Truth about second labour

[peaceloveandbiscuits]

Is there any truth in the anecdote about your second labour being about half the time of your first?

How quick were your first and second labours?

My first was six hours and I'm a bit apprehensive about the possibility of a three hour labour this time!

First: 49 hours - including waters going naturally and an induction

Seconds: 4 hours after having waters broken.

I found I was more relaxed and knew my body much better the second time around which I believe helped speed things along i.e. Active birth, bouncing on ball etc.

Thanks user my DD was born almost 12 years ago after 4 hour labour (from waters to baby) at 35+5, I am now TTC DC2 and a bit apprehensive whether my body will remember what to do

First - 14 hrs
Second - 7 hrs
Third - 1hr 15 mins
(All three were back to back, so no particular difference between them).

First: 6 hours
Second: 4 hours

1st: 72 hours from 3cm to delivery - about 2 hours pushing.

2nd: 36 hours with about 45 minutes pushing.

Both back to back. We ended up only just getting to hospital on time for the pushing with DS2 because I kept saying 'oh we've got ages yet, they'll just send me home'

First 6 hours from start of pains to baby born

Second had to have waters broke and then it took 5 hours

My second was born in the car en route to the delivery suite The paramedics arrived 7 mins before the baby.

First about 10, second three hours from waters breaking and first contraction to baby's arrival.

So if I was 6 hours from waters breaking (spontaneously), was 4cm an hour later, and spent 45 minutes pushing, does that mean just the pushing stage might be quicker, rather than labour itself?

I know no one knows the answer, and I'll have to wait and see, ha!

First was about 6 hours but had epidural which I think made it slower, 1.5 hrs pushing ending up with ventouse .... second was 30 minutes after arriving at hospital, 2 pushes, no pain relief 😱

The reason I'm asking is that DS needed resuscitating when he was born, because he shot out like a bullet and was shocked, apparently. I'm afraid that any quicker will lead to worse circumstances (DS was 100% after ten minutes).

First was an induction, was told I would be days, 4 hours from pessary tablets to ds being born.
Second 1 hour from first contraction , hospital said I should go home, I gave birth 15 mins later. But was home by 830 to do the school run!

First about 17 hours, second was 2 and a half hours. 3 hours pushing with first and 15 minutes with second. Totally different.

Dc1- started approx 4am, sent home from hospital 4.45 am the next day, waters broke at home at 6am, born at 7.23am

Dc2 started approx 12.30pm, waters broke 2.30am, born 2.37am.

Second labour is definitely quicker. I think it's only the 2nd or 3rd stage that's faster though. Don't quote me on it!

Dc1 4 days latent labour, 18 hours active labour even with a drip to augment it after it stalled, including 2 plus hours of pushing and ventouse needed.

Dc2 20 hours latent labour, 3 hours active labour including about 30 minutes of pushing. Dc2 was significantly bigger than Dc1.

3rd stage delivery of the placenta was the same time for both as they injected me due to worries about haemorrhage.

I'd maybe try and have a water birth then if you can op. I found the pushing stage much easier to control in water.

OP I would say your first labour sounds pretty speedy for a first birth and your second one might be quick. My first was about 8 hours but would have been much quicker if he hadn't been the wrong way up, which meant I was pushing for nearly 2 hours after a relatively quick first stage. I had a feeling the second one would be quite quick but I wasn't prepared for the 32 minutes of established labour I got! (To be fair I had tried to tell them I was having irregular contractions before that but they didn't believe me...) I was fast asleep with no pain at 3am, was awoken at 3.30ish with a couple of contractions, was texting partner at 5.45am telling him I was in hospital but nothing much happening (I had to go in early for an antibiotic drip which never happened) , and at 6.30 am I had a baby!

14 hrs vs 1hr 41 mins

First labour 28 hours. Second and third both three and a half hours from the first contraction.

If we count from established labour
Ds1 about 11h
Ds2 about 5h
Pushing
Ds1 about 3 hours
Ds2 about 20 minutes

First was exactly 12 hours.

Second was 7 hours (though would have really been 6 because an injection of painkiller stopped everything for an hour)

Third was just 3 hours.

I reckon if I had another baby it would be an hour and a half.

Did anyone warn you about afterpains yet OP? Most women get them after second births. Feels like you're having another baby immediately after. Ouch!

DC1: about 9 hours
DC2: just under than 2 hours

#2 was far more painful and intense. Pretty much one long contraction from the start.

1st was a very short labour. Second labour was 7 and a half hours. So not true for me.

First: 8hrs of proper labour
Second: 1hr start to finish