor for 13 hours. My contractions were irregular so they had to give me drugs to help me along. Even with the epidural I had back labor that hurt like hell. I had a lot of back labor because my daughter was facing the wrong way when she made her appearance. They had to help her out with suction because she was stuck on my pelvic bone. I was SO happy when she was born.. the best experience ever, even with the pain. And yes, it did hurt, but it was SO worth it!!!!

Kimberly - posted on 04/05/2009

I was induced at 7am, my daughter was born 13 hours later. I only pushed 3 times, she was face up with the cord around her neck. I had an epidural around hour 8 because I wasn't progressing without it. She was 10lbs 5 oz at birth. But I have to add that my oldest was induced also, I was in labor for 8 hours with her, pushed for 14 mins. She was 8lbs 10oz. I have big babies but when they want out, they want out now!

Victoria - posted on 04/04/2009

i had all the drugs available, had my little boy natrually after 56 hours of labour

Tiffany - posted on 04/02/2009

my first 5 hours- natural no drugs maybe 5 minutes of pushing total including the "practice "ones

my second 3 hours- natural no drugs, i dont even think i pushed but maybe 3 times, i was very lucky!! i do remember however really wishing that i could of had meds because i was given pitocin and it made things extra rough.

Nóra - posted on 04/01/2009

63hours, all natural

Cassie - posted on 03/31/2009

I was induced at 39wks because I had gestational diabeties. I was already 4 cms dilated when they broke my waters. Then everything thing went crazy, it all seems like a blur. I started having heavy contractions and was on the gas. It seemed like only minutes and the midwife was telling me I would have to start pushing. From the time my waters were broken to the time little Jayden was here was only 2hrs. All I remember was feeling very out of it from the gas and the midwife confiscating it off me (I wasn't a happy camper then)

All in all I think I got out of it quite lightly. I was very lucky not to have any complications and to be able to have a natural birth :)

Lisa - posted on 03/28/2009

My 1st baby was born 12 yrs ago and required 8 long hours of labour finished with forceps and what felt like a thousand stitches.Then a year ago I had my second daughter and was in labour for 40 minutes with 2 pushes and no stitches.2 completely different experiences:)

Stephanie - posted on 03/25/2009

My waters broke 19hours before she was born, i went to the hospital and waited 5hours (over night) until they hooked me up to oxitocin and started getting contractions, then after 14 hours of active labour (at 6pm) i was at 4cm!! (same as i was at lunch time!!) So due to risk of infection i had a c-section (Just to make it worse i convinced the anesthetist that my partner needed to be there to help me through the epidural... he fainted! Nurses started calling for oxygen and he was wheeled out!! then they couldnt find the space for the epidural (after many painful attempts) and so i was knocked out! I dont even remember meeting my little girl for the first time :(:( )

Kamaria - posted on 03/24/2009

mi labour was 29 hrs!!! mi daughter was takin her sweet time lol. i only had gas and air the docs had 2 use a ventouse machine to get nyelah out  coz mi contractions wer weak still killed tho

Christa - posted on 03/22/2009

my total labor was about 8 hours. i got to the hospital at 1am and started pushing at 8:40am and he was here by 8:43 am...it only took 8 pushes! i am very grateful for that, the only part that sucked was that i had back labor the whole time and my back was disslocated so that didn't help!

Tasha - posted on 03/22/2009

All together was 19 hours. I went into labor that thursday night at 10:30pm but I thought It was gas so I went to bed hoping when I woke up ill be fine then 7am comes around and im hurts every 4 mins went to the hospital and since I was 7 weeks early and they didnt have a NICU there they took me to another hospital. I had her natural with an epidural but the epidural wore off at the end and I felt everything which was good because I wasnt sure if I was pushing or not.

Nicole - posted on 03/14/2009

mine was 36 hours of hard labor that turned into a c -section because my daughter siehenna have lodged her chin on my pelvic bone and i couldn't push her out without hurting her or myself. Had all the drugs, my husband had to beg me to get the epidural because it was killing him, finally i took it and slept for 6 of the hours through my labor.

Larissa - posted on 03/14/2009

natural birth onli had gas n after my waters broke i was in labour 2 n a bit hrs

Lucy - posted on 03/14/2009

my waters broke 2 weeks early, and then contractions started but stopped, so had to be induced then next morning, from the time my waters broke to giving birth i was in labout for 55 hours. ended up having just gas and air and a natural birth but i was physically exhausted for a few weeks after that!!

Megan - posted on 03/13/2009

I woke up @ 8:30 not feeling too hot... thought maybe these were contraction, but not sure.  Laid in bed for 1/2 hour and finally figured out that yes indeed these were contractions.  Hubby had left for work already.  I realized that they were coming rather close together.  I called Hubby who dashed home about an hour later... silly Hubby!  (She was early and He wasn't ready to leave work yet he claims) We finally could time contractions and they were 5 min apart consistenty. We called the doctor who made us go to the office first... annoying.  He checked and I was already 5 cm!!!!  Yikes!!  We went straight to the hospital, got the epidural right away ( I was over the pain), and I was a happy girl.  The nurse no sooner told me if I felt pressure to call her, that I felt pressure and called her.  I pushed that child out for 3 HOURS!!  Not because I couldn't feel anything, however.  I felt pressure in places that I have never felt before in my entire life!  The doc mentioned at one point that he'd be able to use the vacuum if need be.  As soon as he said that, I begged for him to "Suck it OUT."  He wouldn't!  Finally, my sweet little girl joined the world on April 30 (12 days earlier than she was supposed too) at 7:07 p.m.  She weighed 8lbs and 1oz!  Anna Elizabeth is such a blessing and I am so amazed by her every day!

Samantha - posted on 03/13/2009

I was almost the same. i was induced and was in labour for about 8 hours, my son started off in labour back to back and the pain was ridiculous. I had an epidural which was amazing! all natrul delivery but my son was born with a cord aroung his neck twice, but he was fine

Autumn - posted on 03/12/2009

I went in for me 36week check up and my doctor asked me if I was having any contractions. I told her no. She checked me and said "well, you're dilated 7cm, you're having the baby today." So I went to the hospital, they broke my water at 8cm. gave me my epidural at 9cm (next time I'm doing natural, it wasn't worth it) and pushed for 10min. and he arrived perfect and healthy a whopping 7lbs 6oz.

Aimee - posted on 03/11/2009

I was in labor for 10 hours and had a mini epidural 1 hour before pushing to rest because I was sick to my stomach all night while in labor.  I really wish it was all natural but it was still a wonderful experience.  I pushed for under an hour and she was born!  Now I am due in July with #2 and hoping to have a drug free delivery.

Meghan - posted on 03/11/2009

I had drugs because ever since I was little I have been under the knife for one thing or another so...i took the drugs to deadin the pain...lol...didn't help by the time I was ready to push, but considering the fact that I had 3 moms drop their jaws when they were looking at the strength of my contractions I am not surprised the epi didn't work at the time of pushing.



Natural...nothing torn....I was walking around and taking care of myself within 10 - 15 minutes of giving birth...



I was back to normal by the end of 2 weeks. Doctor said that I am like an old fashioned prairie mom, give birth and go straight back to work...lol

Demi - posted on 03/11/2009

1 hour 35 mins

Meghan - posted on 03/11/2009

I went in to be induced at 1 pm. 7 hours of nothing. Had my water broken around 8 or 9. I only had 45 min. of labor...I tried to ONLY do the pain med through the IV...didn't work after 1 cramping...the Epi worked for a while and then I went into the worst trucker swearing mode that you could ever imagine...scared the nurses...

Amanda - posted on 03/11/2009

I was in labor for a total of 29 hours. I was induced at 37 weeks because I had high blood pressure. I was on Magnesium Sulfate duing labor which made me feel like I had the flu. I ended up having to have two epidurals because my first one fell out after 1 hour of pushing. They put the second epidural in and let me rest for a hour to let me labor down. I then pushed for 3 more hours.

Kelly - posted on 03/11/2009

i was in labour for 13 hours. Well i had contractions for 3 days. She finally decided to emerge without any help. Did have an epidural but stopped working by the time she came damn doctors. (And people wonder why im not thinking of having another!)

Danielle - posted on 03/10/2009

From start to fiinsh 4 hours, but he was my 2nd and my first was 8 hours from start to finish. I had a natural delivery with both and had an epidural with both. With my 2nd 3 pushes and he was out but for my 1st 1 hour of pushing.

Maleasha - posted on 03/10/2009

I was in labor for about 8 hrs with both of my kids. I took 2 pushes for my son to come out. I had an epidural with both, but wish I hadn't with my son because the guy who gave it to me screwed it up. It took me about 5 hours after I had my little guy before I could feel my legs.

Emma - posted on 03/10/2009

I was in labour for about 3 hours, and he was out with 3 pushes.  We were at home and things speeded up so we had to call for an ambulance - had a bit of gas right before he came out.  I didnt find it too painful at all.  I think its different for everyone.

Ashleigh - posted on 03/10/2009

I was 2 weeks over due and finally went into labour...for 2 and a half days!!  I had a midwife which I recommend for everyone- they are beyond amazing.  I for some reason decided not to have drugs, wanted to do it naturally.  Unfortunetly I had really bad back labour, so it was really really hard.  But i succeeded and had a natural birth, April 5th at 3:39am my little man came into the world!! I pushed for about half an hour.  No tearing either :)

Kristen - posted on 03/10/2009

I was induced, they started the pitocin at 3:00 and about 8 hours later Maddy was delivered.  I had an epidural about half way through and am glad I did.  Maddy was face up and her heart beat dropped during contractions.  The doctor came in and said that I needed to push or I might need a c-section.  I ended up delivering vaginally with the help of forceps at 11:17 pm on April 14th.

Kristen - posted on 03/10/2009

I was induced, they started the pitocin at 3:00 and about 8 hours later Maddy was delivered.  I had an epidural about half way through and am glad I did.  Maddy was face up and her heart beat dropped during contractions.  The doctor came in and said that I needed to push or I might need a c-section.  I ended up delivering vaginally with the help of forceps at 11:17 pm on April 14th.

Kristen - posted on 03/10/2009

I was induced, they started the pitocin at 3:00 and about 8 hours later Maddy was delivered.  I had an epidural about half way through and am glad I did.  Maddy was face up and her heart beat dropped during contractions.  The doctor came in and said that I needed to push or I might need a c-section.  I ended up delivering vaginally with the help of forceps at 11:17 pm on April 14th.

Kim - posted on 03/10/2009

I started Labour on Monday the 21st of april just after 12pm..... I went up to the hospital early hours on the Tuesday morning and I was 3cm dilated... as this was my second baby I asked to go home. Long story short... William was born Thursday the 24th of April at 3.02pm!!! I was induced and given an epidural as I had blood pressure of 155/112!!! LOVED IT.....want to have two more bubs!!!

Want 2 more!!!!

Kelly - posted on 03/09/2009

I was induced because I was a week overdue. The started me on pitocin which sped up the contractions that day but that's all it did. I did not dialate at all so they took me off the pitocin so I could eat that night. The next day they did pitocin all over again and broke my water after the epidural. 4 hours  and 5 pushes later I got to meet her.  The contractions I thought were painful but thanks to the epidural after awhile they weren't so bad. =)

Amanda - posted on 03/09/2009

i was induced and i had nothing but gas and i had my baby naturally.. I was in labour for 5hrs and 3 pushes he was out... I guess he also wanted out hehe... I believe the contractions is what hurts not actually pushing out the baby!!

Amanda - posted on 03/09/2009

i was induced and i had nothing but gas and i had my baby naturally.. I was in labour for 5hrs and 3 pushes he was out... I guess he also wanted out hehe... I believe the contractions is what hurts not actually pushing out the baby!!

Colleen - posted on 03/09/2009

Every labour is different, and I think the pain of labour may feel different for each individual.  We only know how it felt for us - it may have been totally different for someone else.  I was pretty determined to do it naturally, and I consider myself very lucky that I was able to.  My doctor wanted to give me oxytocin to speed up the labour and use the suction on him at several points, but I told her to keep checking his heart rate - which she did - and it was always strong, so I really felt he was ok (and he was).  I also had fantastic support and help throughout my labour.  There is no way I could have done it alone! 

Brianne - posted on 03/09/2009

I had to have a blood patch done after the epidural came out, I got poked too many times for the epidural which is why i had the headaches when I came home from the hospital. They were the worst Ive ever had and my pain meds made me sick so I just had to deal with the pain when I came home, but I would still do it all over again.

Rachelle - posted on 03/09/2009

i thought when i went in there ok i m not gunna have an epidural but i guess some people can handle the pain just alittle more cause i know it was to much for..i pushed for over an hour and half...well brianne i m glad your daughter is ok i know was scared of those emergancy...but i didn't feel the epidural while they where doing i was having a contraction so i was so far from paying any attention to the epidural..and i didn't have any headache from it either.

Rachelle - posted on 03/09/2009

i thought when i went in there ok i m not gunna have an epidural but i guess some people can handle the pain just alittle more cause i know it was to much for..i pushed for over an hour and half...well brianne i m glad your daughter is ok i know was scared of those emergancy...but i didn't feel the epidural while they where doing i was having a contraction so i was so far from paying any attention to the epidural..and i didn't have any headache from it either.

Rachelle - posted on 03/09/2009

i thought when i went in there ok i m not gunna have an epidural but i guess some people can handle the pain just alittle more cause i know it was to much for..i pushed for over an hour and half...well brianne i m glad your daughter is ok i know was scared of those emergancy...but i didn't feel the epidural while they where doing i was having a contraction so i was so far from paying any attention to the epidural..and i didn't have any headache from it either.

Brianne - posted on 03/09/2009

More power to women that can do it without, but I didnt think I could, I had horrible back labor and was vomiting and shaking violently before I got the epidural. My daughter was definitely stuck when he pulled her out during the C section you could hear this loud pop her head was so stuck in there. Rachelle your lucky you didnt end up with a C section, I so want to not have one next time. The recovery seems so much longer.

Colleen - posted on 03/09/2009

- 13 hours of labour + 5 long hours of pushing (he was face up)

- all natural - no drugs, no epidural

Believe it or not, I can't wait to do it again!