Was your second baby quicker than the first?

[bettydraper31]

DD was only six hours from waters breaking to her being born at 33 weeks 4lb 2oz. Everyone keeps telling me my second will be quicker than the first, is this always the case?!

Thanks everyone x

[Flicketyflack]

First- 12 hours


Second -10 hrs

[ArkadyRose]

4.5 hours from start of induction to birth with DD1. 2 hours with DD2 (born half an hour after my waters went). 1 hour with DD3 - DH phoned midwives when contractions were 2 minutes apart, waters went 10 minutes later, DD3 was born 10 minutes after that, and the midwives showed up 10 minutes after she was born!

God only knows how quick number 4 will come - I'll probably wake up in bed with the baby beside me!

[tellitlikeitispls]

nope. but they were both quick.

At the time DS1 attended a local nursery. One of the staff there agreed to have him at short notice if DS2 didn't come at a convenient time.
As it happens DS2 started to make himself known at 6am (I was already in the hospital as I had cellulitis). As DS1 only took 2.5 hours from first twinge, DH thought he'd better come ASAP so took DS1 to her. As a non-parent at the time, she was pretty confused at 6.15am when the doorbell went, but took DS1 to nursery with her at 8.30 and all was well.

Have you got local friends who can help out at short notice? Even as a stop-gap before your mum arrives?

[bettydraper31]

Thanks everyone! We are a military family not long moved to the area so not many friends yet, think I better start making some haha!

Gonna prep for home birth/car/car park lol!!

Xx

[dramallamakarma]

Get your parents to meet you at the hospital?

This is my back-up plan as DH works away a lot so I might have to take DD with me (hospital an hour away) and pass her over to DF there while DM is my back-up birthing partner.

[peachytacos]

This thread is terrifying me!! We’re ttc #2 right now and my first was 4 hours from zero to baby. I wondered why the consultant told me next time I need to get to the hospital as soon as I feel contractions, it’s not local either!

[Catalufa]

DC1 was 28 hours from my waters breaking and 21 hours from 5cm dilated. DC2 was 3.5 hours from the first contraction.

[Bochdew]

Dd1 5 hours, DD2 1 hour although with dd2 my waters had gone about 36 hours before I started having contractions. With dd1 my waters went with the last push.

[AGnu]

DC1 was 8h, DC2 was 6h... Sometime in the next 3 weeks I'll be able to tell you how long DC3 takes!

[userwithgreycats]

First: 8 hours

Second: 4 hours

We got a grandparent to stay with us, I must have known as I gave birth the day after they came to stay haha

[EllenJanethickerknickers]

Mine got quicker. 8 hours and forceps for DS1, 4 hours for DS2 and 20 mins for DS3, and no, didn't make it to hospital with him.

[clarrylove]

My first labour was 1hr and relatively easy. Second time round, they told me I had to prepare for a home birth and left kit at my home. In the end my second labour was 4hrs and much more painful.

[TwitterQueen1]

Er... yes. If I would were you I would be prepared for a home / car / ambulance birth! Sorry, don't want to worry you but since your 1st was quick and early the likelihood is that your 2nd will be even quicker and easier. Don't worry about it.

my 1st was 36 hours and required everything under the sun except C section. 2nd was under 4 hours, only just made it to hospital. No assistance, no drugs, no bother (smile).

[clarebear1983]

Jesus, this thread is terrifying. My first labour was 1.5 hours....26 weeks pregnant with my 2nd. Looks like baby number 2 will be born in the car

[user1485778793]

I had induction for my first. Took 4 days to be able to break waters at 4pm. Baby born at 10pm, contractions started with pictocin at about 9.30, no one checked me till I said I could feel him coming out, he was, 4 pushes later he popped out.

Defiantly want the same again with this one.

[Amatree]

I'm wondering about this. 93 hours of contractions for my first baby, with 29 hours in the delivery room...not sure how we would handle childcare if we have another!!

[Taffeta]

First 36 hours, second less than an hour.

Would’ve been sooner but crossed legs waiting for PIL to arrive at 1am to look after eldest. Had DD within 4 minutes of arriving at hospital. It was a bit of a struggle to walk to the maternity ward but couldn’t sit down in wheelchair as DD was crowning

[NapQueen]

Much! Labour with dc1 24 hours, with 7 of that "active labour".

Dc2 4.5h labour, active labour 21mins.

[Bubblysqueak]

My husband was called on at 10pm at night when ndn went into labour. The grandparents were an hour and a half away so he sat and babysat til they were able to get there. If you are friendly with yours it's worth a chat.

[Piffpaffpoff]

Do you have a friend or neighbour that DD could go to and wait there til your mum arrived if necessary?

I was lucky as I was booked in for induction both times so was able to plan it all, which was perfect for me. Even though mum is just 5 mins away, neither DH or I would have coped well with a stressful hospital dash!

[Piffpaffpoff]

Both mine were induced. From the start of labour, the first was 14 hrs with my waters broken for me and a syntocin (?) drip to try and speed things up. Second was 3 hours with no intervention. Was fab as I was expecting it to take all day again but we were done and dusted by 6.30am! And back home by 3!!

[MadeForThis]

I'm worried about the same thing. DD was 10 hours from first twinge of pain to actual birth. And she was back to back.

My DM and DF are coming to stay a week before the birth as they live in another country and it's going to be Christmas.

If it happens before then I'm worried about mil and sil being in work or asleep and hard to contact. Although both are 30 mins away. DH works an hour away too. We don't really have any other childcare options and I would hate DD to see me in pain in the house alone with her. She's only just 2.

I'm not sure what most people do. Probably just hope for the best.

[Expectingbsbunumber2]

21 hours with my first (terrible labour) so I'm really hoping this one is much less than that!!

[BigBaboonBum]

About 26 hours with first (waters went and it was a slow burner) and about 12 hours with second (waters didn’t go until he was coming out)

[Equimum]

Yes. 36 hours with my first and about 8-9 hours with my second, despite the second being back-to-back and arm first.