For all of those ladies with more than 1 child, I'm just interested to know how long your second labour was compared to the 1st. smile

First labour 4 hours long. 1.1/2 hours to dilate and 2.5 hours of pushing!

Second labour 3 hours long. 1.5 hours wondering if this is labour - I was having niggles. 1.20 hours painful contractions, 10 mins pushing. The pushing with my 2nd was hindered by the waters still intact. The MW wanted the water to break on their own when I pushed. But it was too much for me so I asked her to break them.

Generally speaking, a second labor ought be shorter. But thats not a rule. And how much shorter can vary.

With me first waters broke 1AM and i finished the whole process about 11AM.
My second labor 3 and a halof or somehting years later started at about 2AM and finished at about 3.22AM. One hour twenty two minutes labor from waters breaking to finish.

DD(#1) I was induced and was 8hrs from when water was broken. DS went naturally and was 11hrs.

My first was about 30 hours in total, laboured mostly at home but found back pain very bad, got to the hospital to find out I was 8-9 cms dilated, and was told I'd be having a baby very soon. However, after having gas/air in the bath, the pain in my back became excruciating and when my midwife checked me again she told me bub was posterior. I opted for an epidural (was VERY lucky to get one at the late stage of labour I was in)......after that I was able to relax a little as before I had it I was in agony. Bub's heartbeat started to dip low a few times and I recall all these people coming in and there was talk of a c-section, but somehow at the last moment bub managed to turn in the right position and I was told to push. After a few good pushes I had my little boy, about 7 hours after I had got to the hospital at almost full dilation. I had an episiotomy too, which was very sore for a few weeks afterwards (slow to heal).

My 2nd labour was a lot shorter, but bub was also posterior and slowed my contractions right down (had been having them for the good part of that day but upon getting to hospital around midnight I was told I was only 3 cms dilated). Back pain started again, so my midwife attempted accupressure on my toes (with the help of my DH) and after about 15 mins I felt a 'pop' which I was told was bub turning the right way, and soon after the contractions came thick and fast.....my DD was born about an hour afterwards, with just gas/air as pain relief. It was very painful but was quite quick and definitely easier than the first. smile

DS was 13 hours & DD was 3 1/2 hours smile

Just realised I rambled on way too much when you only wanted to know duration of each - sorry! tongue

1st - 36hrs all up, 18hrs active labour (ended in em c-section)

2nd - 13hrs all up, 6hrs active labour

3rd - 16hrs all up, 6hrs active labour

DD1 10 hours in total, DD2 2 hours in total, so with me definately shorter! Can often depend on the position of the baby though.

First baby was 12 hours induced with hormone drip and waters broken at 42 weeks. He was very happy where he was.
Second was 4 hours again induced with hormone drip and waters broken at 42 weeks as she was also happy where she was.
FX this little one will come on its own laugh

with my first 9am midwife did S&S 11:30 niggles, by 4:30 good contractions 6pm everything died off, 9:30all hell broke lose, she was born 1.58am 23 mins pushing. Notes say 4 hr labour but i take it from 11:30 so 14 hrs

with my second i was 10 days late and booked to be induced that avo. 7am started getting what i thought was braxtons by 10 i rung the midwife to say i think i might be in labour - wasnt convinced but hopefull, she decided to come around and do S&S to see if could get things going. She arrived and checked me at 10.30 and i was 6cm dialated. Started getting painful and what I would call labuor at 11.30 she was born at 3.40 would have been sooner but i laboured for 1.5hrs at 10cm waiting for waters to break and get urge to push, we gave up waiting and broke waters. so 7.5 hours but only 4 hours of painful labour

I had a long labour with DS, so here's hoping no.2 is shorter! Midwife reckons it will be, let's hope she is right

With DD I had my first contraction at about 5am, waters were broken in hospital at 10:15am as I wasn't fully dilated (was 9.5cm but I was subconsciously pushing already) and I was holding her at 10:55 so just under 6hrs for entire labour.

With DS after an hour of twinging I told DH I thought I might be in the early stages of labour at about 7:30pm. I was holding him at 10:05pm so all up about 3.5hrs in labour but only 2.5hrs of really being aware I was in labour.

Dreading the possible labour speed if we ever decide to have a third child.

Leisa.

Im with you Leisah,

DS total of 4 hour labour.

DD total of 21 minutes.

with DD i was getting braxton hicks for an hour every afternoon for a week, some felt like mild labour, this happened for 2 weeks. later told i was going into labour each time but baby was stopped because of posterior.

When we decided to have number 3 i much rather the 4 hour labour (only cause DD i laboured in the back)

Im with you Leisah,

DS total of 4 hour labour.

DD total of 21 minutes.

with DD i was getting braxton hicks for an hour every afternoon for a week, some felt like mild labour, this happened for 2 weeks. later told i was going into labour each time but baby was stopped because of posterior.

When we decided to have number 3 i much rather the 4 hour labour (only cause DD i laboured in the back)

WOW! I'm hoping for a shorter labour but not THAT short,especially considering I live 30 mins (in non rush hour traffic) from the hospital!

My first one was 6 hours active labour (14 hours in total, but most of that was mild period-like cramps!)

DS1 = 3hrs 56 minutes

DS2 = 1hr 54 minutes

DS1 could have been even quicker had I not spent an hour pushing, at least 15 minutes of that trying to get past the 'ring of fire'. DS2 probably could have been quicker too had I not tried to slow the whole thing down a bit.

We're not having a 3rd child, but I would be seriously concerned about how fast that might be if we did; I reckon we'd be looking at under an hour based on past experience and how efficiently my body seems to labour.

yea i know what you mean, i live 30 mins away from hospital, luckily i saw my midwife that day and she did a s&s and told me to stay close cause i will have it that day or that night. i was tired of getting my hopes up so i thought if i stay near hospital i would jinx it. i went home n that night i woke up with waves of pressure pushing (didnt hurt) so i went in to be safe and as soon as i got out of the car at the hospital i went into labour.

i was even luckier cause i always said i wanted baby to be born on 11//11/11 and i had her at 1.21am, i got the birthdate, sex and the short labour i wanted, if only we can all be that lucky and get what we want all the time

#1 2 days of pre labour, but approx 8hr labour (loads of pushing getting nowhere)
#2 8hrs pre labour, 3hr labour (max 10mins pushing)

#3.... im scared! hhehehe

wow some of you ladies are fast!!!

DS1 26hrs

DS2 41hrs

both posterier with episiotamy's OUCH and now drugs just gas

DD1 was 17 hrs.
DD2 was 8 hrs. I managed to stay upright and was more relaxed with DD2.

First was 9 1/2 hours.
Second was 4 1/4 hours.
Am due in 8 days with number three. So fingers crossed number three is short but not too short.

My first was 4 hours 26 minutes for the whole thing

Second was 4 hours and 2 minutes for the whole thing.

Third is due in May although its likely ill have a c-section (Placenta previa) so hoepfully no labour for me

My first, DS I had mild back pain when I woke up, went to hosp at about 5pm, and he was born by 10pm

DD, contractions started at about 7pm, went in at 10 coz I was due to be induced, luckily I was 2 cm dilated so induction wasn't necessary. Waters broke, I have no clue what time and she was born at 5am.

DD1 - 23hr posterior birth

DD2 - 2hr, 10 mins

DD3 - 3hrs

1st 19hrs, posterior, 1 and a half hrs pushing, naturally

2nd 2 and a half hrs, 15 mins pushing (induced 1 day early only needed gel due to GD)

3rd 1 hr 50mins of actual labour, was induced took a long time for everything to get going 22hrs, 2 lots of gel, waters broken, drip, she was 2 weeks early due to GD and shoulder dystocia with DS(labour 2)

DD1: 7 hrs active labour, 1 & 1/2 hrs pushing (induced on drip) she was 8lb 9
DD2: 5 hrs active labour, 40 mins pushing (just had gel) she was 9lb

2nd time way better did it drug free - felt so much better post birth

DD1 was 17hrs
DS2+ DS3 (twins) were 3hrs
preganant with no.4 & midwife will be giving hubby instructions how to handle an emergancy birth as its likely I won't make it to the hospital in time (haven't told hubby - don;t want to freak him out)