2nd time mamas...how long was your labor?

[caedmyn]

Just curious...they say second labors tend to be about half (or less) the length of the first but my labors were exactly the same length--7.5 hours for both. 7.5 hours is on the short side for a 1st labor but I get the impression that it's actually on the long side for a 2nd labor...I've read an awful lot of birth stories of 2nd or 3rd times moms with labors under 5 hours.

[mamavegan]

My first labor was about 12 hours. My second was about 6-8 hours. 6 hours from when ctx were 10 min or less apart.

[SeekingJoy]

1st - 12-13 hrs ish (posterior, hospital, epidural)

2nd - 2 hrs from first real contraction (home until pushing then hospital, natural)

With both I exercised, gained the rec weight, and had healthly, low risk pregnancies.

[theboysmama]

1st - 7.5 hrs from the very first sign of anything (w/over 4hrs of pushing due to a neucal hand)
2nd - 2.5hrs from the very first sign of anything (w/2 pushes)
3rd - 5.5 hrs from the very first sign of anything (w 2.5 hrs of pushing due to a short cord and being born in the bag of waters, cord broke immediately after the birth)
4th - 5.5 hrs from the very first sign of anything (w/ a few min. of pushing, baby was born in the bag of waters)

my first was a transfer to the hospital w/ a vacuum suction. the other 3 were born at home under water.
I labored in the water w/ all 4 of them.

[dsaucone]

1st - 17 1/2 hrs from start to finish (30 minutes pushing)

2nd - 11 1/2 hrs from start to finish (15 minutes pushing)

[Biscuits & Gravy]

Both were almost exactly the same, around 12 hours.

[mom2annika]

About 12 hours with my first, and almost 8 hours with my second (both unmedicated; DD2 was a full pound heavier than her sister and posterior).

[AmieV]

My second labor actually was almost exactly half of my first. My first was 22 hours with prodromal, 8 hours active, my second about 11 hours with prodromal, 4 hours with active!

Very much wondering what this third one has in store...

[jenniferadurham]

1st- 12 1/2 hrs (induction/pit/epidural)

2nd-15 active labor(DAYS OF LABORING BEFORE lol) natural start/baby stuck(posterior and cord too short)/epidural then pit to push.

I'm almost positive 2nd would have been shorter had he not been stuck/cord too short.

[Funny Face]

1st was 37 hours.
2nd was 8 hours.

[phatchristy]

Well, I always count it from when it *hurt* as in, I had to stop breathe/moan through them.

For #1 12 hours
For #2 1 1/2-2 hours
For #3 2 hours
For #4 15 minutes

[flowers]

1st - 36 hours
2nd- 4 hours

My disclaimer is that I 42 weeks with my first and so desperate to be in labor that the second I felt something twinge I went into "I'm Having a Baby Mode". Three days later I was a mess!

With my second I was so prepared to not do that again that even though I was a full 43 weeks I just acted normal during the few days of body prep (light surges, bloody show etc.) and didn't consider myself in labor until after a light nap where upon I needed to fully concentrate and give my full attention to having a baby and that was only 4 hours! In my experience perception was everything!

[League_mama]

First labor--5 hours. Second labor freakishly fast--1 hr 20 minutes. Both underwater births.

[arahzel]

First labor ~ started 7pm, had baby at 5:15pm next day (but I think I would have had her around 10am if I had skipped the epidural).
This time ~ startd at 5pm, had baby at 1:29am -- so 8.5 hours start to finish, but I was already dilated 3cm for a few weeks before active labor started.

[odenata]

1st - in active labor around 15 hours before c-section

2nd - 3 hours

[FondestBianca]

1st: 3 methods of induction used. put on pit through entire labor. pushed for 3 hours. 2 tares on the inside that required stitches. HORRID swelling. 16 hours total..... it all pretty much sucked.

2nd: induced with one method. induction method stopped once labor began. my water broke on its own about 2 hours into labor. pushed for 30 minutes. no tares, minimal swelling. 6 hours total..... it all went pretty darn well!

[leavemealone]

My first was about 15 hours from the time my water broke (before I was having contractions) including 2 hours of pushing. Pitocin induced and ended in c-section.

My second was about 13 hours from the first time I really felt pain including 2.5 hours of pushing. Went into labor natually and had a vbac.

My third was about 9 hours from the first time I relaly felt pain including 2.5 hours of pushing. Went into labor naturally and had an hbac.

[KSLaura]

My first was about 12 hours.

The second was a little over 2 hours. I was fine at work all day but went into labor on the way home. My co-workers were shocked when I called that evening with baby in hands.

[sarahmagoo]

Active labour was 4 hours with my first, and about 2.5 hours with both my second and third.