How much quicker / different was your second labour?

[Charl881]

I’m not due until spring but have started to think about logistics for the birth. We have a toddler and two dogs and DP doesn’t drive, so we need to plan both childcare and hospital transport.

Our families live 40 - 1hr 30 mins away and no-one who lives round the corner who could pop in in an emergency.

With DS, my waters broke first and contractions didn’t then start until about 16 hours later. From contractions starting to him being born it was about 10 hours.

Is it true that second labours are quicker? And did anyone have a fairly short first labour only to have a longer second labour?

I’m conscious it’s impossible to guess and plan but just trying to get a steer on how likely that it is that we’ll have time to get someone to ours for childcare before we have to leave for hospital.

I guess worst case scenario is I head to hospital myself and DP follows when he can.

DS1 - 40+10 - 6.5hrs
DD1 - 40+9 - 1hr 30 mins
DS2 - 40+13 (induced) - 1hr 27mins

I'm expecting baby #4 now so it'd be interesting to see what this one's labour length will be

First was induced and 3 day labour ending in spinal and episiotomy.

2nd I arrived at hospital and was told I was already 10 cm yet had had 0 pain, they broke my waters and he was born 47 mins later

DC1 was 6 hours and DC2 was under 3 hours.

Do you have a neighbour or parents of your eldest's friends.

If so start getting to know them now. People are usually a lot more open to helping in labour than we think.

Our neighbours were on standby in case my in laws couldn't make it to watch our son.

I've been back up for other friends if needed.

Dc1 - contractions started at home waited until pains were bad after 6 hours and then made my way to hospital. Once in Hospital I was 4cm so established labour and from here it took 7 hours for baby to arrive, midwife broke my waters for me around 6cm.

Dc2- contractions started and waters burst immediately. Went to hospital and was told no progression yet and sent home, dc2 then arrived 1 hour 30 minutes later. We just made it to hospital in time but had to go to closer one as I was pushing in the car.

Dc3 - currently 30 weeks and terrified of how quick this one could be.

I can’t remember how long each birth was but was in labour longer with my second who was back to back.

Baby 1, 5 hours from first contraction. In hospital, episiotomy and suction as baby was under de stress from a quick labour.

Baby 2, home birth about 5 hours from first contraction, no pain relief but manageable as understood the pain. Couldn't stand thought of hospital after experience of baby 1.