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

First was 4h, second was 45min (nearly born in a car).
Maybe you should opt for home birth and have midwife come to you if your journey to the hospital is that long.

My first was 1hr 55 mins. Second was 4 hours. I think it’s all guess work but chances are if you’ve had one quick labour the second might be quick too.

1st 12hrs
2nd 45 mins

My first was very drawn out, over 3 days. My second was 3 hours, with just a few big pushes at the end!

OP, what you say makes perfect sense but how will you get to the hospital if your DH hasn't yet made it home from work? You won't be safe / able to drive you and DC to the hospital in labour.

Took a long time for labour to fully establish (over a week of on and off contractions) but with first it was 3cm to born in 4 hours and with 2nd it was 3cm to born in 25 mins - we almost didn’t make it!

Absolutely do not try to drive your s of to the hospital, it’s just not safe.

My first Labour was 9 hours from first twinge to baby being born and DH was living away Mon-Fri when I was pregnant with DC2. I put several local friends/neighbours on stand-by just in case I needed someone to watch DD or take me to hospital. In the end I went into labour at 5am while DH had a week off and my parents were staying with us! I think there’s a lot to be said for your body waiting until things are “safe”.

Not always. Had this same panic with my 2nd.
With DS i arrived at hospital at 7.15 having some pains but didn't think it was labour neither did the midwife. He was born 30 mins later at 7.45
Started to panic that I wouldn't get to hospital in time for my 2nd labour. Ended up that I was in hospital for 3 days in slow labour and then needed a drip to speed her along a bit as she was getting distressed. She was premature though so I'm not sure if that made the difference or not. Once I got to 5cm with her tho I was 5 cm and then 10 minutes later fully dilated pretty much the same as I went with him except it took days with regular long painful contractions before I got from 3-5cm with her !

Not here. 7 hours first time and 47 the second time!!!!
Good luck!

Not for me. Mine were 8 hours, 8 hours and 12 hours.

First was a 3rd degree tear cat C. The other two were 2nd degree tears.

Though really, what I've written is pointless. Everyone's experiences are different.

From my obsessive googling last night, it seems that seconds are generally quicker than firsts but not always. So I might be slower than last time...Fingers crossed!!

And don't worry I definitely won't be getting near my car if I'm in any pain whatsoever! With DC1 all I had was regular twinges for the first hour or so that were painless compared to my normal period pain. It was after that first hour things got excruciating very quickly! I'll probably end up being sent home several times with braxton hicks

First 4 hours second 5 but they needed to break my waters for DC2 otherwise it might well have been longer.

I had a 3.5 hour labour with my first and my second was faster (sorry!) but I was prepared for it and had a homebirth. My mw offered to book me in for induction as I was so anxious about having an unassisted birth, would that be an option for you?

My 1st arrived 2hrs after I made it to hospital, my 2nd was 15 days late so I was in hospital and didn't arrive for over 36hrs...so quite a contrast. But if your worried as you live so far away why don't you opt for a home birth instead?

Baby one- admitted to hospital, had epidural, six hour labour with 40 minute second stage. DD1 born at 3.40 am, 8lbs exactly, 50cm long, was about by lunch time. 2nd degree tear, stitching and bruising but healed well after a couple of weeks.

Baby two -admitted to hospital, gas and air only (also did hypnobirthing and yoga breathing techniques), six hour labour with six minutes second stage. DD2 born at 4.40 am, 9lbs 2oz, 60cm long, had to stay overnight and go home the next day to check for infection as she was born dry. Minor tear and stitches, hardly noticed it afterwards.

Remarkably similar except I was less scared the second time! Also recovered faster. Pregnancies were almost exactly the same duration as well, 41 weeks +2 for DD1 and 41 weeks +1 for DD2.

DS was just under 4 hours from start to end with severe 2nd degree tear (took them ages to decide if it could be repaired on the ward or needed surgery!!).
DD arrived in just under 2 hours from start to finish. I'd opted for a home birth but didn't anticipate the Midwife not arriving before the baby did! DD was delivered by my husband and although I still needed a few stitches it was nothing like the first time (or the time it took to heal). It was all done at home once the MW arrived.

Best of luck for when baby decided to make an appearance.