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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Anyone had a quick first birth?

52 replies

DisneyMillie · 11/12/2015 15:32

So I'm 17 weeks pregnant and finally starting to believe I'll get a baby at the end of this after a rocky start to pregnancy.

I had my dd 6 years ago and it was 2 1/2 hours from first pain to birth - was fine but obviously a bit on the intense side.

Now a little worried as I keep reading how second births dare quicker - much quicker and I won't get to hospital (would rather not have a home birth)

So anyone who's had a quick first birth - what were your seconds like?!

OP posts:
BIWI · 11/12/2015 15:43

First one was four hours; second one was three.

Chasingsquirrels · 11/12/2015 15:46

My first was 2.5 hours from waters to birth, 2 from 1st contraction.

2nd was 15 mins from waters, probably 5-10mins from 1st contraction.
I planned a home birth, and ended up having a BBA.

Alohamora · 11/12/2015 15:47

First 3hrs 40 mins, second 90 minutes. Second was shocking just because of how quickly the pain ramped up. Third and fourth were CS.

Tangoandcreditcards · 11/12/2015 15:50

15 mins chasing 😱

Place marking - had a 4hr labour (waters to baby) first time round. Currently 37+3. I'll keep you posted.

I was my DM's 3rd child and a 20min labour... So I'm prepared for a speedy one!

rednsparkley · 11/12/2015 15:52

My first was 3hrs (first contraction to hello baby) my second and third were 90mins (first contraction to hello baby) and my fourth was 45mins (same criteria)

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 11/12/2015 15:54

First was similar to yours, second was approx an hour from first twinge to delivery. Luckily we're not far from the hospital but even then, I was only at the hospital for 25 mins before she arrived.

I'd advise you to get lots of options for looking after DC1 in place (we had to leave DC1 with a nearby friend till my parents could get here!) and as soon as you know you're in labour, get to triage. At least you know what it feels like: the first hour or so of my first labour the midwife wouldn't examine me because she thought it was only Braxton Hicks and being a first timer I didn't have the self confidence to insist. When another midwife saw me have a contraction she examined me right away and I was fully dilated - had to be rushed along to the delivery suite and my DH phoned to come back in (they'd sent him home, keeping me in for observation.) I was more confident second time around in going straight in and no hanging about.

Whatevva · 11/12/2015 15:55

First 3h 15min

Second similar but the first stage was a bit longer and the second stage almost non existent. I had twins and my waters did not break on their own this time. Also, the contractions were very gentle and almost painless, but the bit where it felt like all my insides were falling out of my bottom was agony in a non painful sort of a way Hmm

Make backup plans and make sure they will admit you as soon as you want - my hospital tried to put me off until 9am Confused when I rang up with contractions every 3 minutes at 35 wks with twins. I had to be damned assertive. They arrived at 7.30am. The midwife said that their policy was to keep you comfortable and hand you over to the day staff if you arrived at that time Confused.

Original poster
DisneyMillie · 11/12/2015 16:20

Well there goes my hopes of lots of tales of long second labours 😄😣

I should be good for childcare - my parents are on the route to the hospital as are 2 other friends so I'll put them all on alert for the 2 weeks before I'm due (dd was a week early too).

I'll practice my assertiveness - the midwives at the hospital didn't believe me either with dd - thought I was being a rubbish first time mum!

OP posts:
ayria · 11/12/2015 16:28

My first was 3 and 1/2 hours. Pushing for an hour though from the first urge. My waters didn't break and he apparently came about 9 minutes after they were broken.

Pregnant again, only 7wks. But I'm actually hoping for another quick labour because I want a home birth to prevent everything that happened last time from happening again.

My sister had 2 quick labours. With her second she was staying with us when her waters broke but she still lived down south, so had to travel the 3 hours back because she didn't have her notes and they turned her away. She also planned a home birth, had the G&A delivered and everything. She managed to get to the hospital, though because I remember her saying the midwife made her son choke from a cup feed that later turned into an infection on his lungs

JennyOnAPlate · 11/12/2015 16:34

My first was 6 hours from first contraction and second was 3 hours.

Junosmum · 11/12/2015 17:43

My friend has spontaneous fast labour - 45mins for DS1, 37 for DD1, 22 for DS2.

Bythepath · 11/12/2015 17:51

My first was 7 hours so not super short. My DD2 was born in the hospital corridor as we arrived. It was me who didn't believe the midwives when they said her head was out as I was sleeping soundly in bed just over an hour before! Number 3 was quick too. Good luck

P1nkP0ppy · 11/12/2015 17:55

Dc1 45 minutes, Dc2 20 minutes- definitely not recommended, although I was in hospital the midwife went off for her meal so I pretty much delivered him alone (just as well I was a midwife!)

Runwayqueen · 11/12/2015 17:57

My waters went at 8am, but contractions didn't start till late afternoon. Established labour was 15mins, but spent 2hrs pushing. I'd like another but do worry about another quick labour Confused

PancakesAndMapleSyrup · 11/12/2015 18:23

1st child was a nine hour labour but would have been quicker if id been pushing! 2nd child 24mins from 1st contraction to complete delivery inc placenta. They changed the sheets so quicky for me that a vomited all over them in shock. Midwife left me on my own and id sent DH home to rest so was on my own!!!

helloelo · 12/12/2015 20:54

Watching as 10wk pg and first labour was less than 3 hours, DS1 was almost born in the cab, it was very traumatic.

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 12/12/2015 21:00

First labour was just under 6 hours although I think slowed down by 2 hr car journey. Second labour less than 2 hours. When we arrived mw was amazed I hadn't delivered in the car.

Third took a little longer as baby was back to back. Have you thought about a home birth? I had my third at home and it was an amazing experience. I felt hb was a much better scenario than potentially delivering in the car.

Hassled · 12/12/2015 21:02

DC1 was 5 hours, DC2 3 hours. Then the pattern stopped and DC3 took days and days. DC4 was a standard (?) 12 hours or so.

GinandJag · 12/12/2015 21:21

My first birth was 2h40. All the others were much longer.

cjm10979 · 12/12/2015 21:41

My DC1 was just under 4 hours (first contraction to delivery) and I was worried about another short labour for DC2 as the hospital would be about 1.5 hours drive in normal traffic (specialist one).
Due to my age I was told early on that I would be induced on my due date as dangerous to go over this. Did you deliver before your due date for DC1? Perhaps you can suggest to be induced?
The induction pessary worked a treat for me and brought on the contractions within 4 hours. They then decided that my waters should break and baby was delivered 2 hours after. On my notes it said the established labour was 9 minutes!

helloelo · 13/12/2015 05:32

gina hassled were the quick births "easiest" compared to your longer ones? What did you "prefer"? (I prefer never having to give birth :) )
And did you have any intervention (epi, oxytocin, monitoring, forceps, etc.) or complication with the longer ones? Thank you

GinandJag · 13/12/2015 13:57

I expected my first labour to be the standard 12 hours, so had no idea that the intensity of my contractions were not typical. I can remember saying to DH over and over that it was much worse than I thought. I was very stoic and the midwives didn't think I was in labour (no compulsory VEs in those days). Fortunately, I did go into second stage before too long and so did not need an epidural.

My second was at home as I was worried about it being quicker, but it turned out to be six hours. It was almost pain free, although I did go through the "I've had enough for today, can we come back tomorrow" though at transition.

My third was a false alarm the night before (sitting up all night with DH and 2 midwives), but when labour got really underway it was about three hours, fairly intense.

My fourth was a false alarm a week before. DD's labour in the end was about 2 hours. It was pretty intense and I asked the midwife for pethidine. She had to examine me first and I was 6cm. As she was drawing up syringe, DD flew out. That was really weird. I had a baby in my arms without, in my mind, a full labour.

My fifth was a steady six hours. There was no increase in intensity of duration of contractions, so I didn't know where it was going, until I felt pushy. I felt that I had lied to my midwife about my history of quick labours, lol.

All in all, they were all quick labours. My first

alltouchedout · 13/12/2015 14:07

2 hours 30 mins with 1 hour 15 mins pushing, 2 hours 45 mins with 4 mins pushing, 2 hours 30 mins with about 15 mins pushing. Waters broke just before first contraction with DS1, DS2 born in the caul, leaks throughout labour with DS3 and a tonne of water followed him out. Second was by far the easiest, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Helspopje · 13/12/2015 14:20

First 42 mins twinge to baby
Second 13 mins twinge to baby

Fast is effing awful imho and no one has any sympathy for you afterwards

At least I knew it wasn't going to last long the second time. I honestly thought I had hours and hours of hell to go the first time having listened to too many 18h labour chats

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 13/12/2015 14:35

First was 3 hours (Ds is 4 1/2) and DS2 (16 days) was an hour. Luckily we told them to fill the pool before we left the house!

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