Was your second labour quicker or slower than your first?

[Longing2bAMum]

Hello ladies My question is about how long you were in labour with each child if you've had more than one. I was in labour 9 hours with my first, after I was induced at 42+3. When baby two is due DS will be 20months and will have never been left with anyone else other than me and DH. Our only option for childcare is my MIL who I can't actually stand, and she isn't massively reliable either, so it's hit and miss as to whether she'll actually be available to come round when we go into labour, so we may just take him with us and DH look after him in the maternity ward while I labour alone until she can come and be with him, or take him home if i'm hours away from delivering. This is my biggest stress at the moment so I thought i'd lighten my mood about it with a fun survey to find out if people were in labour longer with first or second babies, thanks for taking part

 

[Eleanor ace]

My second labour was longer. My first was 6 hours start to finish. My 2nd was maybe 9ish hours (I don't really know because I had fairly mild contractions through the night, I don't know what time they started or when I went into active labour as I didn't get checked until I got to hospital.) and I was already 3cm dilated for a while before labour so it took me longer to get less far lol.
Would a homebirth be an option for you? I know that is what is generally suggested were I am, if it is a low risk pregnancy where you are worried about childcare for an older LO.

 

[Longing2bAMum]

I'd love a homebirth, but it's all a little complicated in Sweden, i'm from the uk too btw I'd love a 6 hour birth starting in the morning and done by the afternoon, what I do like about the hospitals here is that you get your own family room and husband and older siblings can stay over night with you once baby is here, so it's not so bad, once baby is here DH will go and depending on times he'll either spend the night at home with DS or they come straight to the hospital to be with me and new baby, if only I could put my request in to the baby as to best times to arrive :hehe:

 

[slongson]

My first was around 12 hours 2nd about 4 hours and 3rd 3 hours hoping 4th follows with a nice fast labour xx

 

[Maxy1]

My first was four hours and my second was 90 minutes. I think its common for your second labour to be about half the time of the first.

 

[Mummy to be x]

My first was 45 hours so I'm hoping my second doesn't follow, I will soon find out

 

[BunnyN]

Intresting poll, will be following. First labour was 38 total so hoping this one will be a bit shorter.

 

[luz]

SO much quicker! With my first i went into labor at 3:30 am and he was born 10:01 PM. with my second i went into labor at 1:30 am and she was born 10:11 am.

 

[LuckyMama13]

My first was 26 hours and my 2nd was 18- but the 2nd was also much more painful. Now I am expecting my 3rd and not sure what to expect. Both were inductions as well and they had to break the waters.

 

[bdb84]

My first was a little over 7 hours. My second was just shy of 4 hours start to finish.

 

[Iveneverseen]

My first was 37 hours. My second it took my 9 days to dilate from 3-5cms and about 18 hours+ on top of that. my third was elective section.

So much first labour was quicker than second (even though it was extremely long)

 

[butterflywolf]

My mom's labor with my brother was 8 hours (first) and with me it was 3 hours. From what I hear with friends/family 2nd is usually half the time since your body knows what it needs to do.

I'm expecting this one to be about 5 to 6 hours long. If I have a smaller baby than what my daughter was (9 lbs 3 oz 22 inches) I expect it to go a lot quicker XD

 

[ClairAye]

My first was all over 38 hours and 1hr 5mins pushing and my second was 9 hours and 8 minutes pushing.

 

[kajastarlight]

DS1 = 3 days in pre-labor (not braxton hicks contractions, productive contractions just 10 min apart) 12 hours in active labor. Pushed for 45 min.
DS2 = No pre-labor that I noticed. Acive labor for 6 hours total but by hour 4 he was in distress and they gave me petocin. Not even 3 min of pushing.

 

[we can't wait]

Quicker. Cut in half by about half.

 

[Geo2]

The first time I was in labour for a few days, early labour was very long, the second stage was only a few hours. This time my waters broke at around 9.30am and I birthed baby at 9.03pm. The second stage must have been less than half hour. I'm hearing mostly that second labours are quicker!

 

[Scrooples]

This is something that's scaring me a bit actually! My first was 5 hours from the first twinge to holding her, and only 17 mins pushing. My midwife told me that I may want to consider a home birth as I may not actually make it to hospital next time, but I don't think I'll actually be allowed a home birth!

 

[sarahmomof2]

My labor with my first and second were exactly the same time 17 hours each time. The only difference between the two was that it took me 3 hours to push out my first child and only 20 minutes for my second. I hoping number three will go quicker!

 

[Lauraxamy]

Probably about the same. I was induced first time around though so that made my first labour quicker than if I'd of gone naturally I think

 

[mannymoo]

I was induced with both of mine. The first was due to iugr and the second was an elective induction for several reasons - one of which was in order to have care for DS. First labour was about 6 hours and second labour was only 1 hour 40 mins so much faster! Maybe ask your dr or midwife about elective induction as an option. Good luck! X