Length of labor...

Ckorines · April 2015

Any mommas out there know if there is any truth to second labor & delivery being significantly shorter than the first? My midwife today said that second babies are born in usually half the length of time that it took to deliver the first. I'm hoping some ladies can share the truth in this statement because I'm wishing my second daughter will just walk out of my lady parts. I don't want to be away from my first daughter for too long!

jespernoir · April 2015

By my experience, yes, my second labour was about half as long as the first

Ckorines · April 2015

@jespernoir that's great to hear! Thank you!

abbymessina · April 2015

First labor was 21 hrs. Second was only 3!!! Hoping for another quick one this time

Ckorines · April 2015

@abbymessina did you do anything differently or did it just happen that way. Tell me your secrets!!!!

erinnlou · April 2015

My mom has told me that her labors got quicker each time (she had 5).

Ckorines · April 2015

@erinnlou I love your mom!

gracie37842 · April 2015

22 hours first, 19 hours second....praying praying that this one is 5 or less...lol...I was induced the second time though and that was 9 years ago...I'm gonna do much more walking, wait as long as I can and maybe get the hubs to drive me to hospital in the jeep..lol..I'm much older and hard headed now :-)

Ckorines · April 2015

@gracie37842 still shorter...I'll take it! Here's hoping for 5!

gotdiesel2007 · April 2015

First one was induced so not sure if it played a part but labor was around 6 hours with him and second was about 9 hours.

SewSewBlessed · April 2015

First was about 8 hrs & Second was about 5 hrs.

keniialise · April 2015

First labor was natural and it took 9.5 hours (could have been shorter if my doctor had showed up on time and the nurses hadn't told me to hold the baby in- first time mom mistake for sure) my second labor was induced but still took two hours less at 7 hours. My midwife this time told me she thinks my labor will be very short this time around, fingers crossed!!

ToAoShesha · April 2015

I am glad you asked this! I am hoping for the same thing! My first was 13 hours... lets hope its half or less

AngelaPlus3 · April 2015

My first was 2.5 hours, so I'm the oddball hoping this one is the same or a tiny bit longer. Definitely was not prepared last time and could have used a little more time.

ariejsmom · April 2015

My first was about 17 1/2 hours, my second was 14 hours. With this one I'm having a c section due to medical issues but I'm very worried he's going to come early. We are about an hour and half away from the hospital.

jesicabrennan · April 2015

My first was 29 hours...I will consider anything under 24 a win for baby #2

Ckorines · April 2015

Awesome! Thanks for sharing ladies. It sounds like it's definitely a possibility!

jennhepp · April 2015

@jesicabrennan totally agree! 29 hours here too... I'm thinking even a 'normal' 16 hour labor would be amazing!

tamiko1031 · April 2015

My first one was 14 hours and my second was about 6 to 7 hours

janellvigil · April 2015

My first was 13 hours and my second was 5 hours. The second was a lot easier the healing process and everything. Hoping this one is even quicker

Ckorines · April 2015

Ladies! I'm full of questions today. Did the shortened labor allow enough time for an epidural? I'm hoping to not take one this time because I want the quickest recovery possible. I'm having major anxiety about being away from my first born daughter and am thinking of all ways possible to bounce back quickly. THANK YOU!

abbymessina · April 2015

@ckorines I wish I could say I did something different so I knew how to do it again!! Lol. First one I laboured from midnight until 3pm where at the hospital they had to break my water. He was born at 9pm. Second, I was at home with my son and out of nowhere my water broke, called my husband and luckily he was home within 15 minutes. Called my midwives and they were here within the hr. When they got here I was already 6 cm. 3 hrs after water broke my second son was born at home. I prefer the quicker labor but it was way way more intense because it happened so fast!!

erinkaydonnell · April 2015

So as a ftm when you ladies say "I was in labor for 17 hours" are you meaning active labor or pushing time? And what's worse long active labor or long pushing time?

abbymessina · April 2015

When I say labor I mean when I started getting contractions that I knew was the real deal. I would say the strong active labor was way woes then pushing time only because I never had to push very long with either of my births (about and hr with my first, and only 10 mins with my second!!!!)

Ckorines · April 2015

I think they mean active labor. I can't imagine any doctor letting you push for that long. I was in labor for 15 hours and pushed for a half hour only.

runswithscissors86 · April 2015

I was in active labor for 18 hours and pushed for about 10.

ashleytiff · April 2015

My mom was in labor with me for 16 hours, sister was 6, brother was 2.

Ckorines · April 2015

@ashleytiff I love this!

Ckorines · April 2015

runswithscissors86 said:
I was in active labor for 18 hours and pushed for about 10.

You pushed for ten hours?!?!?!??? Holy crap!

babydoll1008 · April 2015

I was only an hour and a half for labor... I hope I listen to my body so when it's time, we are at the hospital (that is thirty minutes away!!!!). That would be a bad day to hit traffic or else you'll hear about my highway delivery on Good Morning America

lol

Ckorines · April 2015

Wow! Hour and a half? My husband works an hour away!!! I would panic.

starlight287 · April 2015

How is the length of labour calculated?? I've always wanted to know.

JennyJensing · April 2015

From the start of duct ion, I was in labor about 13 hrs. Pushed her out in thirty minutes! I would love to go into labor on my own this time so that I can spend the first part at home.

gotdiesel2007 · April 2015

starlight287 said:
How is the length of labour calculated?? I've always wanted to know.

From my understanding, the start of actual labor at the very beginning
of active labor. That means when you have to stop in your tracks when a
contraction hits, and nothing can distract you from the pain. You
can't talk, you can't type, you can't do anything except concentrate on
your contraction.

ashleytiff · April 2015

My mom had us all with out an epidural but wouldn't have had the option with my brother anyhow.

runswithscissors86 · April 2015

@Ckorines I meant to say 10 min. Holy hell.... 10 hours would have been torture.

BabyNewbury2012 · April 2015

With my first my water broke at 3:45am and she was born at 6:56am. It was super fast. They got my epidural in my back but before they got to put in the drugs I went from 6 to 10cm, it was too late. But to be honest it went way to quickly to even think about the pain. In my opinion not having time to think was probably best for me. I hope for the same for my second....I dont really need it any quicker lol. I pushed for 8 minutes, she was ready to see the world.

AngelaPlus3 · April 2015

My labor was only 2.5 hours. By the time DH got home and we got to the hospital and checked in there was no time for an epidural or any drugs. I only pushed 3 times before he was out. I didn't have time to really register all the pain and so it wasn't bad honestly. This time though I'm hoping it isn't any faster because we barely made it as it was.

NYMominCA · April 2015

I don't know if it was for me. It honestly seemed longer for DS than DD but they presented differently.

With DD, I went to the hospital around 3am on Sunday morning. I had gotten up to pee then and had so much pain and pressure I couldn't walk. I was monitored for an hour and sent home in early labor. That day felt pretty normal, though. And then at 3am Monday morning, my water broke. We went to the hospital but my contractions weren't regular so they gave me Pitocin. She was born at 3pm. So I was at the hospital for 12 hours, but if you count from when I went to the hospital initially on Sunday, then I was in labor for 36 hours (or more).

With DS, I woke up Sunday morning around 6am and went to the bathroom. Noticed I lost my mucus plug. Contractions started shortly after. Went to the hospital around 3pm, he was born at 3am the next day. Also had some pitocin with him, as contractions were irregular.

So with DS it appeared shorter but felt longer. Also with both, the Pitocin sped things up.

grlplz · April 2015

I think that's the way it usually happens but it can depend on how far apart your kids are. My first I was in labor for just shy of 29 hours (pushed for an hour and a half). My second came 5 1/2 years later and I was in labor with him for just short of 27 hours. My sister went from 18 hours with her first to under 5 hours with her second, only 2 years between them. I'm hoping I could do it in under 10 hours this time

grlplz · April 2015

Ckorines said:
Wow! Hour and a half? My husband works an hour away!!! I would panic.

This worries me too. Husband works an hour away and we'd have to drop the kids off with my MIL along the way and it'd still be a half hour to the hospital. Hour and a half is not enough time. I'd be having a baby in the car.

Want a personalized experience?

Length of labor...

Re: Length of labor...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards