If your first labour was v long, was your second long too?

[Eeeekidontknow]

Just that really! My first labour was 3 days long and resulted in an emergency C section (after getting to 7cm by the third evening, I was back down to 2cm several hours later). I’m trying to decide whether to try for a VBAC this time round but I feel it’s inevitable I’ll have another long labour that will result in a C section.

I know second labours are usually shorter but can they be that much shorter?!

I’d love to hear your experiences!

DC1 - 72 hours, forceps, blood transfusions, three failed epidurals, awful.

DC2 - 8 hours, no intervention, two pushes, successful epidural so no pain. V calm.

DC3 - 45 mins, no pain relief as no time, incredibly intense and painful but quick.

First was very similar to yours - ending in an emergency c section. The second was about five hours.
Third was three hours.

1st labour 4 days 😭 horrific!!!

2nd Labour i had mild pains for a few hours but when to hospital as my waters burst (very high risk). Checked immediately and told only 2cm you'll be hours, 45 mins after arriving he was born.

I had a full day of regular contractions with my first. It was so exhausting and painful.

With my second it was less than four hours from start to finish, resulting in a really lovely water birth. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any shorter really.

1st took 3 days second started at exactly the same time of day done by lunch on gas and air.

Both 3 day looong, drawn out labours. Both vaginal births but both equally slow, painful and frustrating.

My first was 39 hours, back to back, no beds available for an epidural, 4 hours pushing, everything prolapsed, awful to be honest.
My second was 4 hours, no pain relief, chatting all the way through. Still an hour pushing but a breeze really. I was so anxious second time round about a repeat of the first time but it was a dream birth. It is possible to have very different experiences.

Wow, ok that’s so reassuring to hear - I can’t believe how quick so many of your subsequent labours were. I feel a lot more positive about trying for a VBAC now, thank you all!

@Justyouwaitandseeagain That sounds tough - I’m really sorry to hear the second was just as hard!

My first labour felt as if it lasted forever and ended with a failed ventouse and a forceps delivery for failure to progress. My next labour was so fast that I almost dropped the baby in the hospital car park.

1st labour days and only got to 9cm and ended in a vbac. 2nd 11 hours from waking up and knowing today was the day but not having any specific symptoms to my vbac baby being in my arms.

My first was 24 hours, back to back and horrendously painful even between contractions.

My second was 5 hours from first twinge to baby being born. Felt completely different because he wasn’t back to back, and only the contractions hurt, with relief in between. I didn’t get that with my first.

First was 17 hours. Second was 2 1/2 hours from start to finish.
i remember my Nan talking about how all her labours got quicker. When she went in for her 4th baby, she made a bet with the nurse that it would be there within half an hour. She won that bet 😂

My first labour was horrific. Little bugger got stuck, had to be dragged out eventually as after 2 hours pushing nothing was happening. Second labour I had to hurry my husband up because he wanted to make me a cup of tea and my contractions were ramping up super quick. Got to birth centre and started pushing straight away and she was born after 17 mins. They can be so different.