Does labour speed up with every pregnancy? Should i be worried?

[misty0]

Hi

I'm expecting my 4th baby. I was wondering what experiences other ladies have of their labouring times increasing with each child?

My first baby (girl) took 3 days to arrive, so when i started labour with no.2 i didn't panic AT ALL - she arrived after 24 hours, and then my 3rd baby (girl) took about 7 hours to arrive, which i remember feeling was realy fast!

All 3 were back to back presentation (joy) and i can remember the MW's saying this slows labour. I stayed on my feet with no.3 till the bitter end! lol, it helped.

What is your story? Does it speed up every time?

My first was 6 hours, second was 4 hours, waiting to see on the third! For my friend she slowed down . . . first was about 2 days from twinge to arriving and her third was 4 days from twinge to arriving!

Blimey loopy, i dont blame you for cacking it! Hope you're not far from your hospital ... or maybe you're planning a home birth?

knackered - goodluck with your 3rd. Interesting about your mate. Doesnt always speed up then ....

Anyone else? x

First was 4 days....bricking it about no' 2 due in 10 weeks..... especially after seeing Loopymumsy 42m!!! Obviously wanted to meet mummy sooner rather than later :)

DD1, Induced at 40+5 due to PE, was 3cm dilated with no pain when they gave me pessary!!, Diamorphine, G&A, 45 mins from first twinge, episiotomy (cut through an artery) stitches.

DS1, 40+5, planned homebirth, spontaneous labour, 1hr from first twinge, G&A, no problems.

DS2, 40+5, Planned water birth at home, spontaneous labour, G&A, 1.5hrs from first twinge, no problems, delivered in water. (apart from having to have pool half filled for 2 days so it only needed topped up!)

DS3, Planned home birth, guessing I'll be 5 days over and hopefully as quick!!! fingers crossed. Good luck everyone

DS1 - 40 +2, contractions started at 2 mins apart,about 7am. so went to hospital. Born within 1 hour of being at hospital.

DD1 - 40+3, exactly the same time as first, but started pushing as soon as I got to the obs room at the hospital, and born within 10/15 minutes.

Slightly worried that I wont make it on time for the next, if Im lucky enough to have another straight forward birth

Although, I am definatley going to have some sort of pain relief this time, as didnt get chance with the others. Stupid me!!

First was about 3 hours- it is a blur
second was 40 minutes and it took so long as the midwifery team were not ready and asked me not to push
wondering about third as my sister's third was 15 minutes...
I am about 30 minute drive from hospital and rural area so no guarantee midwife can get to me.
been to see consultant and am going to contingency plan on home birth arrangements though not my first choice. consultant has agreed to induce me during the week I am due as he assessed delivery as extremely fast and I have requested it.
also, first premature, second over and induced

OMG,

15 mins??

I am now a good 35 minute rural drive to hospital. (specialy if stuck behind tractor With previous pg's i lived in london and it was 10/15 minutes tops. I'm just thinking i may need to be less laid back about getting there in time with this one.

This only occured to me yesterday - hence the OP

More stories please

I had a home birth for my first, born in 4 hours, no stitches or anything.

Am currently pg (just) so I will let you know!

First - 25 hours of active labour, epidural, panic ventouse delivery
Second - 3.5 hours, puff of gas and air

Decided not to go for a third as 1) no money or lap space and 2) didn't want to give birth on the verge by the road.

I had not thought of this yet... my first was spontaneous at 38+4 and labour 2 hours.
Second is on the way but I am at least 25 mins from hospital... I guess I will rush at the very first twinge... do not want husband delivering baby!

I had no pain meds as no time...am hoping somehow this one will be different but maybe not....

Home birth ....... eek

Thats a new idea to grapple with.

My first was like your first pointythings, long labour followed by a panic, a hemorrhage, and a ventouse. Next 2 were natural births with no pain releif - but that first experience has left me worried about not being in hospital for delivering. REALY worried actualy!

Praps i can get hold of one of those doctors emergency lights they stick on top of the car - in case of the tractor scenario - (joking)

Actually ........

I was worrying about this too as am pregnant with number 3. DD1 was 8 hours 5mins from first twinge to delivery, DD2 was 1 hour 48 mins from first twinge to delivery and only just made it to the hospital, but not quite into the labour room, ended up having her in the examination room!

I have had to switch hospitals as our closest hospital has now shut its maternity doors, so will take us about 20 mins with light traffic, but much longer during rush hour. Am wondering if I should consider a home birth as had no problems with delivery of my other two. But like you Misty, I want to be in a hospital should I need medical intervention. Too many years working on a maternity unit and know so many people who have had to have emergency C-sections.

Spoke to my midwife a couple of weeks ago with regards to how quick labour could be, she said general rule of thumb is that 2nd pregnancy is around half the time of the first, but the third can go either way, however in her experience they tend to be quicker than the second, not always by much.

A friend of mine had a very long 3rd labour, longer than her 1st and 2nd put together. But all of hers were back to back.

I will however being ringing for an ambulance if my contractions kick in quick like they did with DD2. With her it took us just over 5 mins to get to the hospital after we dropped DD1 at my sisters, but that was too close and if we had been just another 15 mins later I would have had her in the car!

Good luck to all with babies on their way. Im not due till September, but freaking out about the delivery as DD1 will have just started primary school. Have told our parents they aren't allowed to book any holidays till after baby has arrived so we have people on hand to have the girls at short notice. Must stop thinking about it, the next 6 months are going to be filled with panic otherwise

i had 3 planned homebirths and the way things went i'm glad i did!

ds1 6hrs - waters broke so had a v.thorough stretch and sweep to speed things up
ds2 about the same but no stretch and sweep. the last bit was manic - no time for the birth pool, didn't realise i was going through transition so got into the 1/2full pool and his head appeared before the 2nd midwife did.
ds3 twinges on and off for 2 days then when it kicked off took about 3 1/2hrs. last bit took about 1/2hr and the midwives missed it. i was upright for all which probably moved them on quick. had planned to lie down to slow ds3 down but my body took over and i was up on my knees again.

i had very fixed ideas about how and when i wanted my babies to arrive and they were all very good and did as they were told!

Sorry to hijack the thread, but would be really interested if anyone knows whether induction completely bucks any natural tendency you have towards a long or short labour?

My first was induced at 41+3, went 0-10cm within 1 hour of first contraction and then spent 7 hours pushing as he got stuck! Forceps delivery after 8 hours.

Now pg with dc2. Does anyone know if I am likely to have a quick labour for number 2 as well, even if not induced (fingers crossed) as I know they can be generally quicker if you are induced, but surely even that is ridiculously quick?

I am particularly concerned as I carry Strep B and need to have some anti-biotics at least 2 hours before delivery to avoid baby having to have them for her first 5 days of life .

Hi Bubberduckies, I was induced with DD1 due to pre-eclampsia and her labour was 8 hours and 5 mins. With DD2 it was totally spontaneous with no drugs or examination, and she was born less than 2 hours after my waters went (which was the only reason I realised I was in labour as contractions didn't kick in till about 15 mins after that).

I suggest you speak to yout MW about your concerns, as they may suggest inducing you before the due date to ensure you have time for antibiotics. My sister had Strep B in her pregnancies, and am aware how serious it can be. I would make a point of making a fuss about the possibility of not having the antibiotics in time, they may even be able to give you a course to take leading up to your due date.

Best of luck xx

Misty, I was told to have a home birth if we went for #3 as we'd never make it to hospital. Would have liked to try home birth with DD2 but was told no as I also had fairly serious pph with DD1 and was borderline for needing a transfusion...
It was a shame as DD1's birth was really quite traumatuc, especially for DH. Then he ended up missing DD2's birth because he had to take care of DD1 - the childcare cover was stuck in traffic. I'd have liked him to see how relatively easy it was (though it has to be said that the levels of pain were epic during the last half hour or so, bit of a shock after epidural the first time, but hey...).
The best bit about second time round was being able to hand DD2 to second birthing partner (who was doing the transport as DH does not drive) and have a shower under the gigantic high water-pressure showers at the hospital. Bliss.

1st 12 hours 7lb 13oz
2nd 6 hours 6lb 2
3rd 3 hours 9lg 2
4th 10 hours! was expecting 90 mins max but he was my biggest 10lb
Good Luck

Thanks Natz, I didn't think about the possibility of just taking a course anyway beforehand, and I plan to talk to the midwife about my worries too. I want to avoid being induced this time if possible, it was pretty intense pain-wise!

pinkclouds how did you organise the birth pool with such a quick labour? I had an unplanned homebirth, 1 hour from twinge to 10cm, 1 hourish pushing. Hoping for another homebirth, possibly with a birthing pool, but wondering how to get it filled/get in it in the short time I will probably have! I ran myself a bath last time but by the time it was full, contractions had progressed to the point where there was no possibility of getting in it!

cara2244 I have name changed (got bored)

We filled the pool to over half full for about 5 days before labour, I think we had to change the water every two days (can't remember exactly). As soon as I felt a twinge we topped up and got it to the right temp (only took 10 mins).

When I say 'we' obviously I mean DH as I was to busy. Sorting the pool also took Dh mind off events for that week and made him feel useful. If you speak to your midwife they will advise how often you have to change the water.

Plan to do the same this time although not sure where to put the pool as the kids are a lot bigger now and not sure they will stay away . Good luck

This is what my grandmother tells me. Start to finish, so she says!
DC#1 3 hours
DC#2 45mins (my dad)
DC#3 15 mins
DC#4 2 hours

Out of interest, how deep is the water and how big is the pool? And where do you put it? And how do you fill it??

Never looked into it b4 - got this image in my head of me in a little kids paddling pool squeezed in the bathroom between the bath and the loo, haha.

Thats not how it is - is it?