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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Is second labour always quicker than the first?

54 replies

rightlittlered · 21/05/2017 21:46

I am expecting again and was induced at 38 weeks with our first dd due to growth problems. My obstetrician has said that if things continue on the right track, I'll be allowed to go into labour spontaneously (which I'm actually really excited about) BUT we have just moved 3.5 hours away from family and do not have any friends here to watch DD so we're having to keep family members on standby to travel up to watch her while I'm in labour. My main concern is that 3.5 hours might not be long enough for anyone to get here and I'll end up delivering on the living room floor... which I'm petrified about!

I know that people have very different birthing experiences but I was just wondering whether anyone would like to share their labour timings? From contractions starting to baby arriving?

OP posts:

sallywiththegoodhurr · 22/05/2017 10:45

First baby was 24 hours established labour, 2nd baby was 4 hours and 3rd was 3.5

terrylene · 22/05/2017 10:50

I read that you can halve the time for the first stage, and the second stage can be 10 minutes.

I had signs of labour at 3.30am and delivered about 7.30am both times. I actually had contractions for longer the second time, and virtually no second stage other than delivery - twins - then had them both in 10 minutes when they started arriving.

I don't think there is any way of knowing for sure. I was organised and had people lined up and staying pre-labour. However, the babies arrived before my 'schedule' came into force, and we had to rely on the goodwill of a lovely friend in the early hours.

ElizabethS22 · 22/05/2017 10:56

First labour - 47 hours from first twinge
Second labour - 8 hours from first twinge

metalmum15 · 22/05/2017 11:59

rightlittlered My first was back to back also, hence why I ended up in theatre as the little bugger wouldn't turn round! Have you been checked to see which way this one is lying? I only say that because I was told by the consultant that's it's quite common to carry second babies that way too, so I had to have later scans with my second to check all was ok and I wouldn't end up with the same difficulties as the first. Luckily second one was the right way round though!

metalmum15 · 22/05/2017 12:00

Sorry, meant to add if they are back to back a home birth isn't always advisable because of the difficulties that can occur.

MrsMamaG2016 · 22/05/2017 13:15

I've just had my first I had 2 weeks slow labour with Braxton hicks, but my waters wouldn't break.. and he was stuck then had 31 hours of intense contractions and my waters had to be burst for me, ended with a spinal block and tares but worth it when I had my munchkin ... defiantly having c section next time thou xx

IamChipmunk · 22/05/2017 20:31

Hmmm, I seem to be the exception then!

Ds 22hrs from first contraction to being born. Dd three bloody days!!

Having said that second stage with Dd was much quicker and to be fair to her, once she got going she flew out! Was only in delivery 37 mins! Good job cos I had had enough of silly doing nothing contractions.

So although it seems most second labours are quicker, it's possible that it could take longer.

GooodMythicalMorning · 22/05/2017 20:36

First 12 hrs, 2nd 36 hrs!!

paddypants13 · 22/05/2017 20:41

First - Induced with Syntocin (sp?) and took just under 12 hours.

Second - three hours from start to finish.

StinkyMcgrinky · 22/05/2017 20:52

First was 4hrs from start of constructions

Second was in hospital for 6 days in early stop start labour (but was 34weeks) and was 6 hours from start of proper contractions.

tabithaa · 22/05/2017 21:07

2nd was quicker but more intense. Baby was back to back so was different contraction pain from first.

Blinkyblink · 23/05/2017 12:28

First under 12

Second 2 hours start to finish!!

dodi1978 · 23/05/2017 12:32

Neither quicker nor slower. Both labours about 4 1/2 hours from first twinge to birth, with a long pushing phase each time (no idea why, it just seems to take me a while to squeeze these young people out... in fact No 2 was crowning and slipped back in .

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 23/05/2017 12:46

My labours did get shorter:

Ds1 - 37.75 hours

Ds2 - 24 hours

Ds3 - 20 hours.

60percentofthetime · 23/05/2017 13:37

Like you OP, my family live over 2 hours away and I wondered if they would manage to get to me before I had to leave to have DS2. My first was 24 hours from first twinge to out, but only got really painful in the last 5 or so hours. With DS2 I painful contractions within an hour of the first twinge, but then baby decided to turn back to back and didn't make an appearance for another 15 hours , although I went from 4cm to out in 1 hour at the end of it all?!

DoIDontIhavethetalk · 23/05/2017 13:41

No.

MusicToMyEars800 · 23/05/2017 13:49

My first labour my waters didn't break, They had to be broken, I was in labour for 10.5hrs and 45 mins ( the 45 mins was pushing ),

Second labour, Waters broke at 3:45am, Got to hospital at 12:55pm and dd was born at 1:54pm so just under ( literally by 1 min ) She was out in 2 pushes.

WittgensteinsBunny · 23/05/2017 19:47

Dd1 - 56 hours from first contraction to birth (hospital)

DD2 - 4 hr 20 from first contraction to birth (planned home - and so so so glad we planned her as a home birth!) Bit of a shock as was expecting to be in labour for days!

OllyBJolly · 23/05/2017 19:53

First baby - 26 hours of hard labour and struggled to walk for a few days afterwards.

Second baby - twenty minutes of labour. Think I was actually laughing as she emerged. Felt like I could have jogged home same day.

No drugs in either but only because I was so bloody minded first time and no time for any second time!

1Potato2 · 23/05/2017 20:06

1st 16 hours
2nd 2 nights of mild contractions and none during the day. 1.5 hours actual labour. Born on the bathroom floor!

Dtd seemed to kick start things both times. I was overdue both times though.

Scichic · 23/05/2017 20:09

1st induced. Waters broke and it got intense at 6:35, he was born at 7:09
2nd spontaneous. Checked in to the delivery suit after a couple of hours at home and she was born 24mins later

Anditstartsagain · 23/05/2017 20:11

First baby induced 19 hours start to end. Second baby 3 feckin days in slow labour then inducation that took over 24 hours and ended in emcs.

I had heard second babies are always faster I was most annoyed to spend days in labour.

Geobaby · 23/05/2017 20:27

First: 3 48h of induction drugs and then 21h labour (40w + 18)
Second: About 30 mins at home on sofa. Planned home birth (but no time for midwife to arrive), but would have been an unplanned home birth too as was so quick. (40w + 13)

So in my case, yes, second was quicker, but I know lots of others that were longer!

MrsD79 · 23/05/2017 20:35

You betcha! Out like a bullet! But was 9.5cm in hospital triage when the twats finally agreed to let me stay. 3rd visit in 24 hours!!! He was out in 20 mins.

Jumpmom1 · 23/05/2017 20:38

1st baby.....induced...11 hour labour.
2nd baby......water broke...4hrs 15mins
3rd baby....contractions.,..5 hours.

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