How long were your subsequent labours?

[nmwx]

Our 2nd daughter is due to make her appearance anytime now and I have been told to expect her to arrive faster and earlier than our 1st - who I delivered in 3h 46m from start to finish at 37+6.

I was just wondering how long peoples subsequent labours were and whether your 2nd/3rd/4th etc arrived any earlier than your first?

My first was 4 hours from start to finish and my second was 1 hour 20 minutes. I had a home birth second time.

DC1 on his due date. 18.5 hours established labour, plus contractions for about 12 hours before that.

DC2. 10 days late. Less than 2 hours from 1st contraction to delivery.

30 hours, 24 hours and 8 hours.

7 hours and 4 hours.

My first was an induction which sped things up a bit, but still a couple of hours. My second was just under 1.5 hours from contractions starting to him being born - only just made it to hospital in time!
A midwife once said to me that they all want the second time mums because usually the births are quick and easy. My second birth was a dream!

Oh gosh, reading all your comments it seems like the general consensus is 2nd babies do come quicker 😅. My mum is supposed to be coming on the 28th to look after our daughter when the big event happens (if I’m still pregnant by then), otherwise she’s 3 hours away so it’s making me nervous she might not get here in time, in which case DH will be with our daughter and I’ll be giving birth on my own… which seems a bit scary 😅

you just can’t tell OP

My 10 days overdue first baby was here in 4.5 hrs in total, Number 2 was a week early and was a good 12 ish hours.

No way of knowing but best of luck and hope your baby arrives safely soon.

Yep! First labour was similar to yours. Second baby was born on the bathroom floor at home and was an unattended birth. Was a planned home birth but the midwife didn’t make it in time. Under 2 hours labour.

1st, induction. 8 hours.
2nd, spontaneous 6 hours
3rd spontaneous 5 hours
4th Spontaneous 2 hours (and only realised I was in labour as I had a routine midwife appointment and she examined me and i was 5 to 6 cms 🤣)

Both mine arrived at exactly the same gestation, slightly early, and waters broke same time in the evening.

first was 12 hours total

second was 19 hours

I genuinely found it more stressful second time as I was clock watching, comparing, thinking things should be progressing at at least the same pace when they were slower.

I wish I hadn’t compared!

1st. 26 hours
2nd. 45 mins
3rd. 8 hours
4th. 11 minutes
5th. 2-3 minutes

1st 41+4, 4h 20m
2nd 40+6, 1h 30m
3rd 40+2, 2h
4th 35+3, elective c-section
5th 36+6, failed induction, emergency c-section

First 2 hours at 40 weeks
Second 2 hours at 39.2 weeks
Third 2 days at 42.0 weeks - back to back and low lying placenta. Vanishing twin pregnancy. First no medication
Second and Third gas and air only

My second took much longer. First was around an hour and second was over 4 hours.

1st: 2 hrs @ 37+0
2nd: 15 mins @ 37-0

Pretty standard for me. DD1 was 18 hours and DD2 was 12 hours.

1st - 39+5 - 36 hour labour

2nd - 41+4, 5 hour labour

1st, 39+5, spontaneous, 8 hours established labour, contractions for about 6 hours before that.
2nd, 39+0, induced, 30 minutes established labour.

I couldn’t believe how quick dc2 was tbh I nearly gave birth in the antenatal ward 🤣 the midwives couldn’t believe it either, I just assumed it was cos I’d been induced but they said the fact he was number 2 was more relevant.

Fortunately I’m not planning a 3rd 🤣

7hrs
3hrs
20 mins
3.5 days yes days

1st was 12 hours, second was about 5 days, very gentle contractions, kept starting and stopping.

DS1 - waters broke, checked over, sent home. 12 hours later, went back in, tried to send me home, baby arrived 40 mins later. No idea how long labour actually was.

DS2 - 2 hours from first contraction to baby. He was a 999 paramedic delivery - and they arrived 30 seconds before baby.

Please have a back up plan in case you end up with a suprise home birth.....

First around 18 hours
second 30 min
third 2 hours

From first twinge to delivery:
20 hours
5 hours
3 hours

All spontaneous and within 3 days +/- of due dates

1. 5hrs at 39+6
2. 12hrs at 41+5
3. 2hrs at 41+5

First was three weeks early and took 10 hours. Second was 9 days ‘late’ (so carried for a month longer) and popped out in 2 1/2 hours. Third was also 9 days ‘late’ and took 4 1/2 hours.
Best wishes for when your baby decides put in an appearance 💐