Number of Hours in the LR/DR

[feline]

Hi! I would like to start a thread asking everybody (those who have experienced delivering a baby) to share their experiences of how many hours they stayed in the labor room and delivery room when the final time has come to let the baby out. For my first baby, it took me about four hours after the baby finally came out. I had more time and a hard time at that, in the delivery room and had less time in the labor room (not really laboring for a long time).

[kelkat]

My first son had no intrest in coming out. (I think he was waiting for spring). I went into the hospital at 6:30 am and he was delivered at 8:54 PM!
My second son was a unique experience. He was very active in the womb and it made it uncomfortable for me to sleep. In the last few months of pregnancey, I probably on got a few hours sleep. I was soooo tired. In the hospital, I refused pain medication, but did accept the epidural. Wow! I could finally sleep - and I did - straight through the delivery. I have very little memory of that birth.
With my third son, he was ready way before time. The doctor stopped the delivery once, but my son was not detered. Three weeks before his due date, he came. I did have the epidural again, three actually because the first two did not hit the right spot, but I don't think it ever fully took effect. This son came with in 30 minutes of getting the epidural and with only 4 1/2 pushes and I felt it. It wasn't as bad as you might think, but it was something I recommend for every day.

Out of the three, I appreciated the third birth the most (enjoyed would be too strong). There is just something to actually feeling your child coming into this world that is just beyond description.

[harleysneak]

I had to have my labor induced because of complications, but I was in labor for about 12 hours and actively pushing for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, but when my daughter finally came out, it was amazing. I did have the epidural although they had to turn it down a little because it was affecting me adversely. It was long and hard, but I am looking forward to hopefully getting pregnant again.

[Melos]

My first labor was also induced due to eclampsia and that one took about 2.5 hours start to finish. My second son, I stayed at home during most of my labor and went to the hospital ALMOST a little too late. I was in the hospital a grand total of 17 minutes (and that included getting upstairs to the room) before my bundle was born.

[anarch]

My daughter, my first, was 9 hours from the time that my water broke until I gave birth, though I only experienced any real pain during the last hour. My son was an emergency c-section, so I can't really say how long labor was there hehe... didn't ever have a labor pain

[Tigriz]

Okay, no offense Melos, but 17 minutes? You lucky dog.

As for me personally, I was induced because I'm incredibly short and my son had a large head. I was in labor for 24 hours before they finally agreed a c-section was necessary because I wasn't progressing. I didn't have any length of time in the active pushing phase because we never got that far. I did have vomiting, the shakes, had to put on oxygen, and ended up with a fever which is also why they decided to go with the c-section.

I am PRAYING my second child (who has not yet been conceived) will be a little easier on old mom.

[Danielle]

Here's my experience with my daughter (my first). At 5 in the morning I started getting regular contractions. I was so thankful because I'm a person who REALLY needs her sleep. After 5 hours of pain, I asked for an epidural. It helped ease the pain until I was at 8 centimeters. Then all hell broke loose. I laugh when I read magazines that tell us to read a book or knit or whatever to help pass the time. I was shaking from the pain. Screaming worked wonderfully for me (the hospital staff wasn't too thrilled, but forget them--they're not the ones delivering).

My doctor had broke my water, trying to speed things up, but it looked like I was going to take a while. So she leaves for her office a few miles away. As soon as she leaves, that's when my incredible need to push came. The nurses try to delay the pushing, but the kid is coming--with or without my doctor. I start pushing, the doctor arrives a few minutes later, and my daughter is born 12 hours later. Pushing only lasted about 15 minutes for me. I don't know how other women can keep pushing longer. My doctor and the nurses wouldn't let me stop to breathe while pushing--no one ever told me that in lamaze class.

[Melos]

LOL! 17 minutes in the hospital - but about 10 hours of gentle labor before that. I went shopping that afternoon - stopping every 10 minutes or so and breathing through a little contraction. THen I was hungry so I had to finish my chicken soup. I went to the hospital when I was done - with contractions about 2 minutes apart at that point. Doctor broke my water and out he came with 2 pushes.

[jaescafe]

With my first child my water broke at home and from then to delivery I think it was 7 hours (pretty quick). My second was different. I went to the hospital at 7:00am to be induced, but then did not have to be because I was starting labor (yes very weird) and I had her at 6:41pm. A long day, but a happy one.

[Melos]

I am very thankful that my water never broke at home or anywhere embarassing - or on the front seat of the car. That was the one thing I was dreading about the birth process.