2+ moms, If your first birth was fast, how was your second?

garnet10 · April 2012

I know that in general 2nd births are earlier, shorter, and easier than first time births. But I was hoping to hear from women like me who had fairly fast or easy labors the first time around, how was your second time around. Just for background with DD water broke 12 hours before birth, no contractions until 8 hours before, but I didn't experience much pain until about an hour or a half hour before pushing. No one realized I was in transition or anything until I felt an overwhelming urge to push. DD was 5.5 lbs at 38 weeks. I have two fears this time around, that I am going to go later and have a much bigger baby and thus labor is going to seem so much worse in comparison to DD's. The other is that I will start pushing in the car. An accidental home birth wouldn't bother me, but the car doesn't seem fun.

YellowByrd529 · April 2012

I'm actually wondering about this too. My first labor was 5 hours total and I did not feel any kind of discomfort that would make me think it was real labor until about 30 minutes before DS was born. I'm kind of secretly hoping for an "accidental" homebirth this time since I really hated being in a hospital last time but a midwife/homebirth/birth center was not an option this time.

lazysusan · April 2012

1st DS about 1 1/2 hours after first painful contraction. Second DS about 2 1/2 hours after 1st painful contraction. The first was on pitocin overnight with no effect until morning. The second was totally natural and just how I wanted

My second was 2 pounds heavier, but an easier birth as my first was sunny side up.

CTri17 · April 2012

I wish I could say mine was faster.

First birth 7.5 hours (1.25 of that pushing)

Second birth 10.5 hours (20 min of pushing)- so my 2nd the pushing was much shorter, but overall I'd say the labor was a little more difficult

oh and DD1 was 8lb4oz and came on her due date spontaneously

DD2 was 8lb10oz and came the day before her due date

Sawyerplus1 · April 2012

garnet10:
I know that in general 2nd births are earlier, shorter, and easier than first time births.

Well I can't speak from the experience of having a fast first labor (#1 was 30 hours), but #2 was much faster (8 hours). But I just wanted to mention that from my experience (my own personal and from people I know), I think it's far safer to say that a 2nd labor will be shorter than it will be earlier or easier.

Asquared · April 2012

wasn't dilated at all and was starting cervadil due to low fluids- they had to pull it after a couple hours and I went from 3-9 in 1/2 hour- total first labor was 5 hrs and 38 minutes

2nd baby- woke up at almost 2 am feeling crappy and had to use the bathroom, keep cramping and finally woke up dh and called my mom to come be w/ my older dd- got to the hospital @ 3:00am got into triage at 3:10 was at 7 cms, got to my room at 3:20 and she was born at 3:36a.m.

doc told me if I ever have a 3rd, I should camp out at the hospital, so I'm pretty nervous that it'll go even faster.

lily225 · April 2012

I wouldn't call my first labor fast but I think it was relatively short compared to what most first time births usually are (from what you read in the books at least).

My first labor was 13 hours long with a spontaneous start to labor at 3cm but didn't get really painful until about 5 or 6 hours before birth. DD born on her due date at 8lb 0oz.

My second labor went to 7 hours. Contractions started within an hour of membrane stripping when I was 2cm. DD2 was born 4 days past my edd and was 7lb 9oz.

My third went to about 5 hours after being induced at 13 days past my edd. when I was already 4cm. DS was 9lb 2oz.

I think it's pretty typical for labors to get shorter but I wouldn't worry so much about the weight. My babies have fluctuated a lot. I know DS was much bigger because he was so late, but DD2 was later than DD1 but still smaller.

You will feel so much more prepared the second time around. I knew my body/labor better and knew how long I could wait to go into the hospital. I know you didn't feel much till the end, but you will at least have that knowledge this time around and know not to wait too long.

FyreFlyeRush · April 2012

My BFF's births have all been fast. Her first was under 6 hours, and her third was 3. She's had 3 natural births...not by choice...because she can't get to the hospital in time. Her 2nd was so fast, she pushed him out before the doctor was ready to "catch".

My first was 30 hours...I'm hoping for 15 or less this time. NOTE: I only had 4 hours of "hard" labor with a guess at a 15-30 minute transition and 3 pushes to get her out.

Faith1318 · April 2012

First labor was about 5.5 hours active labor, short pushing stage (15 minutes? I actually don't know.) Baby was 6 lbs 13 oz, and I had the smallest of tears.

Second labor was about 4 hours of active labor, equally short pushing stage. Labor up to 9cm was easier than I remembered it, but then pushing seemed more intense and painful. Baby was 7 lbs 10 oz, no tearing, faster recovery.

ridesbuttons · April 2012

1st: first sign of labour water broke, first contraction about an hour after that, babe born 8 hours later (after 2 hours of pushing); was in hospital 4.5 hours, babe 8lbs8oz

2nd: contractions noticed felt short and mild, babe born about 2.5 hours later (15 minutes of which was rough, 2 or 3 pushes to get him out); was in hospital 30ish minutes, babe 8lbs8oz

jessandandy09 · April 2012

1st: DD was 8 lbs I was in labor for 12 hours, harder labor only for 3 hours and pushed for 30 minutes (water broken during pushing). all natural in the hopsital

2nd: DS was 9lbs I was in labor for 6 hours total, hard labor for only 1 hour (after water was broken) pushed for 10 minutes. all natural in the hospital.

DS felt a little more intense and burn-y because his birth was dry. uhg.

I am worried number 3 is going to go faster and my hospital is almost a full hour away. *gulp* I don't want to have my LO in the car. I think I could handle it, but I am afraid DH would not be able to and would freak the F out!

BelleIsa · April 2012

My DD was 8 hours from water breaking (spontaneously) to baby in arms. And that was with an epi that significantly slowed down labour.

My midwife wants me to call her right away for this one!!

ramsfamgrowing · April 2012

first labor 3 hours (induced, when I was already 2 cm)

second labor 1.5 hours (induced when I was already 5cm) the second labor

I worry alot that if I dont have a scheduled induction again, I wont make it to the hospital that's an hour away. We shall see!

katcarls · April 2012

Mine was a lot faster but we're only 15 minutes from the hospital so I still made it in time. My first was a little over 6 hours and the second was just 2 hours. Both deliveries and recoveries were fairly easy, but the second was better. My second baby was 1 lb. heavier but had a smaller head.

ETA: Both labors were spontaneous and my water broke just before pushing.

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2+ moms, If your first birth was fast, how was your second?

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