Those of who who extremely long first labours...

[Shazafied]

How long was your second?

I’m 27 weeks preggers and have a 13 mo so her birth still feels very recent !

It was 73 hours in labour , she was back to back and it just took ages for me to dilate. Laboured at home for about 55/60 hours (most of this having around 3 strong contractions every 10-12 mins) , was sent home from birthing centre 3 times (very stressful) ... finally then reached magic 4cm , had an epidural for the last 12 hours or so (was vomiting / delirious with exhaustion by this point). Managed to doze thanks to epi and pushed baby out butnutw as 2.5 hours pushing. Had some 2nd degree tearing plus do have issues with pelvic prolapse/emptying bowels, but these seem to have improved slightly in last 3 months or so.

At one point I Considered a c-section but have decided against due to recovery and having a 17mo at home too. Have decided to Go for VB again.

I’m keen to hear from other mums of 2 plus, that had v long first labours l, how long their 2nd labour was ....

I might be nuts here but a friend of mine had a home birth recently and there’s a definite appeal to not traipsing to and from hospital / not having to get someone to come to my house to look after DD1 potentially during the night / not having to stay on postnatal ward .... I’ve very lightly considered it as an option but am really totally clueless. I’d hate to have to be rushed to hospital half way through. Realistically I’ll probably go to birthing centre again.

Thanks ladies xx

That sounds horrendous! I thought mine ws bad but clearly can be much worse. 26 hours back to back ending in ventouse and episiotomy. Second birth epidural, took the same number of hours but I slept through a lot of it. Can't recommend them enough. Appreciate this isn't the case for everyone.

Back to back first. Only 8 hours once waters broke but the previous two days discounted.

2nd was 3.5 hours, 8lb13oz, no stitches.

I feel very strongly that women should be given more info about posterior labour, checked at an early stage and given the option of an ecs.

My bladder prolapsed and was repaired aged 42. Now 58 I have a rectocele and weak anal sphincter. I can manage the mild faecal incontinence. It was all avoidable and cd have been prevented. It is more expensive long term than an ecs.

4 data with DS. Went into labour early hours on his due date. For various reasons he arrived at 4am on day four. All 12lbs of him.

And this is the story of why I won't be having another.

1st very like yours although baby inhaled meconium so was in special care after birth for 5 days, second around 8 hours during which the midwife read my notes from 1st birth and was surprised I was not offered counselling. Could be worth asking if this is an option.

DS was about 32 hours and DD was 90 minutes! I couldn’t make it to the hospital with her. DP had to deliver her with no medical personnel present!

1st I've never worked out in hours but I started contracting Monday evening and he was born Saturday evening - mostly me taking forever to get to 4 cm with night time contractions that stopped during the day. It then took another 18 hours active labour. He was back to back though.

DC2 started contracting midnight Wednesday but I was much more prepared this time and knew to take it easy and try and sleep. This time the contractions didn't stop with morning but continued to build up. DC2 was born Thursday evening but after only 3 hours active labour. It might sound like another long labour but to me it felt short after DC1, and only the last 3 hours were difficult. I had a home birth for DC2 and for me it was the right decision - after a stop start labour the previous time it was really important to me to be somewhere I felt comfortable and relaxed.

Did you have a TENS machine with your first - I found it very helpful with a long latent labour?

I am in a similar situation to yourself, I am 10 weeks with my 2nd and my first was about the same length as yours- I was about 74 hours, ending with an epidural, forceps and an episiotomy. I found the whole thing really traumatic. My LB was just shy of 10lbs and my husband said I almost had an emergency C section, I was exhausted and they were starting to worry about my LB - then he arrived so it wasn't needed.
I had a rectal and bladder prolapse, that eventually did get much better.

I haven't had my booking appointment yet, so I don't know if I'd be offered a ECS. I'm petrified of the next labour and was wondering myself if they get shorter or not.

1st baby 4 days of back to back.

2nd baby 4 hours.
I know someone who had it the other way round 😖

DC1 36 hours ending in EMCS under general.

DC2 45 mins!

DS1 46 hrs
DS2 35 minutes wasn't feeling great so happened to be in hospital!
DS3 3 hrs planned homebirth due to speedy DS2

DC1 72 hrs /back to back /epidural /episiotomy /ventouse /PPH 10lb
DC2 24 hours /back to back again/ forceps / tear/ PPH again 9 lb 8 oz
Not easy 😬

1st: 40 hours, back to back, in hospital
2nd: 6 hours, at home, all fine

54hrs start to finish with first, and 24hrs with 2nd but in both cases when the pushing contractions started it was very very quick.