Are subsequent births significantly quicker in your experience?

[Hairyfairybumscary]

I'm 6 months pregnant with a little boy due on 9th of Feb.

I'm absolutely cacking it because my MW has made several comments about the relatively quick birth of my DD , I was in labour for 3 hours and spent less than 10 minutes pushing.

Our nearest hospital with a maternity suite is over an hours drive away. Last time I had absolutely no warning or twinges when my contraction started. I just got them and they were very intense until my DD was born.

I need reassuring! Dreading a roadside birth!

1st 7 hours, 1 hour of that pushing
2nd 2 hours, about 5 min pushing
3rd 80 mins, couple of pushes.

All three very intense from the start, but I did get some warning labour was imminent ( twinges, show etc) With no 2 I nearly didn't get to hospital but was not a candidate for home birth with no 3 due to previous PPH. We were in the car by 2nd contraction and there with 40 min to spare. Discuss your options with a midwife or obstetrician and good luck!

Not for me either, 5h30m for DD1, and about 5h30m for DD2 almost 2 years later. Awaiting DC3 and hoping for a sneeze birth but probably in for another 5h30m of hideous pain.

First was 20hrs, second 4hrs and third 40 minutes, only just made it to the hospital in time, almost gave birth in the car. I'd opt for a home birth if I were to have another.

DC1 was 2 hrs from 1st contraction, an hour pushing
DC2 was less that 15 mins from 1st contraction, 4 or 5 pushes

DC2 was a planned home birth due to speed and straightforward birth of DC1 and uncomplicated pregnancy
Actually turned out to be unassisted home birth, I reached down to check nothing heppening and delivered his head into my hand.

I meant 4 or 5 contractions in total with DC2, I didn't actually push at all he just slid out

No. dd1 was 8 hours, ds was 25 hours and dd2 was 1 hour.

I am in a very similar position!

Due no2 early feb. 1st one was about 3 hours from start to finish. First sign was waters breaking, 15-20 mins later contractions started thick and fast. Not so much as a niggle beforehand.

I'd love to consider a home birth, but No1 had to be hauled out with a venteuse due to heart rate problems and wasn't breathing properly - he got whisked off to nicu in a flash. I'd be too terrified of that happening again to consider a home birth

I'm also worried about No2 being faster. We are only 15 mins away from the hospital, but also have to sort childcare for No1...

I was induced with ds1, turns out I was contracting on arrival anyway. It took 2:05. I thought my second would be much slower by the mw explained that I would of had very little hormone in my system. Ds2 was natural and took 2:40. Be prepared for another quick one I think. X

Ds1 - 37.75 hour labour, 1.5 hours pushing.

Ds2 - 24 hours labour, 1.5 minutes pushing.

Ds3 - 20 hours labour, 2 pushes.

How would you feel about being induced.? I'm type 1 diabetic so was induced at 38 weeks,there was another woman in that day being induced because of fast labours (she actually did give birth in the hospital car park with a previous baby!). Similar circumstances to you,lived too far away from the hospital to feel comfortable with a home birth.

My experience with being induced was overwhelmingly positive (though have nothing to compare it to I admit) and my labour was 4 hours,but went from 4cm to baby and placenta out in 60minutes!

Ds1 arrived after 16 hours. Ds2 arrived after 1.5 hours in the hospital car park. I can still remember the old lady stood opposite me outside saying 'oh bless'. Seriously, go for home birth.

what i'd give for a 2 or 4 hour labour! or even 6 hours. wow, that's the stuff dreams are made of! here's praying for dc4 to come quick.

Here's where you must be careful what you wish for! Dc4 arrived in under 4 hrs from first contraction! so definitely getting shorter!

I've been reading up loads on this and NICE guidelines say yes according to research. I think it says something like the first stage of first labours average at 8 hours, unlikely to exceed 18 hours and the first stage of subsequent births are quoted as averaging 5 hours and unlikely to last over 12.

My first: I had a sweep at 38 wks due to preclamseaia. On arrival at the hospital the next morning for induction, I was contracting. After having the hormone drip baby was born 2:05mins later. I thought it was due to the drip but the mw said no I just laboured quickly. Second brith: had a sweep at 12pm, baby born at 4am after 2:40mins. Am of with the third (and finally), hoping for another quick one

I'm pregnant with my 3rd and already starting to worry about this dd1 was 5 hours start to finish, ds2 was 3 hours. This time we live further from the hospital....not a great distance but still about 20 minutes away. worrying what I'll do with two other dcs so wondering whether home birth would be best option.as I really don't want to be giving birth in the car or car park! Will be giving it some thought in the new year!

Just seen this thread pop up on Actives and have 2 things:

1: maybe choosing to work till 40+1 isn't such a good idea.

2: there's a poster called AllMyBestFriendsAreMetalheads! That's awesome! Who knew there was another MNing LTJ fan! (Though I have seen other people at gigs, no one I meet has ever heard of them - except DH, obvs!)

My labours got faster, DS was about 5.5 hours from first twinge to delivery. I didn't realise how far along I was and arrived at the hospital 9cm dilated.

DD was 3.5 hours and I arrived at the hospital 8cm dilated. DD's estimated "active labour" was 1 hour 23 minutes.

Personally I would plan a home birth if I were to have a third baby. I felt quite stressed with DD as I had my first contraction at 11.00am on a Tuesday and DH was at work. The fastest DH could get home was 1 hour 15 minutes, then the drive to hospital was another 15 minutes. We didn't mess around, I called him after the second contraction and we agreed to wait 30 minutes to see if it was Braxton Hicks contractions or the real thing. After 30 minutes he left work!

Seven and a half hours with my first son, 49 minutes from waking up with backache to holding my second son in my arms.

Dc1: 50+ hours with classic cascade of intervention, epidural, syntocin drip, episiotomy, ventouse.
Dc2: contractions started about 5.30am, got closer together but remained very manageable, only went to hospital as had a 10am monitoring appointment, arrived about 10 to 10, was 9cm, dc born half an hour later.
Dc3: induced, gel in about 8.30am, mini-contractions for 5 hours or so, examined, 2cm, dc born 20 mins (yes, 20 mins) later (and yes, it hurt)

1st induced, 13 hrs, ventouse. Epidural.
2nd induced, forceps, ventouse, epidural ...a good talking to... 23 hrs...
3rd induced. Nothing... Shelled like a pea before even midwife knew what was happening..

All different...

Birth one, 18 hoursish
Birth two nearly 30 hours,
Birth three, two hours though waters broke 12 hours before any contractions.
Birth four, 25 mins and three contractions. head delivered by DH and body delivered by a surprised first response Ambulance man.