LONG first labour, shorter second?

[GuybrushThreepwoodMP]

Can anyone give me some positive stories?
I have a retroverted uterus so my first labour was all felt in my back despite baby being in perfect position. I had regular agonising back contractions for 3 days. I went into labour naturally but didn't progress past 4cm until I was induced. My waters didn't break naturally either.

Apparently second labours are shorter but when my first was 72 hours, it's still hard to imagine it could be under a couple of days at least! Any stories?

[DeathMetalMum]

My first labour sounds very similar to yours though slightly shorter. 24 hours officially but I was up and down with intense contractions for a few days before, had to have the drip to speed up contractions also. I too have an abnormal shaped uterus.

Second labour was probably about half the time of my first, until baby being born. It took my body a very long time to recover from my first labour - I ached and found it very difficult to turn over in bed and sit up for weeks afterwards, struggled to push a pram - thought it was normal. Second was so much better recovery. I was pushing a double pushchair around pretty quickly. Good luck!

[MagratsHair]

Yes, my first labour was a back to back and took 3 days ending in theatre all prepped for emergency c section but he came out via forceps in the end. It was traumatising and I had pnd for months.

The 2nd time I was determined to have a different experience so I had antenatal acupuncture when I went overdue. DS2 came out in 4 hours from start to finish, it was great and it healed a lot of the trauma from the first birth.

[3pigsinblanketsandasausagerole]

My first two were both long

Infact second was longer

Number three flew out though

[Lozmatoz]

My second one popped out in Sunday night. I too has/have a retroverted uterus although was told this always rectified itself throughout pregnancy. Or maybe mine just wasn't as severe?? First labour was induced but not long. However, Sunday was far speedier! Manageable on/off contractions through the day, phoned midwife at 6:30, arrived (home birth) and checked about 7:30, 3cm. Proper contractions kicked in and she was born at 10:20pm with not a lot of pushing. Friends have also said second labours have been much quicker. Good luck.

[TheHandmadeStaleBread]

First was a 36 hour back to back nightmare. 2 was 90 mins from waters breaking to delivery and 3 was 45 min from first contraction to delivery. There is hope...

[ShowMeShowMeTheWine]

1st labour 3 days
2nd labour 8 hours start to finish.

[IsabellaRockerfeller]

First labour was 13 hours.

Second labour was 1 hour 7 minutes from first twinge to delivery

[IHeartLockhart]

My first was a long induction, took around 24 hours and I needed an epidural and forceps.

My 2nd was also an induction and took 2 and a half hours, in the bath with G&A.

The best thing you can keep in your head is that each pregnancy and labour is different. Your body has done this before.

Good luck!

[GuybrushThreepwoodMP]

Thanks all, these are excellent!
I guess I lost confidence because my body just didn't seem to know what to do. If it was a back to back or something, at least I would have an explanation and therefore could assume that another labour with a better position would be easier but I can't help but assume it's just my weird body!
These stories are giving me more confidence though.

[siblingrevelryagain]

Yep-22 agonising hours with first, with second baby I went into very slow labour for about 4 hours, dropped first son off at parents and then second stage was about 30 mins, and he shot out like a rocket in the end after 2 pushes (nearly didn't make it on time)

My sister is a midwife and in her experience she believes that once the other child/ren are taken care of, the body then feels able to relax and it often ramps up. My advice for second babies would be to not be overly-cautious, and try to be at or near hospital maybe a bit sooner than previously, as second stage can often be very quick!

[IHeartLockhart]

Have a look at this thread I started under a different NN.
Loads of stories of short 2nd labours to reassure you :)

[redexpat]

My Danish teacher took 3 days with her first. 45 minutes with the second.