Women who had 30h+ first labours, how long was your second labour?

[ooosabeauta]

And if first was back-to-back, was your second as well?

Bit of an unscientific survey, but I'd appreciate your input!

#1 40ish (can't remember exactly but went in at lunchish and she was born at 6am on the trolly to surgical ward) 12yo now, and thought I'd blanked it out until v heavily pg in summer 2008.

#2 12 hours in at midnight and she was out at midday!

First back to back and around 30 hours. 2nd not, opted for the epidural, so they speeded up the labour which then only lasted an hour or so.

Not quite 30hours but almost...

DD1- 2 weeks late, induced, hormone drip, every pain relief going, back to back- 27 hours

DD2- 4 days early, fully dilated in 2 hours, no pain relief, back to back, - 6 hours

Only just got to the hospital in time as I was expecting it to take ages again!

1st - 11 days late and induced, water's broken, hormone drip, drugs, back to back, 36 hours, ventouse.

2nd - 11 days late and induced, waters broken, started at 9pm, gas and air, 20 mins of pushing and she was out by 11.50, about 3 hours total!

Good Luck!

1st - back to back just over 24 hours from contractions really kicking in 36 hours from waters breaking.

2nd - about 3.5 hours from when I started to notice contractions - water birth

3rd - induction (gel pessary) in the am but only 2.5 hours from when contractions kicked in in the afternoon - another water birth!

DS1 - 50 hours with EMCS at end (back to back)
DS2 - VBAC 8 hours
DS3 - on off for about a week but when he started properly it was only 4 hours and best by far (VBAC waterbirth)

These are fascinating thank you!

As DomesticGOddess suggested, I'm wondering if there are a lot of very kind people who've had two long, difficult labours who have decided not to spoil the mood! Am feeling rather better on hearing these experiences.

I hope perhaps to ask for an epidural quite early and maybe have an experience like amothersplaceisinthewrong where it could be made faster if not progressing. Before starting this thread I was planning to begin a begging campaign to my midwife for a cs as I'm terrified of going through the trauma again, but perhaps I should rethink that based on this evidence. Thank you all!

Hi,

my 1st was back to back so I know where you're coming from, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, it went on forever and I was really concerned it would happen again, my gp actually said I should have a c section 2nd time. So glad I didn't as that birth was the best day of my life! I enjoyed it!!

I had an epidural with my back to back birth and it made things worse because I had to stay on my back which is agony with baby in that position, it eased the contractions but they weren't bothering me, it was the pain in my sacrum that was hell.I regretted that epidural.

Every birth is different so don't worry!

2nd time, I hung over a birth ball for at least 40 mins every evening during the last few weeks to get baby in a good position. I used hypnobirthing cds, (Maire Mangan book comes with the rainbow set)and the birth went pretty much as the cd said, ds just slipped out, all within 1 hr of my waters going.

HTH, best of luck

By the way, if you do become interested in hypnobirthing, make sure you can get to the hospital easily and quickly because it seems to make it all go faster, I didn't get there, luckily it all went fine but since I am 50 miles from hospital it was a risk, not one I expected, thought it would take forever like 1st time!

DD1 - 36hrs, massive PPH
DD2 - 4.5hrs from first twinge
DD3 - 5hrs from first twinge
DD4 - 3hrs from first twinge

Please note, that last three were from the first twinge, so actually only an hour or two of real pain.
Needless to say I sometimes feel slightly sorry for anyone about to have their first baby ! it makes a MASSIVE difference to the first few days if you've had a quick and straightforward labour.

Last one was three months ago, not long enough ago to have forgotten the agony !

first was back to back, 4 days of odd niggles and irregular contractions then 36 hours of "proper" screaming for the gas and air pains, 4 hours of pushing, ventouse and more stitches than I'd care to mention.
second was normal OA presentation, 12 hours from first twinge to first proper pain, then 14 hours of hard labour. pushed twice and she shot out like a bullet, got away with a slight graze. Midwife said I must have a steel re-inforced bloody cervix.
Still, on the plus side, I had plenty of time for an epidural