Everything You Need to Know About Precipitous Labor

Rapid or precipitous labor happens if you deliver within three hours of starting regular contractions, Learn about the risk factors and possible complications.

Medically reviewed by Alyssa Dweck, MS, MD, FACOG

Have you ever read birth stories where the parent delivers in the back of a taxi or on an airplane, and they always say, "The baby just came so fast!" The quick labor they experienced is called precipitous labor, and it's very rare, making up around 0.1–3% of all births.

Most of the time, labor stretches for several long hours. But for those who have a precipitous labor, it only lasts two or three hours. Fast labor seems great at first glance (fewer contractions and less pain!), but it could actually come with a host of worrisome side effects, ranging from emotional trauma to baby injury.

Here’s everything you need to know about the symptoms, causes, and complications of rapid or precipitous labor.

What Is Precipitous Labor?

Rapid or precipitous labor doesn’t follow the typical labor timeline, says Dr. Iffath Hoskins, MD, FACOG, maternal-fetal medicine specialist.

Labor duration depends on factors like the baby’s position, whether you had an epidural, and your previous childbirth experience. Typically, the early stages of labor last six to 12 hours for a first-time parent and two to five hours for an experienced parent. Active labor stretches for an additional four to eight hours, on average, when your cervix dilates and contractions get stronger, although the length of active labor can vary greatly.

Rapid or precipitous labor condenses the whole process down to a few hours. “Precipitous labor is when the duration of labor is two or three hours," explains Dr Hoskins. "In precipitous labor, the patient’s cervix rapidly dilates from a lesser dilation (like two or three centimeters) to fully dilated.”

Defining Precipitous Labor

Someone experiences precipitous labor if they deliver within three hours of starting regular contractions. In contrast, regular labor generally lasts between six and 18 hours.

Risk Factors for Precipitous Labor

No one knows for certain why some pregnant people will experience precipitous labor. But if a person has had lots of children, they are at risk for delivering more quickly, says David F. Colombo, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN and division chief of maternal-fetal medicine at Spectrum Health Medical Group in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Also, those with a history of precipitous labor are more likely to experience it again.

Other factors that might increase the risk of precipitous labor include:

• Induction with prostaglandins

• Low birth weight baby

• Placental abruption

• Younger maternal age

• Hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia

Precipitous Labor Symptoms

With precipitous labor, symptoms come on suddenly and intensely. You may feel several contractions that occur back-to-back. Some people experience a singular, continuous contraction or abrupt pressure. Either way, the rapid cervix dilation may cause pain and the urge to push, says Dr. Hoskins.

Here's how precipitous labor contractions can be differentiated from typical labor contractions.

• Normal labor contractions: Typically, labor contractions build up over time. They begin as short sensations that feel similar to menstrual cramps, and they gradually grow stronger and last longer.

• Precipitous labor contractions: You won't have a break in between contractions, and they feel intense from the beginning, including an urge to bear down and push.

Related: What to Expect During the 3 Stages of Labor

Complications of Precipitous Labor and Delivery

Some people view precipitous births as a good thing, says Dr. Colombo. “People enjoy delivering their child more quickly,” he explains. They won’t need to spend hours enduring the symptoms of labor—including painful contractions that usually last throughout the active phase. However, precipitous labor and delivery often come with unpleasant side effects.

For example, a birthing parent may tear their vagina or perineum due to the rapid birth, says Dr. Hoskins. The uterus or vagina may also hemorrhage. Additionally, if doctors have to rush and “catch” the baby, the precipitate delivery might not be completely sterile.

“There are known risks to the baby, like injury on the head or brain, due to the rapid descent through the mother’s soft and bony tissues,” adds Dr. Hoskins. Specifically, the pressure change could cause intracranial hemorrhage, and the baby could aspire amniotic fluid, which means they could breathe it in.

Shoulder dystocia, which happens when the shoulder gets caught in the mother’s pelvis, can also happen. And once the baby is delivered, they may struggle to transition and experience mild respiratory difficulty, says Dr. Hoskins. Because the parent is so unprepared for labor and birth, they might suffer shock, depression, or other emotional turmoil after rapid labor.

Possible Complications of Fast Labor

• Vaginal or perineum tearing

• Hemorrhage of the uterus or vagina

• Rushed delivery that might not be sterile, increasing the risk of infection

• Heightened risk of injury to the baby

• Emotional trauma for the birthing parent

• No time for pain medication or epidural

• Retained placenta

Getting to the Hospital

Precipitous labor is especially worrisome if the birthing parent lives far from the hospital, since there’s a chance of delivering en route. Also, when they finally arrive at the hospital, labor may have progressed too much for pain medications, making an epidural out of the question.

If you live many miles away from the nearest hospital, Dr. Colombo suggests discussing your due date and birthing plan with your health care provider. Your doctor may suggest coming to the hospital earlier than the average person, taking childbirth classes, and preparing for the potential for a home birth.

Dr. Colombo also advises against scheduling an early induction. “People might want to be induced early to ensure they’re in the hospital, but induction before 39 weeks may cause issues,” he says. Waiting to term lessens your baby’s risk of respiratory problems and improper brain development, among other things.

Related: Giving Birth Before Your Due Date: Do All 40 Weeks Matter?

Recovery After Precipitous Labor

Due to the extremely rapid nature of this type of birth, there's not much time for your mind or your body to prepare. Consequently, you are likely to experience some trauma—both emotionally and physically.

For instance, if you have tearing or bleeding, you may need a bit longer to recover and have to take things slower than you had hoped. Be patient with your body and let your health care provider know if you're having any pain, discomfort, or continued bleeding.

Likewise, you may need some time to recover mentally and emotionally. Precipitous labor can be a scary experience, so it's normal to feel unsettled after your birth. Some pregnant people who have a traumatic birth even develop postpartum PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

Take some time to reflect on your labor and delivery, and share your feelings with someone you trust. And if you need some extra help working through your experiences, don't hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional.

The key, though, is that you work through your feelings and emotions in a safe space so that you can accept your birth experience and move on. Doing so allows you to focus on bonding with your baby rather than rehashing what went wrong with your birth.

Related: All Birth Trauma is Valid: How to Get the Support You Need

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