Anyone else with a massive gap between DC1 and DC2? Is labour likely to be faster/more straightforward, or more like another typical first labour?

[retropuddingfest]

I'm expecting DC2 any day now, and looking out for the signs I had with DC1 - a show a few days before, waters breaking, etc. Nothing to speak of yet.

Lots of people have said the usual stuff - ooh, it's your second, it'll be straightforward and fast - while others have said, well, with such a big age gap (nearly 11 years), it's more like a first again isn't it?

OK, so ultimately, no one has any real clue how any of their labours will go, but I would be curious to hear from other mums who've had big gaps between their first and second children, and how their second labour went. Was it more like a stereotypical first (long, drawn-out, possibly more intervention) or second (quicker and simpler)?

FWIW, DC1 was back to back (which this baby isn't, at the moment - hooray!), contractions achieved next to nothing due to baby's presentation, and it all wound up with a sintocinon drip and ventouse delivery. 19 hours from my waters breaking (and the first contraction) to delivery. And not a positive experience. It'd be nice to have the confidence that things should/could go better this time ...

I had a 11 year gap !

First labour - twins, induced, 30 hours

Second labour - single baby, went into labour naturally, 4.5 hours

I think a second labour is usually quicker than the first, regardless of the gap in time.

I had 7 years between mine
First one was super quick, just gas and air with no intervention
Second one was extremely quick, no time for any pain relief, arrived at the hospital fully dilated

Ooh! I'm feeling encouraged. Thanks for posting.

I had a 10yr gap between Ds2 and ds3, ds3 was nearly born in the hospital lift. Dd4 however who was born when ds3 was 11months was the worst one!