Unassisted Home Birth Australia
Precipitous Birth
Published 19th June 2021, updated 20th June 2021
What is precipitous labour and birth?
Precipitous is technically defined as active labour to birth under 3 hours.
This can explain why some women birth as soon as they get to a hospital, or have the baby in the car on the way there. Some women accidentally birth in the supermarket or even a pizza shop!
However some women can birth in an even shorter time - as little as 2 minutes, or 3 contractions! They wake up to strong contraction, baby crowns with the next, and then is out. Accidental home birth without even leaving your bed or bathroom!
Every woman should be aware that it's a possibility for them. It doesn’t matter whether your previous labour was long or short, all births are new and surprising!
In Australia, 4 in 1000 births are unplanned, out of hospital births, or "Born Before Arrival" (BBA)
And I can’t find statistics on how many out of that 1000 narrowly made it to their planned place of birth, or gave birth in under 3hrs.
So, please take this seriously that if you are pregnant, you could have a precipitous labour!
“Childbirth is like running a marathon. Whether you do it in 20 minutes or 24hrs, you still need to cover the same distance”
What happens in precipitous labour?
Since precipitous labour is defined as active labour, it is hard to actually know when to “count” labour stages from, regardless of contractions, especially when modern medicine inaccurately measures labour by cervical dilation based on Friedman’s Curve.
A lot of women don't feel “early” labour, they may have “silent” dilation, or painless contractions.
Or they may be feeling contractions that are described as “prodromal labour” and then that suddenly switches gears powerfully
Some women have normal, gentle labour contractions that surprise them when they start to feel like pushing, but they have not had intense or painful contractions yet
Some women’s waters break suddenly, and they feel the baby drop down into the birth canal, and contractions start instantly.
And still other women are plunged straight into “transition”, a state of strong contractions and high adrenaline
Because precipitous labour varies so much between women, it is hard to know that it will happen, or is happening to you, until baby is in your arms!
Why it happens
We don’t know why precipitous labours happens, though there are a few so called “risk factors” and theories
Around 2/100 natural labours are precipitous (i.e. not induced, although inductions can go rapidly too)
Only 9% happen to first time mothers. You are more likely to experience a precipitous labour in subsequent births or with preterm births.
Warning signs
Unfortunately there are very few distinct warning signs, as most signs are the same as any other labour until it gets unexpectedly intense
Menstrual-like cramps
Already dilated before labour starts
Prodromal labour for days
Rapid dilation once contractions start
Sudden, strong contractions
Pressure, especially in the butt
Urge to push
Baby dropping
In a lot of pain out of the blue
Waters breaking
One long contraction
Panicky
How women feel
During and after a rapid labour and delivery, you may be feeling a range of emotions. Shocked is a common one.
You may also be IN shock
You may feel like crying
Traumatized
High /elated
Disappointed ( that you missed out on some aspects of your birth plan like using the birthing pool or having a specific support person present)
Happy that everything went fast
Relief that it is over
Exhausted
Strong (if I can do this, I can do anything)
For some time postpartum, you can sometimes have difficulty with emotions as the hormone rushes you get in labour overwhelmed you rather than coming gradually OR they didn’t kick in until well after the birth. (These hormone surges are necessary and responsible for pain relief, placenta detachment, breastmilk production, and bonding.)
Anxious
Weepy
Worried about baby
What to do if experiencing a precipitous labour:
If you feel that baby is coming super fast, and perhaps your midwife isn't there yet, or your partner isn't home from work, or your doula/birthkeeper got delayed, there are still plenty of things you can do yourself, whether you are birthing alone, or with support.
Remember, all that you need to birth IS within you, knowledge innate and ancient. Tune into your instincts, the same ones that guided our grandmothers to birth.
"I've learned from talking to other moms that almost everything you have right now in your home and your heart is enough to deal with most everything." -Mayim Bialik
Unlock your front door and call 000 (911 for you Americans)
Or you can call your midwife or friend to stay on speakerphone
Get somewhere soft, such as the bed, or put towels and cushions under you. (If you are in public, ask for towels or pillows, or sweaters)
Anyone present should be calm, otherwise now is the time to tell them to leave. Birth is sacred and to be supported. It is not a spectator sport, or for the scared. This includes anyone that are medical professionals such as doctors or ambulance personnel that may disturb your peace or interfere with your wishes.
Surrender to the contractions. Don't fight them.
Listen to your body. It can birth without you, and it will tell you what it wants.
The fetal ejection reflex will push baby out for you, so don't stress, just focus on working with your natural urges. Or if you feel like pushing, you can do that too!
“Keep in mind that the sensations are powerful because they ARE power, you don't have to be in control of it, you just have to keep above it. Let your head stay OUT of the game, be an observer of the power while you fully relinquish control” - Yolanda, many time precipitous freebirther
Tell yourself, "My body knows how to do this, my body IS doing this, I am safe, this is okay"
When you feel pressure in the butt and baby’s head descending, you are nearly there!
You can pant the head out, slowing it to protect your perineum. You can also apply pressure with your hands wherever you feel stinging at your vulva, and you can guide baby’s head ready to catch.
Get low, such as into a kneeling position, so your baby will not drop onto a hard surface.
The best person to catch your baby is YOU, or have a trusted person catch and pass straight to you. (Baby can also safely drop a short distance onto a soft surface.)
Bring baby to your chest and keep them warm and offer the breast.
This is the most important thing. Keep your baby warm and close to you
Babies that are born fast can often feel or appear a bit stunned,, but usually they are quite healthy
If you can, avoid disturbing mother and baby for a few minutes. They have been to another world together and it takes time to come back fully. This is a crucial bonding time. They need to remain skin to skin, smelling, feeling, meeting each other. Protect motherbaby in a warm, safe, private bubble.
There is no rush to worry about the placenta. Whenever it does come out, put it in a tub or bag.
You do not need to cut the cord straight away, or even at all (umbilical cord non-severance is called “lotus birth”) Leaving the cord intact for at least 5-30mins will allow baby to receive all of it’s blood and stem cells.
Continue to snuggle baby as you make your next plans, whether you stay home, transfer to hospital, or have your midwife assess you.
You need to stay warm, hydrated, and take in some food for energy. This will help you prevent or treat shock that often can occur after a rapid birth.
It will also help you heal from birth and reduce bleeding.
A precipitous birth is something unique! However you feel about it, whatever happened, it was YOUR birth, and that means it is a birth to be proud of.
“If baby is coming out in your shower, toilet, driveway, car, parking lot of wherever ... remember in the midst of it all to congratulate yourself and BE PLEASED that you are so doggone GOOD at this, your body is perfect, and admire yourself because you have the Mercedes Benz model of birthing body. Don't let anyone pathologize your magnificent body working perfectly” - Julie, precipitous birther
“Although I had not planned for an unassisted home VBAC, I felt I was as prepared mentally, emotionally, and physically as anyone could be for this kind of experience. I am in absolute awe of the female body and am certain all women have the same instinct and ability to birth their babies unhindered,” Erin, unexpected-homebirth
After the birth
Never, ever feel shame for having a fast labour or BBA birth. You are not defective just because your body did perfectly exactly what its meant to do before you could make it in the doors of the hospital!
Journal or talk about it to help you emotionally process (this is helpful for any length birth) you do not have to do this immediately, but even a brief overview while memories are fresh is beneficial, and you can debrief for longer at a time when you have someone you trust to hold space and hear every minute.
Review any photos and medical notes to piece together a timeline if you wish
Listen to someone else's perspective of your birth. This can help you a lot by piecing together things like a timeline. It can be also be amazing to hear if they thought you were brave or strong during your birth! But, depending who you speak to, if they say something negative instead, it can actually alter how you feel about a certain part of your birth that you may have originally felt good about . Be discerning, and specific in what you ask for from any spectators.
You don’t want your beautiful OR traumatic experience downplayed in any way that doesn’t centre you. (This is just one example of why we should speak to women about their birth experiences with the intent to listen rather than tell them how they *should* have felt or what they should think about their experience.)Get physical help if needed, such as from a pelvic floor therapist. A fast birth can put a lot of things out of whack, and can store trauma or energy in your body, making you tense or inhibit healing. Try visiting a chiropractor, experienced massage therapist, or getting your partner to help you with physical and emotional relaxation and release.
Some general tips
Whenever, however, and how long (or short) it takes you to birth, the most important thing to me is that you feel informed, empowered and in control of your experience (as much as you can be).
These are some generalised tips that will benefit you in a long labour as well as a precipitous one.
Join a Facebook support group for precipitous or unassisted birth
Read up on holistic physiological, unmedicated birth and the important role hormones play (Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering book by Sarah J Buckley or online articles by her cover the hormones very well)
Birth With Confidence book by Rhea Dempsey guides you in your choices for a normal birth, and we have a list of other helpful books here.
HOMEBIRTH. I can’t stress this enough, sorry, this is a homebirth page! But seriously, a homebirth means you can stay home and not stress about making it anywhere in time. Let the midwife do the stressing and the traveling while you labour in comfort! Research this option thoroughly as a viable one for you.
“staying at home for as long as she is comfortable doing so is one of the most important things a woman can do if she wants to maximise her chances of having a straightforward, normal birth.” Dr Sara Wickam, https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/is_home_birth_safe/
Read up on unassisted childbirth tips and complication management.
If you know where you are planning to birth, organise everything in tubs for pre and post birth, and label them for your support person to grab easily.
Prepare your support person for the possibility of fast birth. Word them up on how to support you, where things are so they don’t need to ask you, and how to catch baby if needed.
Put towels on your car seat any time you drive, in case your water breaks.
Car kit. If you travel anywhere at term, especially if you’ve had a fast birth before, it is a good idea to keep a few supplies in your car. Some things you might like to put in a plastic tub and/or bag might be:
- A couple of absorbent disposable mats (chux/puppy pads) so that you have a clean dry surface to give birth onto.
- A clean towels and baby blankets to dry your baby and wrap them in
You can also birth on towels or sit on them after birth. (Towels are the easiest thing to pack and the most versatile.)
- Baby diapers and a newborn outfit
- A waterproof ziplock bag or plastic tub to put the placenta in.
- A comfortable change of breastfeeding friendly clothes and underwear for you.
- Large maternity pads
- Some tinctures or Rescue Remedy spray (these can be kept in your handbag so they aren’t exposed to temperature fluctuations in the car)Trust your instincts. Babies that come fast are often in good health. So if you feel everything is okay, trust that. And if you feel you need extra help, voice that. Listen to what your body and baby needs and act on your intuition. Your birthing processes are designed in the animal brain, so move with your body, make noise if your body wants to, it is doing what it knows to do, and you don’t want to distract it with overthinking if you don’t need to.
“As a doula, I've never once seen a birth where "relaxed and calm" were central players. And why should they be expected to? Why should a person be expected to remain perfectly relaxed and calm during something as huge as bringing a new person into the world?
If staying relaxed and calm is your number one goal in birth, what happens when those things go out the window for whatever reason? What story do you tell yourself about YOU when you need to roar or tense up or cry through a tough contraction? If you judge yourself by these standards, you're setting yourself up for failure.
Rather than subscribing to a narrow view of birth as something you need to be relaxed and calm about (or you're doing it wrong), it can be helpful to begin to expand your definition of success in birth. What if instead your goal was to be brave? Or flexible? Or to do the best you can?” - Marlee, Hero Birth services
Prepare your care providers, if any, thoroughly. Ask about their experiences with other precip labours and how they intend to support you. How does their roster and backup work if you are birthing at a random time?
Be prepared to advocate or do it all yourself. Many on duty nurses at the hospital may not have seen a precipitous labour, and may not believe you if you say baby is coming NOW.
Induction. Many women may consider induction after an upsetting precipitous labour. This can be for many reasons from wanting to make sure they are at the hospital, or so that they have a specific doctor or their partner present, or even so they can get an epidural. This might be you for any reason. I want to ask you to research induction thoroughly and weigh up the risks and benefits for yourself and baby. You have many options, such as inducing labour “naturally” at home like with castor oil with your midwife’s guidance and with her on standby, or starting with gentler methods at the hospital such as the bulb first, rather than getting straight onto pitocin. You can also decide not to be induced at all but come up with another plan that can help you feel safe and be safe.
These two links are aimed at post term labour but have useful information on induction in general.
https://midwifethinking.com/2016/07/13/induction-of-labour-balancing-risks/
https://www.sarawickham.com/topic-resources/post-term-pregnancy-and-induction-of-labour-resources/
Coping with past fear and trauma
I couldn’t end this article without touching on something that may be common to a lot of women who experienced an unexpectedly fast birth, and I wanted to say: you are not alone.
You may not know anyone in your life who has felt the same as you, or feels the same, but other women have been where you are. Fast birth can be traumatic! This can impact how you feel about motherhood and future pregnancies. I really want to encourage you that you don’t have to stay in that fear. Let those who have been there with you encourage and support you as you heal and move forward. Connect with someone you trust (professional or friend) and debrief with them. Buy the book “How to heal a bad Birth”. Join the Facebook specific precipitous support group.
I cannot tell you how much I desire for all women to have a good birth experience and to be heard and supported during birth AND after. Darling, you are worthy, so worthy of a beautiful experience, and you deserve your peace and power.
You are the mother, the birther, the badass your baby needs, and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise!
Further reading/ Precip anecdotes/Podcasts
Indie Birth talk about fast labours https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MFsArCzFr6WgoMMg3NfTF?si=jJNrGwUzRxWO9ax7mCG06g
Renegade Mama interview with a precip birth mother https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/precipitous-homebirths-and-birth-rights-advocacy/id1510707553?i=1000498694760
Gloria Lemay tells a precip birth story http://wisewomanwayofbirth.com/you-cant-give-birth-in-your-shoes/
Evidence Based Birth interview precip birth https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ebb-110-inside-an-unplanned-unassisted-home-birth-with-parent-sabrina-tran/
Fast labour tips https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/fast-labor/