First labour was speedy, what are the chances 2nd one will be faster?

[GColdtimer]

first time around I was induced at 42 weeks and DD was back to back. It took a while to get started but established labour was recorded as 5 hours with a 17 minute second stage.

MW really thinks this one will be quicker, especially if DC2 isn't back to back.

I really am considering a home birth and one of my arguements to DH is that I don't want to end up giving birth in the car! What is the liklihood that this birth will be quicker?

Anecdotal or more academic responses welcome!

My experience is that my labours have generally got quicker

DS1 - From waking up and thinking is this it? to holding him was 2hrs, he was born 10 minutes after arriving at the hospital. 2nd stage was probably about 20 minutes.

DS2 - I decided on a homebirth after the quick labour with DS1 and it was around 2.5hrs from first twinge to him being born. 2nd stage was about 10 minutes.

DS3 - I had another homebirth booked but ended up being induced and it was about 1hr from first twinge to him being born, although the labour was recorded as lasting 25 minutes - 1st stage 7 minutes, 2nd stage 3 minutes and 3rd stage 15 minutes (This was a few weeks ago, hence the very precise figures )

hawesmead5 i was exactly the same worrying about going into labour and delivering at work but luckily most of my colleagues are ex-midwives, not that this would have helped with the mortifying embarrassment if this had happened

I can't believe the speed of some of these labours on here - amplebossom, your 3rd must be a record!

Mrsjammi, a MLU sounds like a good compromise. However, at ours there is no additional facilities over and above what you would get at home and our house is significantly closer to the hospital. The MLU is still about a 25 minute drive away, the same as for the main hospital. To be honest, I think a lot of DHs are worried about homebirths.

"I feel sorry for your hubby"

Whose hubby do you feel sorry for? Not sure I understand.

DS1- 3 hours 19 minutes

DTS- 47 minutes from 1st contraction to both babies

Definately not doing it again lol

Ds1: 2 hours total; second stage 1 hour which was brutal.

Ds2: 3 hours total; second stage officially recorded as 1 minute - totally fab

Ds3: 37 minutes total; second stage recorded as 2 minutes - bit shocking but bearable.

Dear knows what will happen this time round ...

I would say fairly likely from my experience:

DD1 - 2hrs 45
DD2 - 1hr 45 and born in the car

I thought DD1 was fast because she was early (33 weeks), but in fact I just shoot them out quick! With hindsight a homebirth for DD2 would have been much more relaxed, although I imagine DH would have ended up delivering her in any case (as he did in the car).

DS1 - 5 hours start to finish, 3-10cm in 45 mins, 5 weeks early, 6 pounds 11, SCBU jaundice and low blood sugar

DS2 - 7 hours from start to finish, 3-10cm in 1 hour, 3 weeks early, 8 pounds 13, SCBU low blood sugar

So second birth slightly longer than first, which tbh was a total releif as I was worried about another speedy early one.

Oh yes, I see what you mean . Yes, I think my last birth frightened him so much. But that was because we had a change of midwife at a crucial point who put on all the lights, got me on my back, told me I had to be disciplined and made me think there was a real emergency (there wasn't, I just wanted to push at 7cm dilated because she was OP but she managed it really badly). I panicked and it was awful - lovely calm and active birth type midwife had pretty much let me get on with it until that time. So I think he realises that if the midwife hadn't changed it would have been fine.

I don't blame you for opting for a MLU - if ours was closer I probably would do that too.

Good luck.

DC1 4 1/2 hours from first twinge to being born. About a 1 hour second stage. Was bloody sore.

DC2 about 4 hours from first twinge. Only 7 mins for 2nd stage. Really not that painful.

DC3 Ahem - 30 mins from first twinge. A one min second stage - no pushing involved. DH caught her just before midwife turned up.

ancedotal

ds1. waters went, 30 mins later 1st contraction, 2 hrs later ds1 born, 1 hr 2nd stage.

ds2. waters went. 10 mins later 1st contraction, max 15 mins and 4/5 contractions later I delivered ds2 myself and sat down to wait for the m/w to arrive.