Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

1 2 3

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

Did your labours get quicker?

53 replies

Outnumb3red · 10/04/2016 23:14

I'm pregnant with no.3 due in 6 weeks. My first labour was induced, epidural, forceps and was long. 2nd was over in 90mins from start to finish. (And I didn't make it to the hospital in time)
Bit paranoid this time will be quicker than last time. I'm about 30mins from the hospital and that's with no traffic issues. Should I have to travel at rush hour, easily add another 30mins to that.

I know no two labours are the same, but I'm under the impression that generally speaking, they do get quicker with each one. How true is this?

Thanks

OP posts:

Report

3luckystars · 15/04/2016 17:08

First labour: 18hours
Second labour: 37 minutes

Third Labour in another few weeks and I don't know what to expect so am very interested to read the replies here!!

Sleeplessinmybedroom · 15/04/2016 17:22

1st 20hrs and 20 minutes
2nd 4hrs
3rd 40 minutes and only just made it on the the hospital bed in time for the final push

Afreshstartplease · 15/04/2016 17:23

First two were the same
Third less than half the time

couldbebetternow · 15/04/2016 17:24

Yes, wish I'd stayed at home for 3rd baby as dash to hospital was extremely uncomfortable and I pushed baby out pretty much as i walked in the door!

Afreshstartplease · 15/04/2016 17:25

Hmm my third was five hours

I want a hospital birth

Hospital is 30 min drive

I should be OK right?

couldbebetternow · 15/04/2016 17:26

Actual times

Um 2 days

About 14 hours for no 2

And no 3 about 3 or 4 hours from when I actually figured out it was labour. ...

SerenityReynolds · 15/04/2016 17:26

First 17 hours
Second 14 hours but went from perfectly manageable contractions to baby in 2 hours. She was also much easier, but then DC1 was back to back.

lemonymelanie · 15/04/2016 17:27

1st was 5 hours.
2nd, 3rd and 4th were 90ish minutes.

Good luck :-)

Titsywoo · 15/04/2016 17:27

First was about 20 hours second was 2.5.

SharingMichelle · 15/04/2016 17:28

1st: 36 hrs
2nd: 22 hrs
3rd: 45 minutes. She just whooshed out like the Alton Towers log flume.

Afreshstartplease · 15/04/2016 17:30

Oh dear

Outnumb3red · 15/04/2016 20:00

Hmm, generally speaking then they do get faster...

Consultant said they will book me in for an induction. So on one hand that's good as I know I'll be in hospitals when they baby is born, on the other hand I'm not really keen on being induced. Not sure there is a solution that I'll be 100% happy with though..

OP posts:

Afreshstartplease · 15/04/2016 20:20

I'm now concerned about having number four in the car

Dellarobia · 15/04/2016 20:23

From first 'proper' contraction:

First - 27 hours
Second - 3.5 hours
Third - 3.5 hours

livvylongpants · 15/04/2016 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Slippersandacuppa · 15/04/2016 20:29

1st was 23 (hospital)
2nd was 3 (home)
3rd was 4 (and the easiest - home)
4th was 4 (home)

I've rounded them up or down but that's roughly it.

Very exciting! Good luck

fanks · 15/04/2016 20:32

1st 12 hours
2nd 4 hours (easiest birth)
3rd 6 hours

Due number 4 in 6 weeks so we shall see!!

Sunshine87 · 15/04/2016 20:35

First baby 16hours
Second baby 11hours
Third baby 13 hours

Sunshine87 · 15/04/2016 20:36

My second was by far the easiest as well

AWhistlingWoman · 15/04/2016 20:39

First two (DTDs) - four hours
No 3 - three hours
No 4 - thirty minutes
I delivered her myself whilst DH was out on the school run! Learn from my mistake and get to hospital sooner rather than later.

Afreshstartplease · 15/04/2016 20:41

I do not want to deliver my own baby

Outnumb3red · 15/04/2016 21:03

I delivered my second by myself. My husband had left me in the car whilst he went to get help. We were outside the hospital by this point.
I'd head as soon as I could this time. It's just the issue of what time is go into labour, incase its rush hour and I am stuck in traffic or if I'm home alone with the kids etc

OP posts:

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

AWhistlingWoman · 15/04/2016 21:03

It was certainly a memorable experience. I am just so thankful that it was a straightforward delivery as I am not at all medically qualified!
My advice is get up to the hospital from the first twinge as it can happen very quickly and it can be difficult to drive (or walk) once things have really got going.

Afreshstartplease · 15/04/2016 21:05

By the time I'm having DC4 will the delivery ward tell me to come in straight away?

With DC3 they insisted on talking to me on the phone for ages to work out if I was really in bloody labour

Hassled · 15/04/2016 21:08

No - my first was actually the fastest (3.5 hours from thinking "shit, something's happening" to baby). DC2 was 5.5 hours, DC3 took days and days, DC4 was a respectable 12 hours. So no real pattern at all.

Flip

1 2 3

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.