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Childbirth

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

Original poster

How long did your 2nd labour last?

67 replies

WinterRose92 · 19/08/2019 08:14

Hi, guys!
I’m currently 38 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child and all I can think about now is the birth. Each day I’m waking up wondering if today will be the day. Feeling nervous and excited!
I have a 2.8 old son - I was in early labour for quite a long time (first twinge was a Sunday around 4pm and he was born the following Tuesday at 10:07am) things really sped up at the end once they broke my waters and he was born after 17 minutes of pushing. 6 hours after arriving at the hospital. All in all I had a really good experience, it went really smoothly with no worry. I know they say no 2 births are the same but I’m just interested in how it went for your 2nd (or 3rd, 4th and so on!)
Was it much quicker? More intense? Similar to your 1st?
Thank you 😊

OP posts:
100timewforgotten · 19/08/2019 08:16

6 hours with my second and two with my third.

Equimum · 19/08/2019 08:19

My second was about 8 hours from being sure I was in labour to actually delivering. I had been uncomfortable most of the previous day, but carried on with my usual stuff and went for a walk and dinner nine hours before he was born (thinking I was in labour, but still not being 100% and still able to sit in a restaurant quite comfortably.

With DS1 I spent days feeling very uncomfortable and having contractions start and stop. I then had regular contractions for 35 hours.

So for me, second time round was much quicker and easier.

Good luck with your experience.

LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 19/08/2019 08:22

3 hours. My first was 6. My midwife did say that generally a second labour is half the time of the first; she was spot on with me!

Chasingsquirrels · 19/08/2019 08:26

MUCH quicker - just under 15 mins v 2 hours.
MUCH more intense, not surprising given the timings.
SLIGHTLY more damage - some grazing and a small tear vvery minor grazing.

Good luck with everthing.

Original poster
WinterRose92 · 19/08/2019 08:27

Thank you for your replies. It’s really interesting to see. My midwife did say it’s generally a lot quicker with the 2nd.

OP posts:
Original poster
WinterRose92 · 19/08/2019 08:28

Chasingsquirrels 15 minutes?! Wow! That must have been a shock to the system?

OP posts:
Seeline · 19/08/2019 08:30

29 hours for the first, and only 13 for the second. Much quicker, if not exactly fast 😁 No intervention required for the second, ventouse for the first.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 19/08/2019 08:30

3 and 3/4 hours from first contraction to baby arriving.

Badabingbadabum · 19/08/2019 08:34

Three hours. As I was adamant that I could make it to the birthing suit, about 45 minutes of that was with paramedics shouting "don't push!" at me. In hindsight I should have stayed at home. First one was about 15 hours.

ShowOfHands · 19/08/2019 08:36

First was 31hrs

Second was 38hrs

TateWorm · 19/08/2019 08:39

First was a week early and lasted under an hour, barely made it to the hospital, basically went straight to pushing as soon as I was on a bed. Needed a few stitches after and think my recovery was more from shock with how fast the baby had arrived.

Second I went into labour a week late, labour was 4.5 hours and I tore much worse, they thought it was third degree and had to transfer me to another hospital for stitches (it was a midwife unit closer to home than the first as I was scared it would be faster as everyone had told me it would be.) I felt absolutely fine afterwards though, everyone insisted on holding my arm when walking and I was absolutely fine and steady on my feet, I thought they were joking when they told me how many stitches I'd needed.

SamStephens · 19/08/2019 08:45

My first was about 5hours which was relatively quick for a first pregnancy. Second was an hour, I got to the hospital with less than 15 minutes to spare and they just knew it was imminent because they just ran a bath in the birthing suite for me and once I got in DS was out within 7 minutes - it was a shock but I had been warned a second labour is usually quicker (but I was imagining maybe 50% quicker lol) I’m now 33wks and at the first twinge I reckon I’ll be at hospital or else I might have this baby in the kitchen!

Original poster
WinterRose92 · 19/08/2019 08:47

I can’t believe how fast some of these labours have been!

OP posts:
user1474894224 · 19/08/2019 08:51

First was horrendous ending in ECS after 2 days. Second was a breeze (3/4 hours)....husband missed the actual birth as he was dropping ds1 at GPs. 3 was equally quick... although we were quicker getting to hospital after the second one.

QueenEnid · 19/08/2019 08:54

Mild contractions from 9ish. Arrived at hospital at 12:30. Had DD by 4:30. Ventous delivery.

With DS- contractions from 6am. Arrived at hospital at 8:15. Had DS by 10:30. No intervention.

Second time I felt much more in control and it was quicker. I knew exactly what I wanted to do and the midwife was fantastic and listened to me. Labour was more intense the second time

Hooleywhipper · 19/08/2019 08:58

First labour 5 and half hours, second 4 and a half, no I didn’t halve but did ok. Both home births .

Fivefootoffun · 19/08/2019 08:58

I had a much longer latent labour stage with DC2.

DC1 - arrived hospital 10am 4cm dilated - baby born 10pm.

DC2 - arrived hospital 4am 8cm (definitely didn’t feel I was so far on) delivered just before midday.

So not much difference between the 2. I did have an epidural with both which definitely slowed things down.

boymum9 · 19/08/2019 09:00

27 hours with first and about 1.5 hours with second!!

concernedforthefuture · 19/08/2019 09:02

First twinges at 3am but managed to sleep on and off until about 7:30am (but woken several times by need to poo!). Contractions were quite strong by 8:30am. Went to hospital at 10am, was 8-9cm dilated on arrival. Midwife offered to break waters to speed things up but I declined. DC2 was born at 11:30am (waters went just before birth).

mizu · 19/08/2019 09:03

12 hours with 1st, 6 hours with 2nd.

Paddy1234 · 19/08/2019 09:03

20 minutes!
First labour was two hours

bloodywhitecat · 19/08/2019 09:05

Just under 4 hours with the first, 12 hours with the second.

Fucket · 19/08/2019 09:06

First Child 4 hours.
Second child 2 hours.
Third child the midwives and I couldn’t decide if I was actually in labour or not, 30 minutes later I gave birth after one push in the lounge, and then another push and out popped placenta.

If I have a fourth I might just sneeze?

EugenesAxe · 19/08/2019 09:09

My two labours were virtually identical; about 16h for everything, both second stages very quick (about 30mins). The babies were 21m apart.

Second labour latent/ first stage much more bearable. I was admitted to labour ward at only nearly 3cm dilated with my first - wasn’t too busy. Every contraction really hurt and made me vomit. 2nd labour I didn’t get that so much and was comfortable at home, getting to hospital 8cm dilated.

PepsiLola · 19/08/2019 09:09

My first was 30 hours (back to back)

Second was 62 hours 😂

Between both labours id had a colposcopy and removed a high amount of precancerous cells from my cervix. They'd removed so much the scar tissue had grew over where my cervix should open.

Basically I had contractions but couldn't dialate.
At 58hours a doctor was able to cut me (most doctors said they were not willing to).

Never again 😂