Speed of labour

[Mog]

I started a thread a while ago about having a very long first labour and worried about how long second labour would be now I'm pregnant again. Today I got talking to a lady in Marks and Spencer whose sister just had her first baby in 2 hours! I'd love to know the secret, but can anyone put an anecdotal finger on why some people have quick labours and others are very long?

I agree - it feels like there's an alien in there, kicking around - if you don't know you're pregnant, I wonder what you think it is!!!

I don't know - I really can't believe it myself - is there anyone out there who truly didn't know until very late on ?

I always assumed it was either the woman being in denial (?) or tabloid tosh - but v interested to hear if it can really happen.

Yes, I am intrigued as well. Most of the stories I have read seem to be about young girls. I guess if it's your first pregnancy, so the experience is new to you, and your strong and youthful stomach muscles hold things in, you might, just might, miss the signs. After all irreugular periods are not so uncommon. I remember missing mine on and off for two years aged 16 - 18. Too much exam stress and dieting.

Still think there's an element of denial, though.

Oops, soupdragon. Oh, and did I mention that I'm really Henry VIII (you can call me Hairy Hal, if you like, though

Think the denial thing must be about right, although I do know one lovely lady in her late forties who didn't realise she was pregnant until she was about 25 weeks on. Assumed she'd started the menopause, and was putting on a bit of weight because of it - twas only when she started to leak milk that she realised what was going on!