For those who had a quick first labour..how quick was your second!?

[Jr9901]

I currently have a 9 month old and am 4 weeks pregnant (oops!)...I’ve started wondering about the birth already as it really doesn’t feel like long ago since the last one!

I had a good first birth in terms of no complications or tears but it was 6 hours from start to finish..no time for pain relief by the time I was at the hospital and I went from 3cm to 10cm in an hour when I got there which was very intense. I get the impression the midwife thought I was being a drama queen until I begged her to examine me again!

I hear second births are quicker :0 quite worried i won’t even make it to the hospital! I’d love to hear stories of ladies who had quick first births..did you even get a warning with your second?!

Mine went the opposite way, first was just over 2 hours and second was 4 hours. Third was 3 hours. Second and third were lovely relaxed home births and first was induced in hospital which may have made the difference.
Are you planning a home birth? It may be advised, depending on your proximity to a hospital.

My first was about 8 hours from waters breaking to delivery. Only about 6 hours of contractions.

My second was only 4 or five hours all in and only contracting for about 3 hours.

1st was 2 hours from first contraction, which was 30 mins after waters went. An hour of that was active pushing.

2nd was 15 minutes from first contraction, which was 10 mins after waters went. I had 4 or 5 contractions.

First birth was 10.5 hours from first twinge to baby being born, not super fast but apparently faster than the average first birth

Second birth was about 4 hours from first twinge to baby being born, although I wasn't completely sure it was full blown labour at first and didn't realise quite how fast everything was progressing, so when I had the urge to push it felt sudden.

I strongly advise you to plan a home birth, if things are progressing fast it's much less stressful to stay at home that trying to rush into hospital and risk giving birth on the way (in an ambulance or car park or corridor) which would be my worst nightmare! If you plan a home birth, you don't have to stay at home - you can change your mind and go into hospital at any time (and might have to for whatever reason) but it just keeps your options open.

My first was 12 hours from waters breaking to birth but things slowed down considerably and had to have a drip to speed back up. Midwife said I should maybe consider home birth for second. Second was 3.5 hours from waters breaking including a trip to hospital with the option of noisy pre natal ward where I would get no sleep or home. Went home only to be ambulanced back almost immediately and if I hadn't insisted on not waiting for the end of a contraction each time the ambulance crew moved me we wouldn't have made it through the hospital door. Midwife said the next day "see I told you you should have had a home birth".

1st - 3 1/2 hours start to finish
2nd - 1 hour 15 min (just made it to MLU)
Luckily neither with any complications

3rd due soon - planning home birth - DH slightly anxious he will be delivery baby

My first was 4 hours (max) from first inkling to baby. My 2nd was 45 mins. Didn't dare risk a 3rd!

First . Maybe 2hrs 30mins . They cut my underwear off and he arrived !
Second slower start . Waters went at 2pm ish but no contractions until 5ish . Ramped up quickly. Midwife said “ you’ll have your baby by midnight at 6. “ she was born 20 mins later . 2 hours .
Third . Ummm I think a 2 hr one again .
But I don’t seem to labour for long and certainly only needed a few pushes . DH said they needed someone wearing a ‘catchers mitt’ at end of table !

My first was 4 hours from first little 'hmm that might be a contraction' type twinge to delivery. My second was around 2.5 hours.
I was very nervous second time round. The hospital was an hour away. There were moments in the car when I thought she might be born at the side of the road but I made it into the delivery room, 3 pushes and she was born!
Best of luck.

This thread has scared me 😂
My first was born 8 hours after waters breaking. Got to the hospital just as I needed to push. Have selected the MLU this time as it's closer but DH works over an hour away in same town as where my mum is who's our childcare. DS2 due in 4 weeks so hoping it's not too fast 😬

@NatalieH2220

This thread has scared me 😂 My first was born 8 hours after waters breaking. Got to the hospital just as I needed to push. Have selected the MLU this time as it's closer but DH works over an hour away in same town as where my mum is who's our childcare. DS2 due in 4 weeks so hoping it's not too fast 😬

Why not plan a home birth just in case your DH and/or mum don't make it in time?

Wow we are considering TTC again but my first birth was 1 hour 40mins from breaking my waters to baby being born (no contractions before waters broken) and I ended up with quite severe damage.

This thread is honestly making me want a ELCS!

1st was 7 hours, 2nd 2 1/2 hours

1st was 6 hours (water birth), 2nd was 3 hours (unplanned home birth!)

This is terrifying me!!

Oh wow! These stories! I have a 4 month old and am 8 weeks pregnant....god help me. And my labour was also super quick, 3 to 10cm in 40 mins so I also couldn’t have any pain relief, and the description of it being intense is so accurate. I couldn’t believe the pain. So I will definitely be opting for a c section if the second are that much quicker.

You got pregnant when you baby was 2.5 months old !!

I didn't have sex for months and months after DC1 was born and we were VERY careful to use contraception

@NameChange30 Yep! I’m trying REALLY hard to focus on the positives at the moment 😂