Are 2nd time pregnancies generally faster after c section?

[meadowkoa]

Hi all,

im currently 38 weeks pregnant with my second child after having a c section almost exactly 2 years ago. I’m hoping for a VBAC this time and everything is looking for positive for me to have one so far. I had a planned c section (39+2) due to high blood pressure.

The wait is on as I am full term. I was wondering if 2nd babies are generally born a little earlier which is often said when you birth naturally. I know this is a general statement and everyone is different but I can’t help but wonder… my midwife already said my labour won’t be any quicker as I have never laboured naturally and it’ll be my bodies first time doing it.

TIA xx

Very difficult to say, that is the case for some people but I was the other way round, 40+5 with my first and 41+2 with my second. Hope you've not got long to wait!

Thank you xx

My fist was 41+ weeks (induction + emcs). My second was 40+3 weeks (spontaneous + vbac) couple of months ago.

Thing is, you don’t know what your natural pregnancy length would be because your baby was born at 39 weeks. You might naturally be a longer pregnancy person like 41+5, so the second pregnancy is often shorted but you’ve nothing to compare it to.

My first was a section at 38 weeks. Second I went to 42 weeks in the hope of a VBAC but ended up with a section.
3rd I went to 41+5 in the hope of a VBA2C. Had another section.
4th had to be a section due to all that, she was born at just under 38 weeks.

Dc1 was labour at 38 plus 5. Emcs at 39 plus 1.

Dc2 was labour at 39 weeks exactly. Also emcs at 39 plus 1.

Thanks everyone x

Hey I’m similar right now and can only say what midwives have told me.

I’m 38+5 today and I’ve had 2 previous C Sections both at 39+0 one emergency and one elective and I’ve never been in labour either.

I’m booked for a 3rd section on Friday but I’ve asked a couple of midwives about this and they both told me if you’ve never got into established labour before, then it’s basically the same stats as a first time mum.

That doesn’t mean you’ll go late though! Like a previous poster said, we don’t know what our natural pregnancy length would be.

I’ve been a period crampy in the evenings for about a week now which is a definite change but no sign of anything else. Good luck and I hope it goes well for you xxx