Subsequent labours compared to first

[BionicEmu]

I'm just wondering how second etc labours compared to your first, not just with respect to time, but also how they progressed.

For example, my first labour started at 33 weeks with odd period cramping for 5 or so days, before finally ramping up at 34 weeks. My waters didn't break by themselves, the doctor "accidentally" broke them when he was examining me where he discovered I was 7cm dilated.

I'm now almost 28 weeks, but was in hospital last week with some contractions, so they gave me steroid injections and everything's settled again now.

So is this labour likely to follow the days of cramps and waters not breaking? If your waters didn't go earlyish with your first, did they on your second? I'm driving myself crazy, being paranoid at every twinge.

[serenazakjohntimothy]

i have had 3 children and everyone has been completely different from the last one my first took me 33hours to have he came out weighing 7lb 5oz i was 4 days late once he started he came out easily
my second she took 8 and half hours to have she weighed 8lb i was 3 days late she had her cord round her neck twice
my third he took 8hours to have and weighed 9lb 2oz i was 2 days late he got totally jamed up and everything stoped working and i went into shock
all my waters broke in hospital they were all back to back.
so i hope this helps you a bit you can never tell what its going to be like until it happens thats why i didnt write a birthing plan with any of mine i just put down what i really didnt want in pain relife
good luck

[BionicEmu]

Thanks for your reply! I've just come out of hospital again, was admitted again with threatened pre-term labour.

I'm just fed up of being paranoid about every twinge! Last time I didn't know I was in labour until I went for a routine scan & they found I was 2 cm dilated, had had odd cramps but put them down to braxton-hicks. So I'm worried about going into pre-term labour again but not realising. My mum had her waters broken both times & as mine were broken last time I'm guessing it's not v likely they'll go early on this time, so will have to keep being paranoid about cramps.

Wouldn't life be so much easier if this whole labour thing was a bit more regimented? If every labour went lose mucus plug, 24 hours later water goes, then contractions start. Would make things so much easier and less stressful for everybody!

[ilovetermtime]

My first labour was a nightmare and DS was born 31 hours after my waters broke. My second labour was brilliant, I actually felt euphoric after it! DS2 was born really quickly in his bag - my waters didn't even break.

So, completely different, thank god!

[Alamaya]

1st Labour. Induced 38 weeks. 57min labour. 6lb 15oz Girl.
2nd Labour. 39w4d. Unplanned homebirth as didnt get to hospital in time. Undiagnosed footling breech. noted as 1hr labour but actual labour i believe 30min-45min. 6lb 13oz Boy.

I wasnt having anymore anyway but with how horrifically quick mine come i dont think i could cope with the fear of another labour especially with the drama with my son.

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

Ds1-born +2. 7lb 13. 26 hour labour. No problems

Ds2- born +12. 8lb8. 36 hour labour. Emergency ventouse delivery. Back to back

Ds3- born +8. 7lb13. 12 hour labour. Normal delivery. Back to back. Worst pain by far

All the best of luck. No labour is the same.

[ellesabe]

Dd1 - born at 40+4. Long labour, midwife eventually broke my waters and found meconium so had emcs.

Dd2 - born at 39+0. Waters broke at the start of labour and contractions remained mild and infrequent so they tried to induce me with a hormone drip. The drip somehow ground contractions to a complete standstill so had another emcs.

[KentuckyFriedChildren]

Ds born at 32 weeks. Waters broke as first sign of labour. Labour lasted 9 hours purely because they gave me drugs to slow it as I had to be transferred (3 1/2 hrs by ambulance ) as my local scbu was closed.
Dd born at 34 wks. Had contractions for around 3 wks before hand and was in several different hospitals during that time (again due to local scbu being closed and the worry that she would be born) but actual labour was 6 hours and again waters went as first proper sign of labour.
Currently 34+5 with dc3 (check me out! Woop woop!) and have been having contractions for about 2 weeks on and off. Will be induced at 37 or 38 weeks for medical reasons assuming I get that far but I reckon I won't.

[coronalover]

First labour at 40wks+1 I had no braxton hicks or show or anything until I started getting mild contractions. mw had to break mu waters and DS born about 24 hrs later by ventouse as I was unable to push him out 9lb 8oz

DD labour startrd after 4 wks of braxton hicks and occasionally what felt like 'real' contractions. born at 40wks +1 after 4hr labour still in her bag! pushed her out by myself 6lb 4oz

Good luck