To ask if second births are always quicker?

[sausagebest]

I'm expecting dc2 soon and absolutely terrified of not making it to the hospital!

Dc1's birth was 3.5 hours from nothing to baby, I also had a severe tear requiring surgery afterwards and a haemorrhage.

I live a 45 minutes away from hospital on a good day and would need to wait for my parents to get here to watch dc1.

It's starting to keep me up at night and I'm so worried I'll end up giving birth at the side of the road and haemorrhaging again.

Thanks

Not always.

DS1 was out from first contraction to baby in 4 hours.
DS2 was a slow burner and was about 7-8 hours. I don't know, I slept through most of it.

First was almost 23 hours from first contraction. Second was 2 hours from the first pain, two pushes and not even a graze.

If I was in your situation I would seriously consider a c-section.

My first was 4 hours from when waters broke, second was 45 minutes from no contractions and waters broke. I barely made it to the hospital and we only live 15 minutes away. He was a minute away from being born in a cab.

I had about 5h from first contraction to DS1. So like you I was a bit concerned for DC2. The labours were EXACTLY the same, almost to the minute, except for only a first degree tear after DC2... thank goodness!

What did help though, I told my midwife of my concerns and they maternity ward, knowing DC1 was relatively quick, happily admitted me as soon as my contractions started.

My first was 12 hours from 1st twinge to birth, 4 hours from 4cm to birth. Nasty tear and bad bleed.

My second was 16 hours from 1st twinge to birth. My contractions were still quite far apart (10mins) but intense when I left for the hospital even tho they said I probably didn’t need to yet. About 20 - 25 min journey. Then they left me in the hall for a good 20 mins. When finally examined I was 8cm and baby was born within the hour. Small tear and no bleed.

2 very different births too. 1st was calm, pain free and easy birth. 2nd was painful, intense and took a lot more pushing.

Four dc at six hours each labour, two induced and two natural onset. No variation in length or pain.

My first was about 17 hours from first twinge to birth, it all progressed very steadily and predictably and the second stage was pretty fast. I also live a fair way from hospital and was anxious about the midwife not getting there on time for dc2, who in the end took his sweet time and arrived after 3 days of stop-start contractions. It was a much calmer, gentler birth with no stitches needed (I had some hefty needlework with dc1). Is homebirth an option for you? (I'm guessing not because of the haemorrhage).

I don’t think there is a rule. My first lasted 3 days, second 3 hours. My friend was opposite, first was really quick, second lasted ages....

mine was, but its not necessarily a given. I think if you were that quick the first time, i'd be inclined to either book a home birth or ask for an induction a hospital to avoid a similar outcome.

Mine were virtually identical. Waters broke about 5.00am both times. First daughter born at 9.15am and second time around daughter born at 9.25am.

Mine definitely was, my DD I was in active labour for 5 hours, pushing for 20 minutes, so still a fairly quick labour but my DS1 was born after 20 minutes active labour and a push... on the toilet! I would just say get to the hospital as soon as contractions start I think, don’t hang around in case it is super quick.
Good luck!

My 2nd was my quickest at 90 minutes of active labour (and 4 days of leaky waters and pathetic contractions before that). My first was 4.5 hours, my 3rd was in between (2 hours), my 4th was an elcs and my 5th was my slowest by far despite the induction drip (10 days of leaking waters and early labour, nearly 5 hours of active labour on a drip and then emcs at 5cm dilated).

Nope, first baby was very quick gave birth 2 hours after getting to hospital, literally 3 pushes for second stage! Second baby took 30 minutes to deliver. Second was a much bigger baby so took longer.

I was induced with my second but pushing time was a whole 35 minutes shorter. From 40 (I think it was possibly less)minutes pushing with my first and five with my second. My mums each got significantly quicker and she had five. Her last was 15 minutes from first contraction to out. Also her smallest and most painful.

No. I was in labour for 17 hours with DS1 and 36 with DS2.

My first was 3.5 hours, my second 4.5 hours so slightly longer. My water went at home with the second so I went in earlier than I had with the first (was 6cm by the time I made it in with the first). My 2 are 16 months apart so I had expected my 2nd labour to be much quicker but wasn’t the case.

I didn’t haemorrhage with the first but did bleed quite excessively, my second was quite ‘clean’ (didn’t even change out of my day clothes I’d gone to hospital in-still wear the top now). I don’t think there are any hard fast rules when in comes to labour!

Good luck with your impending birth

First 2 labours were 5 hours from first contraction.

No 😠 My first labour was 3 hours 15min, and my second was 3 hours 30min. I felt cheated...15 minutes bloody longer 😠🤣

Mine got steadily faster: 14h, 5h then 2h (that included going from 5cm to birth in 10 minutes).

A workmate (who lives very rurally) had a very fast and unplanned home birth with her first child and was told to plan a homebirth for her second.

Mine was.

Options:- could you take ds with you to hospital and have your parents meet you there? Or arrange with a neighbour if its a middle of the night labour could they sit in your house til grandparents arrive?

Thank you all for your replies.

I'm absolutely shitting it now!

I think taking baby with me to hospital at the first twinge is a really good idea. Midwife just said don't worry we'll come to you but it won't be very safe if I give birth at home and have a big bleed again.

I've got bags packed in my car ready for all of us so I should be able to leave sharpish.

My DH also works a good hour away so it's probably best I just get myself there! FIL is sometimes nearby so I'm sure he'll drop everything to meet me to take little one, if my parents can't make it. They seem to have booked in several days out and trips near my due date which is adding to my stress levels!

First was 3 hours from waters breaking to baby and 2nd was 2hrs 10min. Think I was in shock after the second as it was so fast but also soo much more painful than dc1.

Hi op,

Would it help your stress levels to do scenario plans for this? Like a yes no flow chart?

Eg is it the weekend? Yes - so dh here (assuming he does mon - fri) can take you

Def worth taking your D.C. with you. You’ll be much more “relaxed”

Both of mine were quick. First 5 hours from 1st contraction and waters broke in car on way to hospital. Second was quicker. Waters broke before 1st contraction and we immediately phoned MIL and went straight to hospital. By the time we'd got to hospital (half an hour later as mother in law lives 5 minutes away and arrived in nightie and dressing gown - she drove in this and already had a bag packed), I was 2cm dilated. 3. 5 hours after waters broke DS was here.

I had a fourth degree tear with first, and second degree tear with second.