How much quicker was your second labour?

[MKWarrier]

DH and I are struggling to find childcare for DD1 when DD2 arrives in August. We have various friends who have said they’ll help out, but obviously it’s going to depend on if they’re available at the time and we won’t know until it happens. Nursery will try to help but, again, it will depend on timing and if they have space - she is term time only and baby is due mid-summer holiday.

As it’s looking likely we’ll have to just sort it out when it happens, I’m now wondering how much time we’ll have to do this. How much quicker was your second labour compared to your first?

With DD I was in early labour at home for 24 hours but then it was 3.5 hours between being admitted to hospital and her being born so the last bit was quite quick. But as long as I get a few hours in early labour before we get to that point I’m hoping we can sort something!

DS1 24 hours, DS2 5 hours.

If I were your neighbour I would happily watch your eldest if you were in labour. I had several offers had DS2 arrived before DM came to stay (she and DMIL stayed a week each in rotation from when I was 39 weeks).

Much quicker. He arrived at home on the hall floor!! All well thankfully. Best of luck!!

5 hours from water breaking to birth with dd1, dd2 less than 2 hours

DC1 12 hours exactly from first contraction to her being born. Was home 5 hours later.

DC2 was about 18 hours from first contraction. Got stuck at 4cm for ages but when she did start she was born very quickly. I can home about 4 hours later. My parents looked after DC1 from 4am on the Tuesday morning until 1am Wednesday morning when we got home x

Exactly the same to the minute.

3hrs and 19mins!! From contractions to birth

DD1 was 18 hours.

DD2 was 12 hours.

I think it would've been faster for DD2 but I was conscious I was 'holding on' for PIL to arrive for DD1.

1st was about 12 hours

2nd was 1hr 47 mins

Second one- waters broke in the night about 3am, then no progression, no contractions, nothing.

Admitted at 7pm for induction in the morning but DD was here by 9.20pm!

1st - 42 hrs culminating in the big red button being pushed for emergency C section.
2nd - 55 mins from waking up to firing a baby out in the corner of the bedroom.

I was considered high risk after baby 1, so under consultant care with lots of conditions put on me. Having baby at home was not one of the options.