How long did your 2nd labour last?

[WinterRose92]

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 😊

14 hours out I knew she was on her way - they sent me home, went back to hospital 6 hours before I have birth but it didn't actually hurt, I just felt the pressure of the contractions I was only in active labour around 2 hours

7 hours with first , 15 with 2nd.

1st - five hours after waters breaking
2nd - 2.5 hours
3rd - 2.5 hours
4th - 1.5 hours

All quick boys!! Good luck op!

4 hours for 1st, 2 hours for 2nd so yes half the time!

5 and a half hours first, 3 and a half second.

3 hours or there's about. Wonderful epidural and just 3 pushes.

My second labour was twice as long as the first. Almost 30 hours. I really thought it would be quicker, I was wrecked.

1st labour - induced in early labour at 3pm, gave birth at 3am. Horrible pain all the way through until epidural 🙏. Forceps and episiotomy. Horrible recovery.

2nd labour - active labour for an hour! Ds arrived as soon as I got in the pool! Second degree tear but recovery was a breeze.

Both about 8hrs I think

Both of my labours were basically the same... I think the second one was maybe an hr less but the pushing stage was much longer. Recovery from second was much much harder as well. Maybe don't do what I did and assume the second was going to be easier and quicker because when it turned out worse I felt a bit gutted.

vickyq1983 I’m hoping it will be quicker but you’re right, I don’t want to set myself up. Thing is you never really know how it’s going to go.
Very interesting though, thank you to everyone for the replies!

1st: 5hrs active labour including 1.5hrs of pushing. Horrible post birth issues, v sad about it all.

2nd: 1hr 20mins active labour including no pushing, body did it all itself. Absolutely incredible feeling.

Just be prepared for anything op. Giving birth is an unpredictable beast! Hope it is quicker and easier for you though!

15 minutes

My first was 45 minutes second 15 minutes I've been told now I have precipitate labour the only reason my first took so long was because the midwives kept denying I was in labour and wouldn't check me so I lay there screaming for 45 minutes before she just popped out

Two hours. My first was six hours.

My first was 2 days and my second was around 5 hours I would say. It's down as 1 hour on my discharge notes as DS was born really quickly after arriving at hospital

To elaborate.. my first was born at 34 weeks. Was dilating really slowly. No intervention at birth.

2nd I had a routine appointment with consultant and was examined and told I was 3cm dilated at 39 weeks. Was given a sweep due to growth slowing. Was back later that night. When I arrived at the hospital I was 7cm dilated. Babys heart rate kept dropping so had a ventouse delivery.

First child - waters went at 5.30am and born at 2pm.

Second child - waters went at midnight and born at 2.30am.

First was 49 hours including an induction at 40 hours.

Second was 7 hours from having waters broken - although I'd had 4 sweeps during 5 days before and 6cm when waters were broken. Was 40+12 at this point

1st - 24 hours, b2b, ventouse + episiotomy, 1 hour pushing
2nd - 4.5 hours, 45mins pushing
3rd - 4 hours, b2b, 1.5 hours pushing and 3rd degree tear.

This thread terrifies me
My first labour was 4 hours and the second time I’m going to need to find someone to look after my 6 year old and drive myself to hospital before I pop!

BarleyG I know! I’m thinking the same! 😂

Twinge at 4pm, went hospital at 12:30am, had her at 3.43am.

My first was twinge at 7:40pm, hospital around 12am, had him at 6:40am.

WinterRose92 I was like you with my first, grumblings from a Sat morning -he was born on the Monday.

The second was much better, like my body was more decisive and practised! From the first contraction at 11am, they were regular with a clear time-able start and finish. Without much pain at all between contractions. Bearable for most of the day at home. At the point they got so close together that it felt like I was in pain almost all the time, we went to hospital and he was born within 40 minutes. That was early evening. The actual hard bit was really, really short -about 90minutes.

Even more so with DC3 -I did loads through the contractions, played with the kids, talked to family, had a snooze, had a snack and the unbearable bit was limited to “oh, she’s crowning!”. The whole thing from lunchtime to early evening.