How did your labours compare?

[LizzyBennet1813]

Currently 35+3 with baby number 2 and just wondering if this labour/birth will be anything like the first. I know they say all pregnancies and labours are different but i can't help but wonder so was hoping to hear some of your experiences.
I was woken at 3am by my waters breaking when i was 37+1 with my first and was pretty lucky and had my beautiful boy at 4.30pm that afternoon.

My first Labour lasted 19 hrs. I was very young and didn't have a clue what was happening to me. 23years later with my second I was terrified of giving birth. My water's broke on my due date and 40mins later having just made it to hospital dd2 was born.

1 - 24 hours, b2b, lots of intervention
2 - 4.5 hours, straightforward
3 - 4 hours, b2b, awful!

DD - 10.5 hrs, back to back, episiotomy, gas and air

DS - 7.5 hrs, straightforward, gas and air

2nd time was much easier, got the water birth I wanted. No interventions so felt completely in control at all times.

DS1 went into hospital at 7pm after contracting most of the day. Was 10cm few hours later however DS wasn’t coming when pushing! Over to delivery suite where I had failed forceps, episiotomy and kiwi suction cap, prolonged two hours pushing should of gone to theatre DS arrived at 4.12am. The cord snapped whilst trying to retrieve the placenta! Dr was sorting me for nearly an hour before I got to hold DS.

2nd birth was induction went to labour ward with mild contractions after having one pessary, they broke my waters on arrival 57 mins later I had DD in the pool with just G&A! No stitches just a minor tear.

My two births couldn’t have been more different! X

My three couldn't have been more different from each other!

#1 has contractions rumbling on for 2/3 days before reaching 5cm and being admitted to delivery suite. They had to break my waters and she still took another 12 hours to arrive. I had G&A and pethidine, and I lost a fair amount of blood afterwards which really slowed my recovery. Lochia for about 4 weeks. Born at 40+3

#2 had contractions for 12 hours before my waters broke in the middle of the night. He shot out 4 hours after that, with only G&A to assist. Bounced straight back and was full of energy within a week. Lochia stopped after about 2 weeks. Born at 40+5

#3 my waters went first, with meconium in. Admitted straight to delivery suite. Contractions started a couple of hours later but progress wasn't as quick as they wanted to see, so I had synto drip attached, and she was born 4 hours later. Pethidine and G&A due to intensity of contractions from the drip. Recovery felt much slower, I'm not sure why. Lochia for 6 weeks. Born at 40+5

Good luck with your #2

Sorry, #3 was born 12 hours after waters breaking, 4 hours after drip attached.

My 2 were parallel opposites!

DD1: induced on 42w, pessary, drip, episiotomy in theatre and finally born 42+3 🙄
DD2: contractions started 40 + 4 at 12pm and went to hospital at 8pm, daughter born at 10:52pm!

Luck of the draw I think!

DS was born at 37+1, 12 hours after waters broke, which was first sign of labour. Needed an EMCS as his heart rate was falling even though I was 10cm.

DD born 40+1, had been getting pains for a few days they stopped on due date for the day and started again at 11pm, waters went at 1.30am baby arrived at 4 am. I’d been booked in for a section at 8am so was glad she came on her own!

First was 6 days late - long labour but uncomplicated with very bearable contractions. Pushed for 3 hours. Smallest baby at 7lb 15

Second was 8 days late, horrendously painful contractions but still just g&a. Planned home birth but had been pushing for hours and ended up transferring into hospital for ventouse. No tears or cuts, 9lb baby!! As soon as I was in hospital he was born in half an hour I think home was just wrong for me.

Third baby born in Jan... easiest out of the three but contractions were the worst, but I guess the most effective as he was born in about 6 hours and was a huge 9lb 8.. again no tears!

Was back to normal with all three very quickly and left hospital within 2 hours!

My 2 were very similar!

DS1: On and off contractions for 24 hours at home, went in at 12am open 5, was in pool for an hour, open 10, pushed for 10 mins, got out for birth as baby was in distress.

DS2: Contractions started with a bang at 7pm. Went in at 8:30, open 5. 45 mins later was open 10 (again in pool), pushed for 20 mins in pool this time. Had my complete waterbirth!