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Original poster

how fast was yr second birth?

43 replies

Clare123 · 29/03/2007 14:52

I am starting to get worried as our hospital in traffic is at least 45 mins - 1 hr away. I keep hearing 2nd labours are much faster. My first was 11 hrs. How fast was yr second and did you know it was happening before it actually really kicked off?

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mamalocco · 29/03/2007 14:55

I don't think there's much of a pattern. My first and third were and hour and a half, second one was three and a half hours. If things kick off quickly could you call an ambulance to get you through the traffic?

pooka · 29/03/2007 14:56

First was about 7 hours, but had lots of pre-labour pains for about a day before. Lots of thinking "is this it?".

2nd - about 2.5 hours. Started with niggling pains (in hindsight had had more BH contractions earlier in the day). Then at 7pm really morepainful. DS was born at 8.59pm, was fully dilated and pushing by about 8.15pm.

pooka · 29/03/2007 14:57

Waters were ruptured by mw with dd. ds born in his waters. So didn't have the waters-breaking sign that labour starting with either of them.

mckenzie · 29/03/2007 14:59

my second was much quicker but I would still have been able to get to hospital in time if necessary.

I had a show at about 11am, first contraction about 4pm but very mild, waters broke about 6pm and then it all kicked off very suddenly .

I gave birth (at home in a pool) about 8.15pm

Dinosaur · 29/03/2007 15:03

It was quite fast. Waters broke at 4.30 p.m., contractions started about 5.30 p.m., DS2 born at 8.17 p.m.

sweetkitty · 29/03/2007 15:05

First was 4h 20 mins start to finish no niggly pains/mild contractions, think 0-60 in minutes. Very scary at the time thought I would have hours of that pain.

Second was 2h 30 mins but I was 8cms after 20 minutes and fully dilated in about 40 minutes, my waters didn't go adn teh abbies head was high and that slowed things down. DD2 was a homebirth partly because I was scared I wouldn't make it to the hospital either.

Second labours tend to be shorter but there are no hard and fast rules. I found with my second pregnancy I had loads of BHs and false starts before the real thing kicked off.

LucyJones · 29/03/2007 15:07

My contractions started about midnight, baby born at 6am BUT I stupidly thogught I could hang on and in the end was rushed to hospital in an ambulance and got there about 10 minutes before dd was born

Olihan · 29/03/2007 15:10

1st was 33 hours from start of contractions, 2nd was 3 hours but was induced so contractions came on very suddenly, 3rd was 2 1/2 hours from 1st contraction. I realised it was going quite quickly because the gap between the contractions reduced by a good 2 mins every other contraction. Waters broke 35 mins after arriving at hospital and ds2 arrived 13 mins later.

If you're worried, it's better to go sooner rather than later. MWs tend to be less dismissive of 2nd time mums because you know what's what in terms of contractions and pain levels.

bunnypeculiar · 29/03/2007 15:10

Niggling contractions for two days ... but when it actually kicked off it was very fast - although they did rupture membranes as I had a bleed - went from being able to almost talk through contractions to lo in arms in 30 mins.
Would not have got to hosp on time if I hadn't had a bleed early on & been 'called' in.
I planned a home birth for this reason, actually (although our hosp is only prob 30 mins away in rush hour) as my m/w said "if you have time/want to come in, you always can. If you decide you can't make it in, it's a lot harder..."

(First one was pretty too fast though, in relative terms, so I have 'previous form')

tortoiseSHELL · 29/03/2007 15:10

first one was about 12 hours, second was 3.5 hours.

MrsFish · 01/04/2007 18:21

My first was 5 hours from waters breaking to birth, I too am worrying whether this time round I will get to hospital in time.

Emskilou · 01/04/2007 18:22

Urm 21 hours, first was 14.

colditz · 01/04/2007 18:23

first - 42 hours
second - 4.5 hours

clayre · 01/04/2007 18:25

my second labour

midnight - waters broke

12.45am - contractions started

1.25am - got to hosp

1.31am - baby born

Mrsjaffabiffa · 01/04/2007 18:32

My first was 16hrs my 2nd was 2.5 but I was induced with no.2. Amazing experience, Induction was great for me.

jobekal · 01/04/2007 18:36

about an hour babys head out by end of phone call to midwife who arrived 20 minutes later!

deepinlaundry · 01/04/2007 18:37

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fuzzywuzzy · 01/04/2007 18:49

8 hours faster than my first, in 8 hours actually, but my waters wouldn't break and and and....Never mind I'm not doing it again.

lostinfrance · 01/04/2007 18:50

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PurpleLostPrincess · 01/04/2007 18:53

Had contractions for days with my first but was officially in hospital for 32 hours before he was born. Second one - started contractions in the morning, went into hospital about 8pm and she was born at seven minutes past 3 in the morning.

My SIL had a really long labour with her third baby smashing all the myths to pieces.

I'm pg with my third now and as far as I'm concerned, there's simply no way of knowing how long the labour will be.

Hope all goes well xx

honeyapple · 01/04/2007 18:53

Bloomin eck Lostinfrance- can I have a 35min labour with my no.3 please!

1st- 30 hrs
2nd- 8 hrs

lou33 · 01/04/2007 18:54

1= 2hrs 20 mins
2= 1hr 40 mins
3= 1hr 11mins
4= 22mins

lostinfrance · 01/04/2007 18:54

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ChasingRabbits · 01/04/2007 18:56

2nd was 15 minutes (starting 10 minutes after waters went).
1st had been 2 hours (starting 30 minutes after waters went).

lostinfrance · 01/04/2007 18:56

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