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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Fast first labour - What was your second like?

28 replies

fruitandbarley · 05/05/2019 17:25

If you had a fast first labour, how did your second compare?
I am 32 weeks with my second and my first daughter was born 3 hours after waters broke out of the blue, no warning or anything so quite quickly. I was just wondering what to expect.

OP posts:
soundsystem · 08/05/2019 19:42

Um, even faster. First was 4 hours, 2nd was 45 minutes.

Where are you planning to give birth? I had planned home births which took some of the pressure off!

Original poster
fruitandbarley · 08/05/2019 19:55

Thanks, yes planned homebirth with this one and was same with first.
45 minutes!!!

OP posts:
PhannyMcNee · 08/05/2019 19:57

Erm, faster here too. My waters break at the end as I start pushing. 3 VBACs - dc2 was just under 3 hours, dc3 was just under 1 hour and according to the monitor strapped to me, dc4 was 4 contractions...

soundsystem · 08/05/2019 20:33

Ah, great, at least you won't have to worry about going anywhere! I was advised to call the midwife at the first twinge - and not to worry about timing contractions or anything - and she got there just in time to throw a shower curtain on the floor Grin

My midwife last time gave DH a thorough briefing on what to do in case the baby arrived before the midwife, that might be worth doing?

Poundlandkate · 08/05/2019 20:37

Mine went from 4 hours to 45 minutes so I would be prepared.

Boffing · 08/05/2019 20:43

Faster. Third was a bit slower than second as he was back to back and kindly turned.

Original poster
fruitandbarley · 08/05/2019 20:55

Thanks everyone, I know anything could happen but it's nice to have an idea.
Good idea about briefing husband, he was all ready to do it last time as midwife turned up about 4 minutes before she was born.

PhannyMcnee - 4 contractions is quite impressive!

OP posts:
GookledyGobb · 08/05/2019 20:57

First was fast at term, second was a prem emcs, but third was 12 days overdue and so quick I only had 2 contractions in the pool. Maybe 30 mins max, ten mins from transition to birth

Neolara · 08/05/2019 21:02

My first was 4 hours from first twinge to baby. My second was approximately the same. Number 3 was only 30 minutes and delivered by DH.

I don't want to alarm you but I would get the midwife to show you what to do if you need to deliver the baby yourselves. And plan for a home birth.

JamesonCask · 09/05/2019 20:15

I was just coming on to ask this question! My first was induced and reading the notes last night that 1st stage was 1 hr45min second stage was 6 minutes.

From what I remember first contraction to baby born was 4 hours 10 mins.

I believe I'll be induced again this time round but if I go naturally do you think I'll have quick labour or was it the induction caused it to be quick

wonderwooman · 09/05/2019 20:18

Faster!

The first was approx 6 hours and the timings halved with number 2 and halved again with number 3.

moreismore · 09/05/2019 20:20

6 hrs first time and 2 hrs second... home birth is an excellent plan!!

QuilliamCakespeare · 09/05/2019 20:22

Even faster second time - 1hr 20mins. Barely made it to hospital!

notanaturalmum · 09/05/2019 20:23

Even faster I'm afraid and only just made it to the hospital.

Best have a dry run through with your husband just in case.
Also I was told to wrap the baby in a warm blanket and hold against my chest to stop them from going cold.

QuilliamCakespeare · 09/05/2019 20:23

My first was 6 hours from the first twinge but less than 3 hours in active labour.

Second was 1hr 20 mins from the first (very strong) contraction.

Dandelion1993 · 09/05/2019 20:32

From waters breaking to birth was:

DD1 - 9 hours
DD2 - 4 hours.

With DD2 that included waters breaking, getting to 10cm, pushing for an hour then and emergency section.

NatureGal · 09/05/2019 20:39

My first waters went but no sign of Labour at 36 weeks. Contractions started 12 hours later and baby was born an hour after that. Second was 5 hours after contractions started. Waters were broken by midwife on my request after nearly 5 hours, DD1 was born minutes after and two pushes. All four of my deliveries have never involved longer than 3 minutes of pushing, thankfully.

Thomo34 · 09/05/2019 22:14

Quicker. I had an unplanned home birth with DS2, husband had to deliver.

Missycat1 · 12/05/2019 16:37

15 minutes active labour for 1st and arrived on DD. Second time we were worried it would happen again and with a toddler in tow so we opted for an induction. Baby arrived two weeks earlier in the end so induction never happened but it was much ‘calmer’ and lasted 6 hours from start to finish.

Nameusernameuser · 12/05/2019 17:09

My mum's were 4 hours, 3 hours, at home 15 mins, at home 2 hours, 6 hours, then 3 minutes.
The sixth came out after 3 huge contractions in the en suite bathroom.
The 3 home births weren't planned. They just came quick.

BareBelliedSneetch · 12/05/2019 17:15

First was 3.5 hrs. Second just a shade under 3 hrs from the very first niggle.

I had a long chat with my midwife beforehand, and we planned a plan b home birth. So the main plan was always to go to hospital, but we thought a planned home birth was probably better than an unplanned one if it ended up being necessary.

As it happened, I was within a gnats whisker of staying home. Decided we’d go to hospital instead, gave birth 4 mins after arriving. (It’s about an 8 min drive away with clear roads.). I didn’t mention to my DH (who was driving) that I was in transition. I felt it was something he didn’t really need to know, given how fast he was already driving Grin

Aquamarine1029 · 12/05/2019 17:17

Even faster. First about 3 hours, second barely an hour.

greathat · 12/05/2019 17:21

First 3 hours, second 40 mins (from them wanting to induce me so breaking my waters). They told me to come in if I felt a twinge next time... there will be no next time

Jessieevans94 · 15/05/2019 12:40

First was 2 hours 30 mins at 36 weeks (induced at 4cm waters broken and put on pitocine) 3 pushes.

Second given a sweep and had waters broken and it was only 1 hour 54 mins but I was only 1cm dialated initially and had him after 5 pushes.

currently pregnant with baby number 3 and I'm being induced in the next two weeks 😳

Melmam · 15/05/2019 20:59

My first was 8 hours second was 27 hours