Was your short (4-6 hours) labor & delivery more painful than a longer labor?

Question

I've now delivered 2 babies in what I was told was short labor. I was in labor and active with "painful" contractions for a total 4 hours and pushed through 2 contractions for one baby. The other I was in labor with "painful" contractions for 4 hours and pushed through 2 contractions.   Identical VBAC's... now with my 4th...I am hoping for a similar experience but... i was told that the shorter the labor, the more intense and painful it is... is that true for you? What is your birth story if you birthed in less than 4-6 hours start to finish?

Answer

My birth was 2 1/2 hours start to finish and it was a planned water birth. While it was very painful, I would have taken it over my 24 hour medicated birth any day.

Answer

I went in for my 38 week appointment for a membrane sweep. My water was bulging and I was dilated to 4.5cm. So my midwife did a light sweep. She was afraid of being too aggressive and accidentally breaking my water. 
She sent me on my way and told me to come back at 2pm if my water hasn’t broke by itself, and to come earlier if I believed I was in Labor. She had advised me to stay in the same town as my hospital, as I lived 30ish minutes from it. 
I went and walked around for a bit at the store (which happened to be down the road) trying to get labor going.  I made sure to make calls and send messages to update everyone on what was going on. 
I started having light contractions at about 1:30 in the afternoon. I went and picked my boyfriend up from work and we went to the hospital around 2. 
They got me checked into the hospital, and broke my water for me just after 3. I was at a solid 5cm at that point, and they sent me to walk for my labor to jumpstart. The goal was to have me walk for 30+ minutes but I didn’t even make it 15 before I was in so much pain I had to go back to my room. 
I decided to get an epidural as I was in so much pain, and sweating bad lol. 
I had to wait for the doctors to get in and get me ready. As they were prepping me for my epidural I said I felt a lot of pressure, so they laid me on my side really quick and checked me, I was at a 6cm. They sat me back up and finished putting the epidural in. I remember her administering it and my back got super cold. My midwife checked me and I was at 9cm right after the epidural started!! 
I remember I had the time to pick up my phone for just a second and post a picture on my Snapchat to let everyone know I was at 9cm. 
Just after that I told her I was feeling pressure again. They checked and baby was crowning!! 6 pushes total (2 contractions and 3 pushes per contraction) and my little man was out!!
I had him at 5:45pm❤️
The pain was intense because everything happened so quickly. My older son I was in labor for 17.5 hrs before he made his appearance, so I had planned on having so much more time in labor with my youngest son. I had planned on laboring in the tub and on a yoga ball, and i never got to do either! Lol. My recovery seemed much faster with my youngest too.

Answer

I haven’t experienced that short but still a huge time difference between my labours. My first was 60 hours, my second was 12. In my experience it was 100% easier with a shorter labour because I wasn’t so exhausted. Pain wise it wasn’t any different and both my kids where posterior so very similar labour’s besides the time difference 😊

Answer

I was in labor with my daughter 6 hours. She was my first and I’m currently pregnant with baby 2 so I have no comparison. But everyone told me how quick it was. It felt really painful (until my epidural at 8cm) but if I knew how much quicker it would’ve been I would’ve done it drug free. That’s my plan with this baby- if everything goes to plan and quickly.

Answer

I think it depends on a lot of things. I have 2 friends that had about 3 hour labours. One said it was absolutely horrible and the other said it was easy.

Answer

I had a 5 hour labor and a 14 hour and the pain was about the same.

Answer

My first labor was 2 hr 30 min, my second was 1 hr 45 min. A decent difference considering how short they are and my second was waaaaaay more painful and intense. Not at the beginning but transition was a million times harder than with my first. I was certain my hips were going to shatter and the most painful thing I’ve probably ever done is climb onto the bed at 9.5cm with my second.

Answer

No but my short 4.5 labor was my only natural labor. I was induced with pitocin the other 2 times which was waaaay more painful than natural labor

Answer

Yes because the epidural didn’t take and she came out in three pushes! So fast. I kind of had ptsd after. It was traumatic

Was your short (4-6 hours) labor & delivery more painful than a longer labor?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey