Fast first birth…what about second????

[Cariad1978]

I'm a little anxious that'll end up having my second baby at home alone because my first labour was so quick. The midwife has even discussed what to do if this happens. With my son I started having cramps about midday but nothing to worry about - went shopping, cooked an anniversary meal - so just bad period pains. They upped a notch in the evening and I went to the hospital at 3.30am to be told I was only 2.5 cms and that I probably wouldn't need to go back until lunch time. At 5am, while at home, I got the urge to push, went straight to hospital, was told I was 10 cms and delivered my son within the hour. Has anybody had a similar labour experience and gone on to have a second that was even quicker? Advice would be greatly appreciated. many thanks.

[whizzy1980]

Will watch with interest here, I got first twinges about 1.30pm, arrived at hospital at 2am and 4cm, baby was born 2 hours later. My husband works 1hr30 mins away and my mum is 1hr away. My midwife told me as soon as feel first twinge to just assume it's happening and get everyone home. She also said if alone and progressing quickly don't be scared to phone for ambulance! Am hoping it starts overnight or at the weekend this time, currently 33 +3 so not long now and it's making me anxious! Fingers crossed for a conveniently timed baby for us both!

[Lonz]

I had a quick labour. Was 7cm when I got in (don't know when I was 10cm- they didn't check) and within about 1 hour or so my son was born. It was way too quick for me to register what was happening and believe the fact that he was already born. I don't have another child.

With my sister, she had a quick labour and was advised to have a homebirth with the gas and air delivered to her home prior to 30-something weeks.

[MamaWren]

I had a quick first birth, 2 & half hours from first twinge to birth, resulting in an unplanned home birth but with a midwife there. It was all a bit surprising! My second was faster ( an hour and a half from start to finish) and was a planned home birth. I'd say be prepared for it to be faster! Both mine were too quick for any pain relief.

[MrsC30]

Hi

I was induced with my first DD and was laid in the hospital bed during the night with no contractions, niggles, pains or anything thinking oh this isn't to bad so far haha then i had 2 massive contractions about 5 seconds apart i buzzed for the midwife who didn't examine me or anything just said it must be starting i will get you some paracetamol!

Then my waters broke instantly i buzzed the midwife back who agreed to examine me I'm sure she only said that to humour me tho haha, she took one look at me and said oh your baby is coming now... 11 minutes later i gave birth so from first contraction to birth was approx 15 minutes. it was the middle of the night and i was all on my own there was no time for pain relief or anything other than the 2 paracetamol i had lol

Currently 33 weeks with second DD and am so scared I'm going to have another really fast birth and i will be at home alone or in the middle of tesco or something so I'm hoping second births aren't always faster!!!

[Roseybee10]

I had a very quick active labour with dd1 although it took 24 hours to get past 4cm. Once I was past 4cm I dilated to 10 within an hour and dd was born 3 hours later (2.5 hours f pushing as she was back to back or she would have been out within the hour).

Dd2 I chose a home birth. Took about 7 hours of mild contractions to get to 3cm and then the same happened, went from 3-10 in about an hour and she was born 2 hours after the exam when I was 3.

[ShelaghTurner]

Four hours all in for both of mine. Was very worried DD2 would be a lot faster but it was exactly the same.

[Wolfiefan]

My first was born two and a half hours after getting into hospital. My second was less than an hour.
But with my second birth I started bleeding so was told to go to hospital. Good job I did! So I was there when labour started.
I'd share your history and your concerns with your mw.

[DelphiniumBlue]

Yes, ds1 4 hours from first twinge, ds2 just over an hour. Had a home birth for ds3!
It is worrying, I had to teach my 2 year old to use the phone and call 999 because I could see there was a good chance I'd be on my own with him when labour started. It wasn't actually necessary, but as I was by myself for ds2, I called an ambulance as soon as I had a twinge, and then my mum( to come and get Ds1, and finally dh, who was at work and just made out in time.
DS 1 and 2 were both born within minutes of me getting to hospital.
I think as your due date approaches, best thing is to be fairly near to home,/ hospital and try to make sure someone can take dc1 in emergency. Have bags packed and ready, and make sure immediate neighbours are aware.

[CityDweller]

Watching with interest as I had a quick 1st birth (from 1st twinge to baby was about 10 hours, but I too also went from only 2cm dilated to baby in arms in about 2hrs). I had a home birth with first and am planning same with second.

[neolara]

Four and a half hours from first twinge to baby for dc1. Very similar for dc2. Dc3 was 30 mins and delivered by my dh in the kitchen.

[ThatsNotEvenAWord]

Watching with interest. My waters broke at 1am which was my first sign of anything happening and DS was born 7.40am. When I arrived at hospital at 2am I was 4cm. Even though it was fast I still needed ventouse as I was pushing for at least 2 hours, not sure exactly.

DC2 not on the cards yet but will be interesting to see what happens to say the least! Those of you whose labours only lasted an hour or so - wow. That sounds very intense!

[StandoutMop]

My first went 5pm niggly pain, phone call to midwife at 7pm ish, who said "early labour, take some paracetamol, see you tomorrow", 8.30pm called MW back but unable to talk through contractions told to come in, 9.15ish arrive hospital, 10.15ish baby.

Baby 2 woke me 3am with a contraction, born at home (planned) at 8.50am. Had called midwife at 7.30am ish, she'd arrived at 8. So very similar time to baby 1.

Baby 3 was longest labour, had day of niggles, went in at 11pm ish as fed up to see what was going on, everything picked up as soon as I was at hospital (and away from mil asking " is anything happening yet" 50 times a day), baby born 2am ish.

So 2 about the same length, one longer, although active labour probably same for all 3. But I do know someone who went from 8hours with dc1 to 20mins with dc4, and my dsis got longer each time. So no idea what you'll get, but good luck

[sausagepoo]

First DC 6 hours from 1st twinge. Dc2 was born in under 40mins from first twinge. Luckily I was already at the hospital having gone for a growth scan on due date. He was very nearly born in the lift to the delivery suite - head was out. Partner missed it as he wasn't at scan!

[LittleCandle]

DD1 was induced and once active labour started, i gave birth in 3 hours 10 minutes, including delivery of placenta. When my waters broke with DD2, i rang the hospital, who asked about my first delivery and told me if i wasn't there within half an hour, they would send an ambulance. I wasn't in labour when i turned up with the half hour, but when i did get going about 2 hours later, everything was over and done with within an hour and a half.

[Pikkewyn]

DD1 labour was 7 hours but went from 5cm to DD1 in under an hour. DD2 arrived 38 minutes from 1st contraction, I had my first 2 contraction close together and said to DH lets go and get checked, I arrived at the hospital 25 minutes later and put in a delivery room to wait for a triage bed, DD was born as I was shuffling up the bed during a contraction to get comfy! I have no second stage recorded on my note (which are 3 lines long from arrival to DD2 being born)

[Nonnainglese]

'Be prepared' is what comes to mind! And don't hang around waiting to see if 'really in labour'
I had did in 90 minutes from waters breaking to delivery and DS in 45 minutes- all I can say is all of us were shocked.....
No front pain it was all in my back, excruciating because no time for analgesics to kick in. DS was face-to-pubes too, with his hand alongside his face [eeek!]