1st Time Mommies - How Long in Labor?

wifeofaussie · June 2010

DH is a pilot and spends the majority of the day (9+ hours) in another part of the country. He can't really just jump in the plane and come back if I go into labor because it's $$$ for the company but even if he could, it'd take him about 3 hours to get back and then another 2 hours to put the plane up and get to the hospital. My parents are on hand to help when he's gone so making it to the hospital isn't a worry. Him missing the delivery is though!

Realistically, do you think he'll have time to get to the hospital? He's really stressing about it but I thought 1st babies took a long time. How long was your labor from the time it started to delivery?

RunKirstenRun · June 2010

12 hours total. Water broke at 11:10 p.m. and Ds was born at 11:01 a.m. It could have been less time but I pushed for 4 hours. I think the average first time labor is 16 hours.

jmlushbough · June 2010

Mine was about 36 hours from first contraction to pushing and then another 4 hours of pushing. But I think that's on the longer end of the spectrum?

Jitterbug2668 · June 2010

5 hours start to finish but i was already 5 cm when i went in for my induction so they didn't anticipate it being a long labor. it wasn't the typical 1st time mom experience. my mom was in labor 12 hours before c-section, dh's mom was 24 hours before finally getting him out.

chelsearosehicks · June 2010

I was induced and it took 27 hours with 2 of those hours just pushing.

MNgirl326 · June 2010

There really is no way of knowing, some people go rather quickly, while others take a long time.

My cousin labored and delivered within 3 hours with her first, with me I labored and delivered with within 11 hours, and I have a friend whom it took 20 hours.

So really, anything is possible.

MamaFantastic · June 2010

45 hours from the time i woke up with mild contractions to the time i delivered. that said, my experience has NO bearing on what yours will be! we have friends who barely made it the 25 minute drive to the hospital with their first baby.

you're in a tough position... it's not like you can tell your husband to ground himself for weeks on end waiting for a baby who may come up to 2 weeks late. i don't know what the best solution is.

sweets802 · June 2010

I know each birth is different, special, and unique but for me it was long too! My water broke on Saturday morning at 3:40am and I started have contractions immediatly after that (we arrived and were admitted into the hospital at 4am), but Rachel was not born till 7am on Sunday morning. So I was in labor a little over 27 hours - but it was all worth it! I hope your DH will make, but don't worry to much - it will all work out!

bobbyme · June 2010

6 hours total. Everyone told me I would have a long labor bc it was my first and it wasn't (nor was it augmented).

Pocky873 · June 2010

About 22 hours. Labor started at 4 AM on a Saturday morning, but were 20 minutes apart. They gradually got closer together over the course of the day. I called my doctor at 3:30 PM when they were 5 minutes apart. We left the house at 4:15 PM and got to the hospital at 5:00 PM. I delivered at 1:56 AM the next morning. It would've happened sooner, but I had some issues with the epidural and had to wait about 1.5 - 2 h for the last dose to wear off so I could start pushing.

jessicaskyy · June 2010

8 hours with both

amygauntt@windstream.net · June 2010

With my first it was 19 hours from water breaking to delivery. With my second, it was 22 hours.

paxilchyk · June 2010

8 hours start to finish!

jilicious · June 2010

Membranes stripped around 4:30pm, 5pm, strong contractions began around 6pm same day on April 16th, Alexandra was born 4:27am on April 18th after 3.5 hours of pushing. I think it was like, 35 hours.

msmoose511 · June 2010

Yes, most first time labors don't go quickly.

I was induced but from start to finish it too 36 1/2 hours.

taureanbuddhist · June 2010

first contraction was at 3pm on saturday, finally admitted to the hospital 48 hours later, water broke at 9:30pm on monday, and c-section birth at 8:19pm on tuesday...

so mine was more of a marathon really, but my mom was in labor with me for 28 hours, and most likely your DH will have time to get to the hospital...my hubby's family had time to drive from GA (12 hours) and they made it while i was still in labor and they didn't leave until after i had been admitted for several hours...GL:)

norman25 · June 2010

I had back pain/slight cramps starting at 4 pm. I went to work at 5, left work at 8 pm because the pain got worse. I realized that I was having actual contractions at 9 pm. Called the hospital at 11 when they were a few minutes apart. Checked in at midnight. Had DS at 321 am.

I have no idea how long it was since I didn't recognize the early stages of labor, but it was quick. My SO went out of town several times in my last month thinking he would have plenty of time. If he was gone that day, there would have been no way he would have made it there.

IrishBrideND · June 2010

38 hours

ohiomama2355 · June 2010

23 hours - I was induced.

alicianrj · June 2010

Starting having contractions (20 minutes apart) at 9:00 on a Monday night. Went to the hospital at midnight (contractions were 2-3 minutes apart.) And he was born at 4:23 that Tuesday morning. It was fast for me but everyone is different.

Flowr4246 · June 2010

From the time my water broke until she was born it was about 18 - 18 1/2 hours. I was having what I thought were BH contrax before my water broke, but I didn't realize they were labor contractions until after the fact so i don't really count that time.

usornothing · June 2010

6.5 hours..way quicker than I expected. I woke up at 6:30 am with contractions. They got stronger and stronger. Got to the hospital at around 9 am. Had my DS at 1pm.

nikkiw421 · June 2010

17 1/2 hours from my water breaking to my c section (failure to progress). I was on pitocin for 12 hours and still only made it to 7 cm, -2 station.

maca78 · June 2010

Dr. broke my water at 1pm and DS was born at 6:30pm.

mrsfirefly · June 2010

47 hours from when water broke to c/s delivery.

squishles10 · June 2010

27 hours, 2 hours of pushing. But LO was sunny side up so the OB said I would have knocked at least 4 hours off if he'd been face down. PP are correct, there's no way to know, unless you are induced. And then you still won't know for sure.

SoCaliAli · June 2010

20 hours from the first contraction until he was born. I waited to go the hospital until almost 10 hours in.

epona3 · June 2010

38 hours from the first contractions to birth. About 7 hours actually at the hospital having contractions, and then 2 hours of pushing. So, if you're like me, you'll have plenty of time.

However, my BFF had a few hours of contractions, her water broke, and 37 minutes later her baby was born! They were only at the hospital for 17 minutes before he was born in the triage room!

You just never know...

mrsjenni · June 2010

I was induced with my first at 38w. I was 3cm and 100% going in and it was 7 hours from Pitocin to birth (including 30 mins of pushing.)

With #2, I was induced again. Started at 6cm and 80% and it was 4 hours from Pitocin to birth (including 5 minutes of pushing.)

Mrs.Hagzz51306 · June 2010

my first time around it was 22 hrs and i pushed for 2 1/2 of it!

second time around it was 9 hours and i pushed for 10mins of it!

Madison789 · June 2010

52 hours.

An unscheduled induction due to low amniotic fluid and no fetal movement. I was fingertip dialated, 90% effaced, and 0 station before induction started, and it still took that long (and at 41 weeks).

My advice: make no plans.

knedell · June 2010

I labored unmedicated for 40 hours before having a c section bc LO was anterior and wouldn't descend.

xtencornfield · June 2010

From the time I went into what I'll call active labor (3-5 minutes apart for 60 seconds or longer for an hour) it was 23 hours of labor plus 3.25 hours of pushing. I had contractions for 2 days prior to going into active labor.

mjcleve · June 2010

With my 1st it was 24 hours from the first contraction.

Hip2Bsquare · June 2010

11 hours total. Labor started at 2:30 am and I delivered DD at 1:29pm that same day.

rednecklover · June 2010

3 hours. My water broke at 5:40p.m. and she was born at 8:52p.m. I hadn't been having any contraction all day. I was 6cm when I went in and I pushed for 52 minutes.

But every mother is different, so it's hard to tell.

kirkette · June 2010

Ours was a emergency induction. 19 hours, 4 of which was pushing.

themrs830 · June 2010

Contractions started at 4 am, I started pushing at 3:10pm and she was born at 4:01pm.

anabell0920 · June 2010

26 hours total. I went into active labor 2 hours after feeling my first contraction, then 10 hours in my water broke and 12 hours later I had him after pushing for 10 minutes. Had zero augmentation.

cajungirl0717 · June 2010

My contractions started at 8:00 pm on 4/5. My water broke around 5:00 am on 4/6. Started pushing at 8:15am. LO here at 8:37 am. So if labor is from first contraction, it was little over 12 hours.

lindsaynjason · June 2010

From the time contractions started: 24 hrs. From the time I was in active labor (i.e. couldn't talk during contractions and making cervical change): 8 hrs.

ETA: I only pushed for 30 minutes.

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