I read heaps of posts about people saying their labour was X hrs and X mins and I wonder how they time it. People ask me "how long were your labours?" and I'm not really sure how to answer. Do you time it from first symptom/pain or what? Is there a "rule' that people follow for this?
With my first, it started with water breaking but no contractions until few hours later. So how many hours do I say - baby was born 10hrs after water breaks, 7hrs after 1st contraction, and 3hrs after 'strong' contractions (from 4cm dilated). So how long was my labour? With my second I had mild pain all night but didn't actually know I was in labour until 2 hours before baby was born (arrived at hossy 10cm dilated, baby born 1hr later) - so how long do I say my labour was here? Everyone else seems to know theirs!
I go from when contractions start - if they're fairly regular. My first labour they started at 8 mins apart, so that's when I counted from.
It can get tricky if you've been having contractions on and off for a few days before birth, but I guess I go from when things were established. So for you, I'd say 7 hours.
Someone might be along with a different definition, but that's how I see it.
Ive always gone after 1st contraction too.....my last baby i had contractions start at
2am, and i had her at 5.08am.... so a 3 hour labour i say.....my labours have always been (fast !!) contractions....waters breaking...bit of pushing.......baby......
I've always said mine was 5 hours, going on established contractions too. But I think, 'officially,' is it from 4 cm's dilated? Or that's what they put on hospital discharge papers anyway- mine say 3 hours, 2 minutes.
18-20 hours from first "contraction" (my BH just got stronger and more regular until eventually they were a tiny bit ouchy at the peaks - i was asleep at the time, but would wake up every now and then with one)
16hours from breaking of waters (i went back to sleep after this happened though!)
6 hours from strong (i.e. couldn't talk through them, was in the bath for help with the pain) contractions starting.
Estimated (by midwife) as under 3 hours from 4cm-birth (i was 2-3 at 2.30pm, DD was born at 6.20pm)
Also i never got to really push because they thought i wasn't dilated, so my second stage, on my medical notes, is written as 7 minutes (which was 2 contractions and the gap between them), but i was fighting the urge to push for well over 2 hours!
This is a good thread.... i've always wondered the same thing.
I figured it would just be from when contractions are regular enough to be timing them.... ? Look forward to the posts.....
I would like to know how people recall their birth experience with exact times like to minutes!! How on earth do you remember what happened at what TIME??
I have always understood it to be from the start of active labour, usually around 4cms dilation, to the birth of the baby. Before that you're usually only niggling and contractions aren't usually consistent or strong enough. That said though, some women will labour strongly the entire time
the hospital times it from when you are in proper labour, so regular, strong contractions and about 4cm (I think?)
My first labour went for 2.5 days, but only 47.5 hours when you go from regular strong contractions.
How do you determine length of labour?
Reply With Quote
? Look forward to the posts.....
Bookmarks