Labour 1 v Labour 2

[crisscrosscranky]

I had DD 10 years ago at 38+4 - 6 hour labour from first twinge to her arrival.

I'm planning to work until 38+1 this time round (finishing on 30 June) which seemed like a great idea at 12 weeks pregnant and feeling less great at 32 weeks!

Is it likely to follow that this baby will come around the 38-39 week mark and be quicker than 6 hours?

I don't think it works that way. It'll come in it's own sweet time :)

I read that whilst second labours tend to be shorter, a long gap between dcs tend to go against this.

I also had a short labour with dd1 and she was 3 weeks early. Dd2 labour was exactly the same in terms of duration and gestation. This proves nothing of course but I'd stop work at 36-7 wks if I were you (assuming you need to commute to work etc.).

Forgot - I had 6 years between the ddS.

I have a 12 year gap between my two and the second labour was a lot easier and happened spontaneously the day after due date (or the day I originally thought I was due until my scan!) where as the first labour involved induction 10 days after due date and lasted from the Friday evening to the Saturday afternoon. Second one, waters went at 6 in the morning and gave birth about 7.50 that evening but didn't need to go to maternity until about 3 in the afternoon.

First baby born on due date, 2 hours from waters breaking which set off labour.
Second, 3.5 years later, very fast, easier birth, but over two weeks late.

2nd baby was quicker, more intense but arrived later.

I can deal with a quicker labour but was hoping to reach 40 weeks this time round- there's a lot going on in life at the moment and I'd love a week or two of putting my feet up between finishing work and having a newborn!

I stopped work at 38 weeks with ds1 and he was born two days later.
I had to stop work earlier than that with ds2 as couldn't handle the commute any more. He was induced a week overdue.
You can't bank on anything