Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

How much quicker was your 2nd birth compared to the 1st?

61 replies

DisneyBaby · 26/10/2021 22:16

So I'm expecting my second baby, due in April.
My family are going to Longleat Centre Parcs 4 weeks before my due date (will be 37+5 on departure).
I've said yes to going with them because I had my first daughter 2 weeks late and had to be induced etc, she didn't want to come naturally. And then once it all started it was a really long labour, 3 nights in hospital total. So I just kind of assumed I couldn't be that early when I was that late before...
But now I'm getting a bit worried about it. Everyone says it's quicker after your first and Longleat is 2.5 hours from my house... Is this too risky?
How different was your 2nd births compared to your 1st?
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Pineapples9087 · 26/10/2021 22:41

Dd1 - 11 days late, 7 hour labour

Dd2 - its my due date and still waiting 😁

tinkerbellvspredator · 26/10/2021 22:41

From first contraction 12 hours for first and 7 hours for second.

BertieBotts · 26/10/2021 22:41

Alpaca I count five as fast Envy never had one in single figures! :o

Kite22 · 26/10/2021 22:44

dc1 : 27hours
dc2 : about 15mins

ladygindiva · 26/10/2021 22:44

Not me because my second was c section but my mums experience
Dc1 ( my elder brother) 72 hrs ish
Dc2 ( me) about 45 minutes!!!!

ladygindiva · 26/10/2021 22:45

Oh and older bro was about 2 weeks late and I was 1 day late

RandomMess · 26/10/2021 22:53

Mine all went way overdue abs has to be induced even when I waited past 42 weeks.

2 were 2 day events and 2 10/11 hour events. The time was getting me into labour the established labour to delivery but was quick though.

DramaAlpaca · 26/10/2021 22:56

@BertieBotts I thought five was fairly quick too, then I read on here about the lucky women who have babies in a few minutes!

GrouchyKiwi · 26/10/2021 23:02

First was 7 hours
2nd was 2 1/2 hours
3rd was 4 1/2 hours

Preferred the 3rd. Second labour just felt like one long contraction.

Thinkimightbebroken · 27/10/2021 09:34

Mine was slower.

DC1- 5 hours.
DC2- 12 hours Confused

Blackmagicqueen · 27/10/2021 09:42

dc1: induced 2 weeks over due and took 28 hours start to finish!

Dc2: 37weeks as had to be induced early due to an unexpected complication. I was expecting to go over like my first so this was a sudden and big shock at the time! Took 20 hours from start to finish.

BertieBotts · 27/10/2021 20:55

I can't imagine it! Must be crazy intense. My stepmum had really short labours, I will have to ask her about it.

BurningBenches · 28/10/2021 10:08

All of mine have been over or induced so I definitely would go and enjoy it.

DC1 induced at 42wks (13hrs)
DC2 only spontaneous birth at 41+3 (6hrs active labour but the build up was about 18hrs)
Dc3 induced at 42wks (2hrs)
DC4 induced at 40wks due to size (4hrs)
Dc5 induced at 41wks due to my age (2hrs)

I would have loved to see how quick (or not) 3,4 and 5 would have been spontaneously.

Bluecurtains19 · 28/10/2021 20:06

36 hours with my first, and I was pushing for 2.5 hours - arrived day after my due date.
Second I was induced at 40+1 due to complications - from induction to birth was 3.5 hours and I pushed for 4 minutes, was 2 pushes.

Very very different, very quick in comparison.

StellaOlivetti · 28/10/2021 20:09

1st one day early 11 hours start to finish
2nd twelve days late 4 hours start to finish

SockFluffInTheBath · 28/10/2021 20:11

#1- 1 wk late & 4.5 hrs

#2- 8 days late & 2hrs all in.

butterflycatcher · 28/10/2021 20:16

Pack your hospital bag and notes and take them with you. There will be a local hospital if things do suddenly get going and you can't get home.

With my first, contractions started at 39+6 but he wasn't born until 6 days later at 40+5. Worst almost week of my life.

Second was 24 hours from first contraction to birth. Safe to say I don't labour quickly.

Maryann1975 · 28/10/2021 20:18

Dc1, 2 full days and starting to go into the third night. Born on due date.

Dc2, less than 90 minutes. A week early. And I reckon it could have been quicker if I’d have encouraged things to progress faster, eg moving around/sitting on the ball.
Dc3, about 3 hours. A week early.

TorchesTorches · 28/10/2021 20:24

First, on due date, 3 days of continuous contractions, don't know when I transitioned to active labour but probably about 16 hours. Stressful move to try emergency caesarean but managed just forceps delivery in the end.

Second, 2 days after due date. 21 hours continuous contractions and probably about 10 hours active labour much more straightforward birth.

Itwasgoodwhileitlasted · 28/10/2021 20:30

11 hrs quicker! Most are second time around. Not all, but most. Good luck op!

BurnedToast · 28/10/2021 20:32

10 hours for 1st and 45 mins for 2nd.

dinosaurblues · 28/10/2021 20:34

My first was 24 hours and my second was 50 hours 😭

dinosaurblues · 28/10/2021 20:36

I should add that was start to finish in labour. Both overdue.

tabulahrasa · 28/10/2021 20:37

1st was 76 hours and born on due date, 2nd was 7 hours and born at 41+3

Strokethefurrywall · 28/10/2021 20:40

DS1 - 4 hrs at 37+5
DS2 - 6 hrs at 38+2