How long were your first births?

[Marabou]

That's that really...

I'm 37+2 with my first and was wondering what I could expect. Everyone's different of course, but was just curious..

[girliefriend]

4 days, waters broke on monday, not much happened on tuesday, wed induction began, contractions started then stopped, thus lunchtime full induction began all going well til 5pm when dd started getting very fed up cue emergenct c.section - dd eventually born at 7.05pm thus evening!!!

[Helspopje]

DD1 labour was 45minutes from first symptom (getting spacey with a regular frequency rather than discomfort) to baby.

I was VEd 45min before she put in an appearance at which point I was 0-1cm so by the 'true' definition of labour (>4cm and contracting) it was quite a bit less than 45mins.

utter utter utter carnage.
the undercarriage looked like someone had physically ripped her out.

everyone kept saying how 'lucky' I was - ha ha ha!

[Pussinflatboots]

2 hours established labour (according to the hospital)
10 hours (according to me)

[EmmaCate]

About 10.5 hours for 'established' labour. Took about 6 hours to get from 0cm - 3cm. Second stage only 25mins; I really had an urge to push! I found the first part the worse - lots of labour nausea and painful. 2nd stage a blessed relief.

You'll be OK though!

[bogbeanie]

Was given first induction thingy Sunday night, , had two more doses next day, then sintosin, ds born wed 9pm, overall contractions for 27 hours. no idea how long second stage, but threatened with forceps, pushed like buggery and he popped out within the hour. Surprised how helpful stirrups were, always thought they were barbaric man-designed instrument of torture! You're almost certainly going to yell 'I can't do this' at some stage in labour. Nearly every one does, and somehow we all manage in the end. Despite the fact that my hoped for home birth using natural pain relief turned into hospital birth with all the drugs I could persuade them to give me, it was the most amazing time of my life and I wouldn't change one thing. Good luck. x

[Usedtobefun]

First contraction at 4am on Fri morning which rapidly progressed to one every 5 min then stopped and went to every 20 min. She was back to back and finally delivered with just gas and air at 6am on Mon morning. It really depends on the way the baby is lying. Back to back has more painful contractions and a much much longer latent stage of labour. in hindsight I wish I had gone for an epidural!

[K999]

4 days......was fucking knackered by the time dd1 made her appearance! Dd2 took 1 hour!!

[bunnygirl80]

3 hours from first contraction that was painful, with 30 min 2nd stage.

I was admitted to hospital about 4 hours before that though as I had a massively high blood pressure, and was 3cm dilated on admission. The monitoring showed I was having regular strong contractions, I just didn't feel them for some reason. I have no idea how long those contractions had been going on for, so if I hadn't happened to have had an obstetrician appointment that day and been examined and sent to hospital I probably would have had no idea anything was happening until that first painful contraction. I doubt I would have gone in straight away either, so there's a high chance I would have arrived at hospital pushing or had an unexpected home birth.

[Zoekate]

My waters broke at 5pm on the Friday night our beautiful boy arrived 1.43am on the Sunday morning! Nearly 35 hours....yikes!
Very very long.....but worth it.

[OnesAmpleBosom]

2 hours, i turned up at the delivery suite with the baby's head visable and he was born 10 minutes later. No stitches and other than being in shock at the swift labour we all survived in tact.

Hope your labour goes as well

[3BoysAndBusy]

I have had three incredibly long labours - I think that's just seems to be the way my body has been designed.

1st baby - 56 hours in active labour at the hosp (narrowly avoided emergency c-section)
2nd baby - 36 hours (ending in c-section)
3rd baby - about 16 hours (just had ventouse). Had contractions for days in advance though, including a few days where I was sure I was in full labour.

Marabou - It will all be fine! And it's SO worth it. My only advice is to be open to whatever happens and just make whatever decisions you need to as you go along. I had planned a completely natural birth for my first two, and that's NOT what happened! I was really disappointed because I had set myself up for this perfect holistic experience. When I had my third, I decided to aim for natural but be open to intervention if required. Also suggest long walks when in early labour because it seems to move things along nicely. I tried lots of other things, but that seemed to make the most difference. I wish you well.

[BethanyBear]

3 days in agony to get to 3cms, finally get gas and air, waters burst and in 7 hours begin to push. Then, after 2 hours of that, they realise he us wrong way round, get forceps and finally get him out :) All in all, nearly 5 days :) 9lbs 5oz of gorgeous boy!!!

[J33]

i was lucky - 2hrs 30mins from start to finish and i think i only had severe contractions for the last 45mins - 3 pushes and ds1 was out - good luck!! he was 2 weeks early so it was all a bit of a surprise!

[Pam100127]

Just try and stay calm and flexible - have a birth plan that is flexible and gives you a greater sense of control, iIt's definitely worth it. Yes it hurts, but you can have pain relief and your body is made for this...each contraction is a step closer to meeting your precious baby.

My first had to be induced after my waters broke, she arrived about 8 hours later, I had an epidural and it was relatively painless.

My second, my waters broke, I went to hospital and my son was born less than two hours later, with no pain relief. It hurt but I never felt I wasn't going to do it...it's almost as if your body takes over....and it is the most wonderful achievement I have ever experienced....whatever way you deliver your baby. The very best of luck.....let us know how you get on.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

9 hours start to finish. Cant wait to do it again! Good luck.

[DiscoDaisy]

1st - 12 1/2 hrs from waters breaking to giving birth.

I've had a right mixed bag with all 5 of mine including 2 inducements with 1 at 37 weeks.

[katia2]

2 and a half days, from the time I arrived at hospital & was told I was 2 cms dliated. By the end of the first day, having 'laboured' throughout, was very discouraged to be no further forward. Was also sick throughout the labour, so after 36 hours I was given an epidural which knocked me out for a few hours & enabled DH to go home for a rest. Had originally planned to have a water birth but by the end was pleading for a caesarean, though didn't get one (they weren't so keen on them in 1992). Was told that length of labour was due to my age (35) & position of baby (posterior). DD1 has recently turned 18, & time must have softened the memory of her arrival as I went through it all again nearly 7 years later - though didn't make the mistake of going to hospital so soon that time. It's all worth it for the result!

[ppeatfruit]

First DD 12 hours, contractions remained every 5 mins didn't have to 'push' her out! DD2 took 3 and a half days! she was 'face presenting' but turned on her own no pushing out again!!

[ppeatfruit]

The midwife with my 2nd didn't believe i didn't push my 1st out; I could feel that my 2nd was stuck so was waiting for C. S. when she turned and popped out!! i was in 2nd stage for 5 hours!!!!

[MarathonMama]

Very mild period pains at 7am.
Hospital at 5.30pm - 3 cms
8.30pm - fully dilated.
baby born 10.10pm

[FannyNil]

1st - 4 hours, 2nd - 5 hours, 3rd 1 hour (yoga breathing exercises helped me deal with contractions but rather too well)

[Laurarj84]

Delivered at 37 +4. 1hr 18 mins start to finish including delivering the placenta. Hospital notes say "extremely rapid labour" all over them! And they told me to come in sharpish for the next one! Pain was fine until about two pushes before dd came out. I had some gas and air but threw it away by the start of pushing cz it's rubbish and very hard to hold it when youre trying to push and hold husband's hand at the same time! Completely worth the pain and you forget it as soon as they are out. Hope it goes well for you!

[horseygirly]

There's just no point thinking about it.....expect the unexpected :-) For me, from first contraction to birth was 70 hours...yes, 3 days. Needless to say I was totally knackered, not the best start to parenthood! x

[cambridgeferret]

83 minutes start to finish. Didn't even get time to finish my dinner.

Waters broke 7pm, at hospital by 8pm, DD1 arrived 8.23pm.

Still impatient now at age 6.

[jcp123]

My Miriam Stoppard pregnancy and birth book quotes an average first labour of 12 hours with subsequent labours of approx 8 hours. This is, presumably, once you are in active labour.

As illustrated on this thread the scope for variance is huge! My first labour was 19hrs 15 mins and my second was 3hrs 45 mins so where does that leave me in the 'average stakes'?

There have been some previous posts asking whether birth experiences were like their mothers and a significant majority responded 'yes'. (I was one of those, our first and second births were very similar in terms of complexity, pain/urges, interventions). I believe that in the same way that we can inherit nose or chin shape we can also inherit pelvic shape which has a significant affect during childbirth. I'd advise you to ask you mum, if possible, what her births were like. If you are built like her, you may have a similiar experience. I wish I had as I would have been more prepared.