There are ways in which you can increase your chances of having a quick labour – start your training regime now.
There’s one birth all pregnant women dream about – a quick, simple labour followed by cuddles with your newborn. Ok, so you don’t want your baby to arrive so quickly that you end up crouched by the side of the M5 to deliver. But there is something attractive to all pregnant women about being the quietly smug one who says, ‘Ok, it was over in a couple of hours.’ As well as aiming for a personal best, the longer you’re in hospital the more likely you’ll be exhausted, which can lead to intervention.
The length of your labour depends on factors out of your control, including the strength of contractions, the shape of your pelvis and your baby’s position. But, there are still things you can do to increase your chances of labour being more of a sprint than a marathon.