Precipitous first labor, pregnant with 2nd

[Anon35609]

so with my first (now 2yr old), my labour was around 4 hours from first twinge to birth so I would say active labour was probably a lot less. I had continuous contractions that didn’t seem to follow any pattern (I believe it was a
Precipitous labor) After being told to have a bath, take some paracetamol and call again in a few hours or the next day, the car journey to hospital ended up being a very stressful one and baby was born 10 minutes after arrival to hospital (he was crowning as we got there).
Up until the car journey I was managing fine with pain and I think due to contractions not feeling quite ‘right’ I was expecting to be in labour for much longer so was pleasantly surprised and felt all in all the birth was a positive one.
However I know second labours can be quicker and it’s stressing me out that it might happen so quickly again simply because of the journey into hospital, it takes around 35minutes to get to the hospital from home but in busy times can be an hour or more. I have considered a home birth but also worries me that if something goes wrong we don’t live super close to a hospital.
Has anyone who had a quick first labour had a similar second one or is there a chance it could be longer?

My ds1 was born in 4 hours 20 minutes and ds2 was born in 90 minutes.

My first was induction at 38 weeks I went in not knowing I was already 4cm- between them breaking my waters- starting the drip- turning off the drip and baby being born was 1hr 7minutes. Second labour by the time I realised I was in labour and told my husband and baby being born thankfully with paramedics in attendance- 35mins. We live 7 minutes from hospital and had the home birth stuff ready as a back up but I had been planning on the pool at hospital .

Dc1 from first contraction to birth was under an hour, waters broke 24hrs before., Dc2 was 12 months later & although followed the same contraction pattern of quick & continuous, contractions petered out twice over 3 hours. I had waters broken as I was fully dilated, dc2 arrived 2 minutes after. Dc3 followed similar but was an induction & Dc4 was 4 hours from sweep to birth.

2.5hrs from waters breaking to birth with ds.
1hr 23 mins from waters breaking with dd
2hrs 14 mins for dt1 and dt2 followed 27 mins later

If I was you I would just get yourself to hospital at the FIRST twinge!!!

Go for a Homebirth. My labour was under 3 hrs and luckily had planned a Homebirth as was 10cm when midwife arrived -I thought I was in so much pain that something must be wrong and should go to hospital! I calmed down when the MW told me I was about to pop a baby out and we'd never get to the hospital in time anyway. I will be doing the same with my next one, although will call the MW sooner!

I'd go for a home birth. If you had a precipitate labour with your first baby, you're very likely to have another one with subsequent births.

I'm a retired midwife and I always recommended a home birth to women who were in this situation.
At least all the equipment for the delivery is at your house then.
You also don't run the risk of delivering in a car if you know you're staying put.

Have you discussed this with your midwife?

My subsequent labours have definitely been quicker. My first was around 5 hours from start of contractions to delivery. I did have an epidural though so that slowed things down.

DS2 I had a pessary to be induced at 37 weeks. Midwife warned me it could take a while. Pessary fell out and I was 1-2cm, I ended up delivering him myself on the induction ward within an hour as midwifes weren't listening to me when I was telling then I was in a lot of pain. That labour did give me a lot of anxiety as it was very quick, painful and nobody was taking me seriously. I even threw up in the toilet and a staff member asked me if I could clean it up 😲

DS3 had my waters broke at 37 weeks, went from 5cm to delivery in 10 minutes.

DS4 was an emergency c section at 26 weeks so never got to see how quick that one would have been.

Now pregnant with my first little girl and I am expecting to have another fast labour, home birth won't be an option due to high risk pregnancy so hopefully we get to hospital in time if it is a natural labour x

Most subsequent labours are usually faster, but in my experience my first was 6hrs start to finish and my second was 17hrs! But baby #1 was 6lb13 and baby #2 was 9lb6 and had to be evacuated via ventouse.

My first labour was a similar time scale to yours, though I had him at home (planned). I’m planning at home again for this second one, staffing dependent.

As you said you’ve considered a home birth, I recommend asking if your hospital has a ‘meet the home birth team’ session or anything where they can give you information and statistics, both about home birth and their home birth team specifically. Tell them all your reservations and they can give you their individual stats on ambulances, emergencies, etc. (E.g. Our hospital is also about half an hour away but the ambulance would get to us in 7 minutes.) Talking to them is the best way to decide which is the best option for you – and remember that it is always your choice. If you decide to go for home birth but when the time comes change your mind, that’s totally fine. Equally if you decide to go for the hospital but when you go into labour don’t feel you can make it, you can birth at home (it’s just a bit more convenient if you know what to do/have a plan in place for that scenario).