My second baby is taking longer to be born than my first one.

[CelticFay]

I had DS at 39+6, when he was 7 months old DH and me decided it would be a good idea to give him a sibling close in age, specially with the lockdowns and isolation. I heard multiple things about second time pregnancies; that time passes quicker, labor lasts shorter and that they come earlier than first borns.

Well, time did fly for the first 2 trimesters, that was true. But I'm currently 39+6,by this time my son was already born and I'm a bit disheartened... I had a false labor at 38 weeks, we put up the birthing pool, called the midwives,...and then it stalled. DH didn't want to put the pool down in fear of damaging it as it's rented. Every time I see the pool made me think it's going to be any moment now, but 2 weeks have passed by and nothing... I've been having some irregular painful contractions, a lot of BH, lost my mucus plug, felt the nesting,... But she's still not here. Now it feels it's never going to happen. Obviously it will happen eventually, I feel her moving everyday, but the waiting is killing me. I want to cuddle my 2 babies already.

Take comfort in the fact that if it's baby 2 and your body has been 'practising' with false labour, then once labour starts, hopefully it will be fairly smooth. Time goes so slow at that point. Unfortunately I think it's a bit of a myth that second babies are earlier. I had 2 overdue babies and both thrived after birth. I told myself they were very ready to be born and that made life easier afterwards, so the extra uncomfortable weeks and extra stretch marks were worth it! (With my second I had no stretch marks until after my due date so would have got away with none at all if he was born on time!)

Hope your baby is in your arms soon OP. The final days are tough, but it really won't be long now

I had my first at 37 weeks and the midwoves told me I would definitely have my second at the same or earlier gestation... nope! She came at 39 weeks and the latent stage of labour was longer as well.