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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Fact or folklore - second labour quicker with smallish gap

36 replies

Liveinthepresent · 26/05/2013 18:37

Does anyone know if this is just anecdotal or fact?
My first labour was probably about 'normal' for a first - 12 hours in total.
People keep telling me this one will be super quick - DH is worried about me getting to hospital on time - its not far but he knows I will want to cope at home as long as possible...

OP posts:

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barnet · 26/05/2013 18:43

Only know that mine was quicker( 2hrs from labour onset to birth 2nd time; about 12 hrs 1st time)

cassell · 26/05/2013 18:50

Don't know - I have a 3 yr gap but my second labour was only 45mins... I literally only just made it to the hospital. 1st was 2.5hrs for perspective.

Twobuttonsaway · 26/05/2013 18:50

My first was 12 hours including EMCS. Went into labour with DS2 at 07:15, called hospital at 09:00 and was told to come straight in... Urge to push started in the car!! Even with following complications he was born by 12:15 and without those complications it would have been more like 10!!

I got to 10cm in 2 hours.... Don't stay at home too long!!

littlemonkeychops · 26/05/2013 18:56

Oooh i hope so :-)

Due anyday with DC2, quicker would be good please!

Wolfiefan · 26/05/2013 19:09

1st 10 1/2 hours
2nd 59 mins
6 yr age gap!

WhispersOfWickedness · 26/05/2013 19:18

Think second labours are just quicker generally!
My first was 25 hours total, 11 of which in active labour. Second was 2.5 hours total, an hour in active labour

Anthracite · 26/05/2013 19:20

My second labour was 3x the length of my first.

However, my first was 2 hours. Second labour was virtually painless (natural home birth).

Queenofknickers · 26/05/2013 19:31

18 mos between my 2DS and DS1 born in 10 hours and DS2 born in 3 hours BUT I didn't realise I was n labour for first 2 hours so only just made it to hospital!

Flossie82 · 26/05/2013 19:34

23 months between DCs.

1st labour was 26 hours (from painful contractions 5 mins apart to DD being born).

2nd labour was 90 mins from thinking I was in labour to DS being born (unplanned home birth!)

people had been telling me it would be quicker 2nd time - I had been thinking I was optimistic to hope for 12 hours!

Jamdoughnutfiend · 26/05/2013 19:36

I was promised this, first was about 8 hours of active labour, 2nd was 10 then crash c-section - not impressed!

Gruntfuttocks · 26/05/2013 19:38

Second labours are generally quicker, but it doesn't always happen. My second was back to back and took a lot longer than my first

MadameJosephine · 26/05/2013 19:46

My first was days of latent phase followed by 8 hours of active labour, second was only 5 hours from the first twinge to delivery and there was 16 years in between!

Original poster

Liveinthepresent · 26/05/2013 21:30

Ok so my take on this will be - if it's in a good position and not so huge it gats stuck then it is likely to be much quicker...

OP posts:

higgle · 26/05/2013 21:35

20 hours DS1, 4 hours DS2. No pain relief either time but DS1 hurt a lot, DS2 just a bit uncomfortable !

beckie90 · 26/05/2013 23:52

Ds1 4.5hrs, 5 min pushing. Ds2 5 days back to back labour,.2hrs pushing and assisted delivery. So while usually 2nds are easier, its not a fact cause sometimes it doesn't always happen that way xx

AnathemaDevice · 27/05/2013 09:24

My first two labours were both 6 1/2 hours long. The pushing stage was quicker though-19 minutes with DS1, 14 minutes with DD. DS2 was my longest labour at 9 3/4 hours, but the shortest pushing stage (10 minutes)

cupcake78 · 27/05/2013 09:29

This thread is giving me hope. Ds 5 days back to back excruciatingly painful labour. Pregnant with dc2 and hoping its not going to be another marathon!

devonsmummy · 27/05/2013 09:32

1st - 2hours 20 mins
2nd - 3 hours 10mins
34 months apart

Gemd81 · 27/05/2013 09:46

First labour was 12 hours and second was 4 hours - however second babies tend to be slightly bigger!

MrsBungle · 27/05/2013 09:47

3 year gap;

First labour - 52 hours
Second labour - 1 hour 54 minutes.

YoniOneWayOfLife · 27/05/2013 09:59

DC1: days. Ear first at one point, then OP
DC2: 8 hours (22 mo later)
DC3: 4 hours (19 mo, hand by ear)
DC4: 10 hours, OP, nasty position, 26 mo on. Sooo gutted as I was expecting it to be done and dusted in under an hour!

PlateSpinningAtAllTimes · 27/05/2013 10:04

3.5 year gap.
1st= 13 hours in total
2nd= about 4 hours (less sure as it started with contractions not waters going so not sure how much I slept through)
PITA because by the time our childcare arrived I was trying not to push. Very hair-raising drive to hospital. Got there at 6. DD born at 6.04

Francagoestohollywood · 27/05/2013 10:10

First child: 8 hrs and a half in total (the firs 3 hrs very mild pain)
Second child: about 6 hrs, only 2 hrs of real pain.

mummyTP2 · 27/05/2013 12:18

It depends whether you count labour as from first contractions (slow labour) or from 4cm (actual labour) from first contraction my first was 31hours and my second was 12 days but the actual labour of my first was 4 hours 35 mins and my second was just 45 mins but I was induced with second because of the long stressful labour, I don't know if that makes a difference, the pushing part was quicker with second aswell, my first took 25 mins of pushing but second was out in 2 pushes

VisualiseAHorse · 27/05/2013 19:24

Just read here : www.birthwithmidwife.com/delivery.pdf

Average 1st labour - 12 hours
Average 2nd labour - 7 hours.

I've only got the one baby. The entire labour (from waters breaking) was 14 hours. From 3cm to baby being born was only 3.5 hours!

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