Labour the second time round....is it really half the time?

[HarleyK]

Just wondering from mums with two or more babies, do labour times really get cut by half each time, or is that just a myth? Having had a relatively short 9 hours with my first makes me slightly scared of not making it to the hospital in time with this one.....oh dear.

1st labour 7hours 35 minutes
2nd labour 6hours
3rd labour (twins) 1hour 15 minutes

First labour 4.5 hours. 2nd 6 hours 45mins. That's proper labour. If you included the first "practise" contractions then it was 14 hours for DS1, and about 2 weeks for DS2

So not always. The MWs were convinced DS2 would be out in an hour though, it surprised everyone.

First time, 28 hours. Second time, 3 hours. Midwife didn't even get to me in time, and DH delivered our DS. Was all wonderful, perfect home birth. Very lucky.

First was 31hrs. Second was, er, 38hrs.

In my defence, I'm shit at giving birth.

Aghhhh worried now! 1st labour 1.5hrs from 1st twinge to baby in arms- thinking I might just go park myself at maternity ward now .

First labour - 3 3/4 hr - second labour - 56 mins!! Good job was already in hospital (but aided by induction pessary due to waters breaking early). Also contracted regularly and fairly painfully for 2 days first but no dilation even though second baby so whilst recorded as 56 mins I feel it was about 2 days and feel abit cheated! Much quicker pushing bit though...hardly anything at all...still hurt like first time though I am afraid to say but no stitches etc this time.....much better!

First labour 8 hours
Second labour 8 hours too! I was so grumpy about it not being any quicker.
Ds was 1.5 lb heavier though which explains why it felt like more effort second time round.

4.5 hrs with DS1, 1.5 hrs DS2. Slightly worried now, DD1 due in December but think I will be induced due to gestational diabetes so at least I will already be in the hospital if she comes quick.

at all the quick births on here.

Mine was the same as my first. Non progressive long labours with loads of intervention, both about the same length of time.

Labour 1: 9 hours 59 minutes (officially, but I call that 10!)
Labour 2: (induced; waters broken to get things started) 4 hours 30 minutes

does this also work when you had a section first time? i had a section after 2 and a half days of induction and ds1 got stuck half way down the birth canal. ds2 due in december so just thought i would ask.

Oh Crikey. 1st was 2hrs 10 and would have been quicker if he hadn't been back to back. Number 2 not yet conceived but think I will be camping at the hospital as its 30 mins away!

7 hours, 2 hours.

1st 10 1/2 hours
2nd 59 mins! Thankfully was already in hospital.
Do you have a MW who lives round the corner? Hoping for a speedy and safe delivery.

1st - 24 hours
2nd - 7 hours, but very quick at the end, cue DH mad 90mph dash across town to get back!

1st - 10hrs
2nd - 5 hrs
3rd - 3 hrs
4th - 5hrs
5th - 5hrs

All timed from first contraction. Number 3 caught me out, Daddy played MW in our bathroom and delivered her

1st 7 hrs from start of active labour
2nd 11 hrs from start of active labour then a delightful crash section - I felt cheated too!

First labour 9 hours
2nd labour 42 mins ( from time called midwife to time she put for birth)- never made it to the hospital. Slightly scary... but DS was born in the same bed that my older brother had been born in 31 years earlier so my DM and DD loved it!!

No!

Just made it to hospital in time for DS, nearly had him in the lift! So planned home birth for DD, which was great, but she took longer, no idea why? Does size make a difference? She was a little porker.

First was 4.5 hours from first contraction. Second was 50 mins from first contraction. Nearly arrived in the car!

1st labour 12 hours from first twinge to baby, maybe 6 in established labour? Second, 7 hours from first twinge to baby, 3rd 50mins!

First was 11 hours from waters breaking. Had no signs anything was about to happen before then.

Second was 4 and a half hours from having a stretch and sweep. It had an almost instant effect!

My first was about 5 hours, second less than an hour. Was quite scared about the 3rd, but although actual labour was very quick, I knew about 8 hours before as my waters had broke. Had 2nd and 3rd at home so no worries about getting to the hospital!

OP I'm also a worrier/stresshead! DH couldn't believe it at 37 wks when I said I wanted a homebirth.
Can't recommend the natal hypnotherapy cd highly enough. My homebirth experience for ds2 (after full on drug addled epidural nightmare with ds1) was the best birth ever. Look into it if you're any way inclined. for me, I could have got to hospital quicker via blue lights on standby with my homebirth, than I could had we been trying for a hospital birth.

I'm really interested to know this as I was in labour with DS for 26 hours and I'm worried I won't get to the hospital in time, currently 20+5 with DD, however I cannot have a home birth as I'm high risk due to hydrocephalus so is it worth asking my midwife to be induced early to make sure I'm at the hospital? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks OP for asking this question x