How did your 2nd labor and delivery compare to your first? Did you 2nd follow the old wives tale of being faster?
I am hoping to have my 2nd VBAC this time around. The first time I went into labor at 38 weeks and other than HORRIBLE back labor due to DS being posterior I had a wonderful natural vaginal deliver and am just curious what to expect this time.... I am seeing a chiro to hopefully help with better positioning and am thinking about taking a bradley or other type class (or maybe just reading a few different books) since I've already BTDT with a natural labor and finding time for classes is difficult with 3 kids 3 and under ![]()
Re: for those on their 2nd+ natural labor and delivery
Yes and no, labor with DD was 16 hours and 10 of them on pitocin. DS was 12 hours start to finish and I didn't have any interventions besides a heplock. However, DD came at 37w and DS came at 39.
Good luck!
PS- as far as the delivery times being shorter, my OB says it's mostly true in her experience, that labors get shorter with subsequent children.
Both of my kids were born at 42 weeks 1 day. My sons labor was 12 hours from start of contractions to delivery, but I was induced (with a pessary, in the UK, which is similar to cervadil), and once my contractions started they were super intense and close.
My dd was not induced, my contractions started with her at 5 in the morning, were spread out, and active labor started that night around 8 pm. She was born at 5:48 the next morning, so it was longer overall but active labor was only 10 hours or so.
My son came 5 days before his due date, and my labor was 1 hour. Yes, 1. Barely made it to the hospital.
My daughter came at 42 weeks 3 days (yes, my doctor let me go that long...he was awesome!) and that one was about 2 hours.
Who knows what number three will be like. Maybe I will finally find out what other women go through, and spend 16 hours in the Valley of the Shadow and all that.
1st labour: water broke (first sign of labour) contractions started one hour later, 7 hours of contractions, 2 hours pushing
2nd labour: contractions noticed (mild), 2.5 hours of contractions (including 15 minutes of truly unpleasantness, presumably the transition) 2 or 3 pushes.
All of my friends with 3 have told me that their 3rd was longer than their 2nd.
Both spontaneous med-free vaginal births.
DD#1 born at 41w4d after about 4 hours of labor (first contraction to baby out)
DD#2 born at 40w0d after about 2.5 hours of labor (first contraction to baby out). She was posterior for sure at my appointment a week earlier and I'm nearly positive until labor. First contractions in back and I bounced on an exercise ball and then no more contractions in my back so I think that's when she turned.
With #1 I got an epi when I hit 7 cm. He was posterior. Total labor was 17 hours with 2 hours of pushing.
With #2 I did it all med-free. Total labor was 7 hours and I pushed for less than 10 minutes.
With #3 I had a HB. She was posterior (now remembering why I opted for the epi with #1 lol). Total labor was 20 hours with 40 minutes of pushing.
So my last labor was the longest, but positioning had something to do with it. If she hadn't have been posterior it wouldn't have taken so long.
ETA - #1 was born at 37 weeks exactly, #2 at 40w5d and #3 on her due date. No inductions.
If this is true, I better get to the hospital quickly. From the time hard contractions started to the time I delivered was about 8 hours. I did have contractions prior to the 8 hours, but they weren't nearly as bad.
My second labor/delivery was faster and easier than my first, and same for my third.
First labor was 12.5 hours with 20 minutes of those being pushing.
Second labor was 7 hours with... 2 pushes (Cailin made her entrance right on the table with only the nurse in the room frantically yelling into the speakers for some help).
My third labor was induced and I did have an epidural for that, but it was still only 4 hours I think with maybe 5 minutes of pushing (he was 9lbs2) - one practice push on one contraction and then 3 pushes on the next contraction and he was born.