Signs of Labor for Women With Fast Labors

Some pregnant women experience fast labor, also known as precipitate labor. This means the labor and birth can happen in less than three hours versus a normal labor, which typically averages about 12 hours. Although fast labor may seem ideal, it gives very little time for the mother to get to the hospital and can present a number of challenges to the mother and child's safety. For a first-time mom, it may be hard to identify a fast labor since there is nothing to compare it to, but there are signs that indicate precipitate labor.

  1. Contractions Begin Quickly

    • One of the first things to indicate a woman is going into labor is her water breaks or she sees blood. Because there are usually several hours between the water breaking and birth, a woman is often told to take her time getting to a hospital. However, if a woman begins to feel contractions soon after her water breaks, even if they are small contractions, this can be a sign of fast labor. Contractions generally begin later on in the birth process.

    Irregular Contractions

    • It's important for a woman to time her contractions, meaning she should record how much time takes place between each contraction. The closer the contractions are, the closer she is to having the baby. If the contractions are irregular, then it can be a sign of fast labor. If some contractions are far apart and others are close together, they are irregular contractions. If a woman only has a few mild contractions before feeling intense contractions, it's another sign of fast labor.

    Quick Changes in Dilation

    • During the course of a normal labor, a woman's cervix will slowly dilate until it reaches 10 centimeters, or fully dilated. Fast labor is intense for the woman because there is not a gradual dilation of the cervix. Instead, the cervix dilates at an increased rate, which can be very painful.

    Feeling the Urge to Push

    • A woman's body is designed to give birth on its own, so she feels the urge to push when the baby is ready to come out. If a woman feels the urge to push before getting to a hospital or her midwife arrives, she may be in fast labor. It's important to note that a woman should try not to push for as long as possible when she is without assistance.

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