My Labor Was Incredibly Brief — But It's Not As Pleasant As It Sounds

While I was expecting my daughter, I had envisioned the perfect birth experience. The plan was simple: I would arrive at the hospital at 39 weeks, dressed in a chic yet comfy outfit. My nails would be painted a soft blue, and I’d have my makeup done — after all, there would be photos! My mom would come to town two days before my due date to provide emotional support and care for our dog (she couldn’t come into the hospital due to COVID restrictions).

During my hospital stay, I imagined watching Harry Potter movies on my laptop as we waited for the induction. My husband would be there to soothe me, reminding me of my strength. When the contractions became unbearable, I would happily welcome the epidural, leading to a sweet family moment with our newborn.

Oh, how naïve I was.

Have you heard of precipitous labor? I hadn’t until I experienced it myself. Precipitous labor is defined as labor that lasts under three hours, and in my case, it was a mere 90 minutes. Let me walk you through the chaos, minute by minute.

March 18th, 3:30 AM

I wake up, plagued by pregnancy insomnia. I head to the living room for some light reading of Pride and Prejudice, hoping not to disturb my husband, Luke. My dog follows me loyally.

3:40 AM

I settle on the sofa, getting lost in the story. Oh, Elizabeth, if only you knew… Wait, I need to use the bathroom.

3:45 AM

That’s my mucus plug! Do I need to call the doctor? I read that losing it doesn’t mean labor is imminent. But the excitement builds — maybe baby Ella is coming soon!

3:46 AM

Exhausted, I think about lying down to tell Luke about the mucus plug. He’ll be thrilled.

3:50 AM

I lie back down, hugging my belly when suddenly—CRACK. What was that? Did my baby drop? My stomach starts cramping.

3:51 AM

LUKE, WAKE UP! I think I’m in labor! I call the doctor, thinking we have plenty of time since first labors average eight hours.

3:55 AM

A wave of intense cramping hits. Luke, get the car ready! The nurse said the doctor would call back soon. Maybe we should head to the hospital now.

4:00 AM

We’re in the car. Luke makes jokes that are far from amusing given my pain. Each cramp is worse than the last, and I can’t even open the contraction timer app on my phone.

4:35 AM

We arrive at the hospital, and I’m struggling to walk from the parking garage. I press my face against the hospital door, pleading silently for help.

4:45 AM

Somehow, I end up in a wheelchair. I don’t even know how I got here. My water breaks, and I panic while Luke talks to a receptionist about our IDs.

4:50 AM

I’m in some room, and Luke is trying to help me change into a gown while I’m fighting him off. I run to the toilet, and—surprise! I’m having diarrhea. Luke is still trying to assist me. Just leave me be!

4:55 AM

The doctor arrives. I’m begging for the epidural. They check to confirm my water broke. Good news: I’m 7 cm dilated.

5:00 AM

I’m wheeled into another room, frantic for pain relief. My whole body is sweating, and my IV falls out. I’m in a daze and can’t even locate Luke.

5:05 AM

The epidural anesthesiologist arrives, and I’m nodding along, desperately wanting relief. But then, I feel the urge to push; my baby is coming. I deny it when asked if I’m pushing.

5:06 AM

The nurse realizes the truth and prepares for delivery. There’s no time for the epidural. I’m horrified.

5:09 AM

Luke finds me, holding my hand as the doctor arrives. After one contraction and two pushes, she’s here — my beautiful baby girl.

And let me tell you, she was absolutely worth it. However, I’ve never considered natural birth an option. From a young age, I envisioned having all the pain relief available. I’ve always believed in supporting mothers in their choices regarding childbirth, but my experience taught me that sometimes, we have no control over how things unfold.

So, when people ask if I plan to have another child, I can’t help but make this face…

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In summary, my labor experience was nothing like I had planned. It was chaotic and intense, but ultimately rewarding. Despite the lack of control, the joy of welcoming my daughter into the world made every moment worth it.

My Labor Was Incredibly Brief — But It’s Not As Pleasant As It Sounds