2nd labours - when to go to hospital?

[emmalg]

Hi All,

When I had DD my waters broke first and everything went a bit awry! As you'll see from my story below I don't know a thing about a normal labour and when to head in. I realise 2nd labours are typically quicker but I'm not sure if you wake up needing to go straight in, if you have a build up during the day, etc.

What happened to you second time?
When do you contact midwives and when do you head in?

I had to go in and out of hospital for antibiotics for the first 24 hours, my contractions would come and go, I was admitted after 24 hours then a pessary was used to ripen my cervix, it didn't work, even at 3 minute contractions there was no change to my cervix! By 36 hours I was under pressure to have more intervention which I was terrified of, I tried a bath but I was simply too worn out. At that point I accepted I might need CS. I was given an epidural after about 44 hours, with still no change to my cervix, and within the hour DD popped out with nuchal hand and cord which might explain her reluctance to move down!

Thanks

 

[Pearls18]

It'll depend how far you from the hospital for starters, but I think the recommended is when contractions are lasting 45-60 seconds coming every 5 minutes, this was what I was told last time when I had 40 miles to travel (my first) I'm planning a home birth this time but will be calling my MW as soon as things happen because they ask you to, as I had a quick labour last time I would go in when contractions were 5 mins apart which for me was straight away last time I didn't have any kind of build up. Hope this is of some help, sorry it probably isn't with me only being in labour once lol. As it's your second I wouldn't hang around too long.

 

[emmalg]

It's all helpful info! Good luck this time!

 

[Seity]

I had a 3 hour active labor with my first pregnancy. I'd had early labor for 10 hours before that, but they were fairly far apart and didn't really start to hurt until they got to 5 minutes apart.
With my second I figured active labor would be faster, so the second that I had the first painful contraction I lied that it had been going on longer and went directly to the hospital. I had a 30 minute active labor, so good thing I went in right away. Also about 10 hours early labor that didn't hurt in the least before that first painful contraction.

 

[emmalg]

I think that's what I'm worried about. My active labour must have been very short last time and and I'm about 20 miles from hospital.

The doc laughed when I said I was worried about getting there in time because of it!

 

[tristansmum]

My first Labour was induced but I didn't have the drip so I basically contracted myself after the pessary and waters broke. I had a pretty typical first Labour of 1cm a hour. My whole labour from 3cm to him born in theater was about 12 hours. I did end up with a emcs after failed forceps.
Second Labour I had what I thought were bh all day, completely painless. Timed them eventually at 6pm to realise they were every 4-7 minute and lasting over a minute. As I was vbac they said come in. Painful contractions started as I left the house at just after 7pm. They checked me at 8 when I was at the hospital and I was 4cm. 2 hours later I was 10cm! So 3 hours of painful contractions. I was so surprised just how quick it happened second time round.

 

[Storm1jet2]

My first labour I was 6cm when I arrived at hospital and it was really really difficult sitting in the car, DD was born 4 hours later after a back to back labour and meconium stained waters - the MW told me not to be hanging around with my second child and get my butt to hospital once the contractions started kicking off although I swore at the time I wasn't having anymore - she assured me I would be back LOL