[IRISH1980]

Hi I am 6 weeks pregnant with second bub. Early days I know but I am already thinking about the birth. DD1 arrived at 36 weeks (small but in good health). Labour was fast and intense - went from being uncomfortable with what I thought were BH contractions to pushing stage with baby arriving within 2 hours. No time for pain relief and second degree tear and also quiet traumatic as DH only just made it with half an hour to go. All in all I was in shock after as it was just so unexpected......I imagined myself in long labour pacing the hospital corridors for hours on end like in the movies!!!!

So my question is if anyone had a similar first birth like this....what was your second like? Did bub also arrive early and was the birth just as quick or even faster again?

One of the main reasons I ask is I really want some maternity leave down time this time (well with a toddler!). I do not want to go straight from work to the hospital like last time. I am thinking of finishing up 2 months prior just in case!

Thanks

[lozoodle]

Similar, but a lot easier and calmer and quicker

[tazcan]

Both happened at around my due date - the first was 4 hours long and the second was 2 hours long.

[MAGS24]

My second pregnancy was almost exactly the same as the first but the labour and birth were the opposite. First labour was 20 hours and posterior. Second was 7 hours and not posterior.

I had more experience the second time around so I was determined to get it over with a lot quicker so I did the exercises during pregnancy to make sure that the second one wasn't posterior like the first was, and I walked around a lot during labour to help quicken things. The second labour was a lot more painful than the first but at least it was over quicker.

I also made sure that I did more pelvic floor excersises before and after pregnancy and I recovered a lot better and quicker the second time.

[muggins_00]

My 2nd was very different to the first. First I had been contracting for 2.5 days before he was finally born at 35 weeks.

Second was fast and intense, 2.5 hours all up and born at 37 weeks.

[elle-M]

Mine were VERY similar.

1st - waters broke naturally (37+3), had pethidine, baby arrived after 3 hours, no problems, dream labour

2nd - waters broke artifically by OB (39+5), labour started on its own, lasted one hour 20 mins, drug free, another dream labour!!!

This post has been edited by elle-M: 17/01/2013, 03:55 PM

[Natttmumm]

Mine were similar.
DD1 waters broke 37 weeks lights contractions and eventually induced. Active labour was about 4 hours.
DD2 induced around 39 weeks. Light contractions for a few days. Active labour about 4 hours again.
Wondering how number 3 will go

[riwymk]

Mine were different. With DS1 I had a show, then went into labour about 3-4 hours later. Was in labour for 11 hours (although ended in c-section as he was breech)
With DS2, I was in pre labour for 2 days, light tightening for 4 hours both nights, then when I did go into labour my contractions didn't build up like they did with DS1, they were strong from the get go & were on top of each other. Was in labour for 2 hours.

This time around I have a feeling my waters will break & I will have another 2-3 hour labour.

[Blueflower]

My 1st and 2nd were different in several ways and 3rd and 4th different to first 2 but similar to each other. All were quiet quick though

1st water broke at 35 weeks with labour not starting for 23hrs after (another hr and would have been induced) over in 4.5hrs.

2nd hit 40wks + 4 days. On and off throught out the day before labour finally kicking in later that afternoon. Contractions went from nothing to omg get this baby out now very quickly. Waters broke just 40mins into it and straight away hit transition (this all happened whilst trying to get in the car lol). Only just managed to get to the hospital. She was crowning in the liift. Labour was 1hr and 3mins.

3rd and 4th both started with contractions, both requiring my waters to be broken 3rd at 8cms and 4th i was fully dialated. 3rd i was 38wks and it was a 55min labour, 4th i was 37wks and 2hr labour (i was refusing to have him, way to much gas lol).

[Carmen02]

my 2nd was alot calmer and was not much time difference but my waters broke then i went into quite painful contractions, I had to have my waters broken for my 1st.