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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Speedy second labour

26 replies

Nancy155 · 09/12/2022 16:18

Hi,
my first was born in just over 3 hours, my second was an induction but baby arrived 40 minutes after contractions started. I am currently expecting 3rd baby and wondered if I should expect another speedy delivery? If you have had a speedy delivery were your next births quick/quicker?
thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Chasingsquirrels · 09/12/2022 16:20

Yes.
Dc1: 2 hrs from 1st contraction, which itself was about 30 mins after waters went.
Dc2: less than 15 mins from 1st contraction, which itself was about 10 mins after waters went.

PritiPatelsMaker · 12/12/2022 07:44

First was about 8 hours second was 3 hr 45 from first contraction.

Has your MW made any suggestions on what to do if you can't make it to Hospital?

MakeWayMoana · 12/12/2022 07:49

Mine got quicker, I planned a homebirth with baby 3 because by the time I’d gone into labour, phoned someone to look after my other kids and waited for them to get to my house, then driven to the hospital I’d have probably had the baby on the side of the road.

As it was I had her in the lounge while the other two kids were asleep, no stress over rushing to the hospital or anything - much nicer experience.

Sandals12 · 21/12/2022 23:24

First 5 hrs, at home with no assistance. Second about 2.5 hrs from first twinge. Just made it to hospital. So yes faster.

Loachworks · 21/12/2022 23:33

DC 1&2 identical to yours, no induction though (both three days overdue and ten years apart,) DC3 was again 40 minutes from first twinge but she was 13 days overdue. My waters were broken a couple of minutes before each was born.

stickybear · 21/12/2022 23:37

Yep! First was similar to your second - induction then less than an hour in labour. Second I think was about 40 minutes in established labour. Most of the midwives I saw during my second pregnancy told me to expect it to be quick again second time around, and to keep in touch with them and head for the hospital as soon as I thought something might be happening. When I arrived at the hospital second time around I was only 1cm dilated but they were happy to admit me due to my previous fast labour. Which is just as well as DS arrived about an hour later Grin

AmberGer · 21/12/2022 23:40

First 4 hours
Second 3 days 🤷‍♀️

Bettalife · 21/12/2022 23:43

First was 4.5 hours. Only just made it to hospital. Second was about 40 minutes and an unplanned, unattended home birth. After that I opted for planned home births. Third one, my waters broke at 7am but no comfort tractions until after lunch and he arrived an hour later. But it was much more relaxed. Probably my favourite birthing experience.
Number 4 came after a sweep. I was twingey all afternoon but he waited until the older ones were in bed until the contractions started and was born about an hour and a half after that.

Bettalife · 21/12/2022 23:44

Contractions. Not comfort tractions 🤦‍♀️ (auto correct!)

Mince314s · 21/12/2022 23:44

I had a very long labour then a quick one then a medium one (induced). For me the third was induced a week early which I think made it slower.

Thelonelychicken · 21/12/2022 23:50

1st was 7 hours not too bad
2nd was 4 hours
3rd was an hour
Expecting number 4 in 3 weeks so if I remember I'll come back and let yous know

123woop · 21/12/2022 23:59

Reading this with intrigue! My first was born 4 hours after my waters broke (contractions started about 30 minutes after they broke). We got to the hospital at 17.10 and she was born at 18.55 😬 I'm due again soon and my midwife who helped birth my first told me I might have to have a home birth for my second child, but I've just been told to get to the hospital as soon as possible.

KnickerlessParsons · 22/12/2022 00:17

DM, who used to be in the baby business, says you can work on half the time for each successive labour, as a rule of thumb.

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 22/12/2022 00:22

No, longer.

Second baby took nearly 3 hours to arrive because they were back to back and had hand up over the head. Longer than my first by some way. The third niggled for a few hours so I had an inkling so could get the midwife but then arrived in a little under an hour. None were ever as fast as my first. I’ve never attempted to get to hospital

endofthelinefinally · 22/12/2022 00:36

In my case it was 5 hours, 2.5 hours, 1 hour.
Make sure you have a plan in place OP.

ParentsTrapped · 22/12/2022 00:48

Mine were 2.5hrs and 1.5hrs from first contraction to birth. I was worried the second would be too fast to get to hospital but it was ok in the end. Will let you know how 3 goes at some point!

BookwormButNoTime · 22/12/2022 00:50

An hour and a half for number 1 and that was with them trying to slow things down a bit by me not pushing whilst husband raced to the hospital.

Second was two hours 40 mins as she was back to back. If she had come out right way round I think I would have been done in 15 mins.

DramaAlpaca · 22/12/2022 01:09

KnickerlessParsons · 22/12/2022 00:17

DM, who used to be in the baby business, says you can work on half the time for each successive labour, as a rule of thumb.

Exactly this for me. My labours were 21 hours, 12 hours, 5 hours. I am in awe and very envious of those of you with seriously quick labours, lucky you.

PritiPatelsMaker · 22/12/2022 07:35

DM, who used to be in the baby business, says you can work on half the time for each successive labour, as a rule of thumb

That's roughly how it worked for me too.

fairtrauchled · 22/12/2022 15:41

DC1 arrived 2 hrs after my waters broke.DC 2 was a similar time although difficult to know when I actually went into labour as I was halfway to being fully dilated (no contractions felt at all) when I was examined.I'd been booked in for an induction but Mother Nature took charge instead.

Whoneedsleep · 22/12/2022 18:00

I feel very hard done by that mine got longer and worse!

outnumbered77 · 23/12/2022 08:07

My first was very long, second very quick and luckily a planned home birth, third was longer than second but quicker than the first!

20viona · 23/12/2022 18:46

I had 2 inductions both at 37 weeks. First one active labour was 2 hours, second was 1 hour!

OatFox · 23/12/2022 18:48

When I told the midwives DC 2 came in less than 40 minutes from any kind of pain beginning, they rushed me at 4cm down to the birthing suite.

Ten hours later DC3 was born. It's the norm to prepare but you never know.

Happygirl79 · 23/12/2022 18:51

First baby born within 2 hours of contractions starting

2nd baby born 48 hours after contractions started

No rhyme nor reason in timings

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