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Original poster

If my first labour was 3 and a half hours, how quick will my second be?!?!

35 replies

sarahscot · 02/10/2010 17:14

I'm getting seriously panicky.

My first labour only took 3 and a half hours from the first contraction until he was born. I was induced due to being over due though, does being induced make it any faster?

Anyway, the reason I'm panicking is I have heard from two other people who had short first labours that their second took 50 minutes for one and 70 minutes for another. As I live 40 minutes from the hospital I'm terrified of not getting their in time and something going horribly wrong.

Has any got any experience of how long the second labour might be after a fast first one?

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Original poster
sarahscot · 02/10/2010 17:53

Anyone?

Are second labours ALWAYS faster?

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lilmamma · 02/10/2010 17:58

not sure,as every birth is different.my first was 11 hours from start to finish(I was induced ),no2 was 3 hours once i got to the hospital..same with no3,and no4,from waters going to actual birth 2 days..

Eglu · 02/10/2010 18:00

My first was 4 hours and my second was 1hr 45 mins. I just knew it would be fast so I had a home birth.(also live 35-40 mins from hospital)

I'm planning DC3 currently and am really worried about how quick that might be.

thisisyesterday · 02/10/2010 18:08

why not plan ahomebirth>

thisisyesterday · 02/10/2010 18:09

i think generally subsequent labours are faster assuming baby is in a good position etc etc

because your body has already done it once and so it's all a bit eaier

my first was 18 hours, second was 6, 3rd was 48 minutes

Bumperlicious · 02/10/2010 18:48

I was panicking like you as my first labour was 5 hours. However just had DD2 and while the MWs recorded 'active labour' as 4.5 hours I was actually contracting all day so had 12 hours warning.

Worth planning a homebirth though, in case things do go quickly. And get DH to read up a bit on how to deal with a precipitous labour (is that the right term?).

warthog · 02/10/2010 18:50

my first was 7.5 hours, induced.

my second, i had start / stop contractions for a couple of days. then 2 hours when in 'proper' labour.

can you have a home birth?

annapolly · 02/10/2010 18:55

First 48 hrs, second 5.

I have a neighbour who was worried like you, she had her first in just over an hour.

With the second she fainted on the kitchen floor and when she became conscious the baby was next to her. They were both fine.

I would be prepared to go in early or have a home birth.

champagnesupernova · 02/10/2010 19:04

OMG
I am panicking too - my first labour was 6 hours and due with second in 6 weeks.
Don't know if I can have a homebirth as was a previous GBS carrier and not sure if I need IV abs or not - question for the MW at my next appt I guess. but will def do some reading up on it.

FerminaUrbinoDaza · 02/10/2010 19:13

My first was 12 hours and my second four hours.

What does your midwife say?

TBH the best thing would probably be to book for a home birth. Then you'll have everything you need ready and a midwife on standby. Booking a home birth doesn't oblige you to have one, you retain the option to go to hospital at any point just because you want to.

Booking for a home birth but planing to go to hospital if can / want to is infinitely preferable to an unplanned home birth / car birth.

Bagpusstree · 02/10/2010 19:23

I'm due tomorrow! Also worrying re fast birth (but also hoping for!). My Dr told me it is 'usually' around half the length of the first. I have a few things on standby in case I have her at home, but otherwise plan to leave for the hosp fairly early on when things kick off. First one was 12 hours start to finish, with 4 hour second satge though, so I guess I may have a little longer than you OP.

champagnesupernova GBS can be intermittent I think, so I would imagine that you need to test again this time round and then decide on homebirth from there. I'm not an expert though, so this may be well intended misinformation!

Danthe4th · 02/10/2010 19:29

First labour 6 hours start to finish.
2nd 1hr 50 mins with a back to back baby
3rd 55 mins from first twinge, born on the side of a road.
4th home birth in 50 mins from first twinge and no warning.

nunnie · 02/10/2010 19:54

Confused hadn't thought about this myself. My first was 2 hours and 5 minutes.

Currently 36 weeks with number 2, but live 20 minutes away from hospital on a good day, so fingers crossed I will make it there at least.

HB not an option for me, as I had retained placenta last time which needed removing in theatre, and little man is also showing signs of Hydronephrosis so will require monitoring straight after birth.

Will tights help Wink

thisisyesterday · 02/10/2010 20:02

great info on homebirth and group b strep here

ValiumSingleton · 02/10/2010 20:07

wow you'll need valet parking at the hospital!

for dc2, it said 12.37 on the car park ticket and dc2 was born at 14.57 Shock horrendous birth but short at least.

champagnesupernova · 02/10/2010 20:07

thisisyesterday and bagpusstree -thanks both. WIll look into it.

lou33 · 02/10/2010 20:10

my first was 2 hrs 20

my second was 1 hr 40

my third was 1 hr 11

my fourth was 22 minutes

Shitemum · 02/10/2010 20:10

I'd say about 7 minutes....

billybunter · 02/10/2010 20:24

my first and second labours - the really active painful part lasted around five hours with each.

The difference was with the first once it began it escalated consistently and there was no doubt it had begun.

With my second, I had 24 hours of regular uncomfortable contractions before the real painful stuff began. So lots of warning that time.

blanchedevereaux · 02/10/2010 21:07

I was induced like you for my first and was in labour about 3 hours 20 minutes.

I would rather give birth in hospital than at home so I am a bit worried about this one (26 wks pregnant), I am considering a homebirth but it is likely I could be moving house round about then so part of me is looking forward to a day/night in hospital for some stability!

AmpleBosom · 02/10/2010 21:11

Well these are my giving birth statistics Grin

1st (Hospital birth) -
2.5hrs got to the hospital 10 minutes before DS was born

2nd (Home birth) -
2hrs

3rd Hospital birth after induction) -
25 minutes including 10 minute 3rd stage

ChasingSquirrels · 02/10/2010 21:14

my 1st was 2 hrs from first contraction to birth.

my 2nd was less than 15 mins (although natural 3rd stage took nearly another 2 hours).

oopsandbabycoconuts · 02/10/2010 21:20

My first was 7 hours seconf was 1hr10 I nearly delivered her in the carpark!

sweetkitty · 02/10/2010 21:25

First was 4 hours

Second 2 and a half homebirth

Third 1h 35m 40 mins of contractions no pushing stage she just fell out in 2 contractions homebirth

Fourth was scared of being so fast and no one here to help plus severe SPD I asked for an induction, one load of fell and he was born 3 hours later, best labour though pain wise only one I had a gap between contractions.

Original poster
sarahscot · 02/10/2010 21:35

Thank you everyone for your stories, stats and advice. Seems like I do have grounds to worry!

I haven't seriously considered a home birth, I don't like the idea of being 40 mins away from the hospital in case of an emergency situation. I might discuss it with my midwive though. If you have a home birth do they drop gas and air off at your house before your due date or do they just bring it with them when they come? Don't like the idea of having no pain relief at all. Also, in a home birth, do people just tend to give birth in their own beds? Thinking back to the blood and gore from my last birth, I don't think I fancy any of that in my bedroom!

Thanks everyone.

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