How quick is 2nd labour?

[jofeb04]

Hiya,
Im currently 23weeks (ish) preg with 2nd child. With 1st ds, I never even knew i was in labout, thought it was just painful pelvis probs lol. Went to hospital to get stronger painkillers and was told i was about 2-4cm dilated (which also means i was in labour for a long time before i even got there). On way to hospital, contractions were timed at every 4 minutes!!
I would love to stay home that long again this time around, but is it sensable for 2nd timers?

ditto Maddison - almost to the minute. less time in the delivery room tho! Literally managed to get up on the bed for one push & he was out. Pretty pain free but a bit sudden! Should definitely have stayed at home, but we lived in a flat and didn't fancy it. But definitely look into it! Good luck

For my births
1st one: 17 hours - dialation rate: 1cm every hour and then 18 months later;
2nd one: 10 hours - dialation rate: 2-3 cm per hour, but then slowed/stoped at 8cm until membranes burst, then delivery in ten mins

both planned home births in water - I'd hate to have the run to hospital... far more restful and relaxing at home... if I was to have a third, would do it the same way

Really sorry about this but

1st-1 hr 20 minutes (ds)

2nd-36 hours! (dd-last week and still painfully in my mind!)

With the 2nd, I got to about 4-5cm and stopped for a day. Quite a painful day. I actually think I stopped because it got light, as soon as night fell again, labour started and got going quickly.

The problem was probably also that she was back to back for most of the labour. She turned, then was born within about 15 minutes.

With dd, the midwifery led unit actually refused to admit me, although I was at 4-5 cm, it was my second baby, and I have obviously a histry of quick labours, as contractions were not regular enough (10 mins not 5). In the event, all was fine, but might not have been. So they might just send you home if you go in too soon.

Oh and only 22 months between the two!And TENS was bloody useless.

Lots of talk about back to back labours - this made a big difference to me too - no 1, back to back, 16 hours of bad pain, every drug possible and a forceps delivery. No 2, 3 hours from first contraction to baby arriving, gas and air only for the 30 minutes we were in hospital. No 2 was way better but apparently the air was very blue! The best bit was that we were home within 4 hours of him arriving.
Good luck