If you had 2 or more births....

[StephandOwen]

What was the difference in time? Was the second birth much shorter than the first?

I was induced last time and it was a looong process (yeah, my body totally wasn't ready but I had developed pre-e so there wasn't much choice). I was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday evening (having mild contractions), cytotec was used on Thursday, Friday morning my water was broken and pitocin started, (gave in and got the epidural at noon), ds was born at 4:20 friday afternoon.

I am going to try everything I can to avoid being induced this time. I want to labor at home as long as possible, but I just fear I won't know when to get my rear end to the hospital to avoid delivering in the car. DH does not do well with blood, he won't do well with me in pain, actually- he probably won't do well with much of anything as far as labor and delivery. So it will be important for me to get to the hospital before the delivery because I know dh would freak out and not be of any help to me (as cute as he is, he has a habit of freaking out instead of acting in a crisis situation).

How will I know when to get to the hospital?

ETA- the time of day will also play a big part in the decision on when to leave our house- when there's not much traffic (nighttime) it can be a 10 minute drive to the hospital. In rush hour it can be closer to 45 minutes.

[spiritfreak]

I know every woman's body is different, but I can tell you that for me, my second came a lot quicker and was less painful. Both were unmedicated, unassisted births in a hospital with a midwife. With my first, I waited to go to the hospital until I was no longer able to concentrate on anything during contractions. They were strong, but far apart. I arrived at the hospital at 1:30pm and was 5cm, and gave birth at 3:17pm in the birthing tub after I had my midwife break the water - I was already dilated to 10 but didn't feel ready to push until she did that.

With my second, I labored at home and had hubby time my contractions. I took a nice bath and called my midwife and she advised me to come in soon. I arrived at 9:20am and was 8cm, DD was born at 9:42am and water broke as I pushed her out. There is absolutely no way to know 'when' to get to the hospital unless you are just really focusing on your body and not freaking out, in my opinion. I think you'll be just fine. :)

[saoirse2007]

I used this sight for my second

http://www.contractionmaster.com/

It helped me to know when I was really ready to go...dd was born less than an hour after we got to the hosp.

I was induced with #1 and he was sooo not ready to come out yet...the contraction master helped me

[CeceStar]

I've always headed into the hospital when I couldn't walk or talk during the contractions.  Usually at that point, I'd be around 4-6cm dilated, definitely in active labor. And I've always had very quick transitions, so once I'm in active labor it's only an hour or two until the babe is born.

My first and second labor were both around 8 hours, and my third baby was about 6 hours.  I arrived at the hospital at 9am, 5 cm dilated, and he was born at 10:30am in the hospital bathtub, as my birthing tub only had about 10 inches of water in it!  I'm planning a home birth this time, and I'm looking forward to not worrying about when to go in.

[emmaegbert]

Both of my births were midwife assisted- the first in a hospital-based birth center, the second at home. The first I waited until I really couldn't talk or do anything through my contractions, and left for the hospital. They told me I might want to go home b/c they assumed, I guess, that it would take a long time. I was 4cm dilated. Less than 4 hours later my son was born. I was free to move- I showered, walked around, but the final "pushing" (second stage) was about 20 minutes. I had 2 days of "false labor" beforehand and would call the midwife line and they'd talk to me about it. They said things like: if a warm bath and a cup of herbal tea makes contractions go away, don't come in, that is not labor. If you can sleep, do. They said rest as much as I can, eat regular, small, healthy meals, and sleep whenever possible (i/e when the contractions go away). I am glad I followed their advice or I would have been exhausted by the time real labor started (and probably would have thought, "I was in labor for over 2 days!")

My second was a planned homebirth. I could tell I was in labor, but it was very erratic. Then things got going and baby was born in under 3 hours (15 minutes after the MWs got there), and I only pushed 2 or 3 times.

Anyway, this will be #3 and we are planning a homebirth. I am glad I planned it with #2 b/c I am not sure we would have gotten to the birth center in time! (then again, I would likely have slowed down labor to be moving around).

I recommend giving Birthing From Within a read. I wish I had before my first. It is the only book I read that really described what my first labor was like. Even though its a little new-agey for my taste, I found the information in it much more helpful than other things I read.

My DH is extremely squeamish about blood- fainted when I had to have stitches in my hand. He was GREAT during both labors. Totally focused on me and not upset at all. Midwives all joke that its the dads who CLAIM they won't have a problem that are the fainters.

[Leiahs]

My first was my "longest", at 9 hours from start to finish.  I went to the hospital when I couldn't walk/talk through contractions anymore, was a 6, and spent 2-2.5 more hours there before DD was born.

My second labor was marginally shorter, at about 8 hours.  I left for the hospital when contractions were 5-6 min apart, and I had to brace myself and stop walking between during contractions.  We had a longer drive to the hospital, 45 minutes.  I was having contractions 5 min apart in the car (ugh, nightmare!).  At the hospital, I was a 5, but my water broke about then, and DS was born 45 minutes later.

My third labor was my homebirth, and only about 7.5 hours from start to finish. If I had waited to leave at the same point as the others, it would have been very quick at the hospital, I think.  Of course, I stayed upright the entire time, which might have sped things up.  I called the midwives to come when I reached the point of *almost* needing to stop everything during contractions (which is a little earlier than when I would have thought about leaving for a hospital).  Midwives only took about 25 min to show up, and I was already a 7 by that time, thinking I was maybe 4-5, based on how I was feeling.  It was only, again, about 45 minutes or so later that DS was born.  So for me, it seems like once I hit transition, I go fast. 

I think most people, unless they have a history of fast labors, are probably safe with the idea of waiting to go until you get really serious and turned inward during contractions.  Although I did just read a birth story where the mom had her baby in the parking garage because she didn't realize she was hitting that point, and things went *very* fast when she did.  ;)

[AKislandgirl]

I'm glad you asked this Steph as I have been wondering the same thing. Labor with my first was natural and unmedicated but it was sooo long. 40 hours. I'm praying things are shorter this time around. I wasn't mentally prepared for the length of labor but will be this time. As DH's friend pointed out, "Holy Crap that's a full work week." yeah.

[nicolian]

First labor - 5 hours from first 'real' contraction. About 9 from when my water broke. I left for the hospital when my contractions were about 3 minutes apart and I couldn't talk or walk through them. The car ride was hell.

Second labor - My water was broken around 4 and he was born around 6:30, so about 2.5 hour labor. I was already at the hospital.

[wendybird]

1st labor about 18 hours from start of contractions. 2nd- 3 day induction(so wasn't ready). 3rd-too medically managed to know how long it would have been. 4th- 20 hrs. 5th(1st naturally occurring) was 3 hrs. 6th-90 minutes(midwife was only here for 9 minutes until i delivered), 7th- 3hours. I am thankful I am going at home again because I would never make it to a hospital during labor, and I have no doubt a dr would induce me so I wouldn't have a car birth. By the time I feel like it is time to go I am usually about to push.

[purplerose]

My first was induced...started the process at 6am, was feeling pain at 8 and she was born by 12. So less than 6 hours.

With my second I started labor on my own, woke up around 7am leaking and by the time we got to the hosp I was 7cm, they did break my water so that probably sped things up but she was born by 1pm, so there's about 6 hours.

My third was unassisted homebirth, woke up at 6am exactly with a very painful contraction, she was born almost 12 full hours later. It seems she may have been turned the wrong way or something because it was pretty hard to have her, even pushing did not feel good. I never had back labor but I do think she was facing the wrong way. I'd have to ask dh as he was the one paying attention to all that.

I'm hoping this time goes like it did with my second one, short and sweet, and since I'm having a homebirth(midwife assisted this time) it wouldn't be as painful bc I can walk and get into positions I want and no one digging around in my vagina.

I have a friend whose #1 was born in less than an hour after starting labor, #2 was induced, and #3 was born 30 minutes after she woke up in labor!! I know we all dream of short labors but to me, that's too short to handle. She had what seemed like ptsd after #3.

[theboysmama]

I think it is really hard to know how things will go because each woman and each labor is completely different.

All of my full term babies (4) were natural, unmedicated, uninduced, planned home water births, and hypnobirths.

baby1- 7  1/2 hrs from the first twingy feeling till the birth. Dh called the midwife when I was pushing after just 3 hrs. Ds had his hand wrapped around his head so we ended up transferring to the hospital via ambulance and he was delivered with a vacuum suction.

baby2- 2 1/2 hrs from the first twingy feeling till the birth. Water broke about 1 1/2 or so hours into it and I hadn't even realized I was in labor. Midwife showed up 15 min. before he was born with only 2 pushes.

baby3- 5 1/2 hrs from the first twingy feeling. I called everyone right away as my 2nd had been so quick. I pushed a little over an hour before he was born.

baby4- 5 1/2 hrs from the first twingy feeling . I didn't call everyone right away this time. I actually had contractions that I could time. It was the first birth where I was able to time them. It finally made since what people were talking about. lol. When the break between contractions was shorter than the contractions I called the midwife. I pushed a little over an hour before she was born.

I can talk through my contractions and actually am a chatty kathy right through my births. Waiting until I can't move or can't talk wouldn't work for me. Timing contractions also doesn't work as in 3 out of my 4 labors it was just a steady diareah crampy feeling until all of sudden I was in transition and then pushing.

I am glad I don't have to go somewhere, not sure I would make it.

[sunanthem]

I had 2 homebirths before. The first was 24 hours start to finish, the second was 7 hours, expecting this next one to be super short and fast!

[Amy May]

Steph- this is my first, so I'm not speaking from experience, but I wanted to make a friendly suggestion to you!  Have you considered hiring a doula this time?  They can help you distinguish between prodromal labor (early warm-up labor) and true labor, and can help you assess when to go to the hospital.  More importantly, they support both you and your partner during labor.  Sometimes partners have no idea how to support and be helpful, and can kind of freak out when seeing the woman they love laboring.  The role of the doula is to support and empower both partners, and also guide the partner in how to support the laboring woman.  One study found that doulas were actually more effective in providing pain relief than epidurals (obviously this is somewhat subjective), but their job is to help you labor into positions (upright, mobile etc) so that the baby can get into the right position.  For any woman interested in having an unmedicated birth (without pitocin or an epidural), my personal opinion is that a doula is an invaluable resource.  I'm obviously totally biased here, because I'm a doula and aspiring midwife, but I believe you might really benefit from having a labor assistant!  Just something to consider!

[ldsmom06]

My 1st was a scheduled c/s due to being breech

My 2nd was 23 hours of labor at 39 weeks(VBAC) with text book contractions

My 3rd was 1hr 40 min from my 1st contraction, it didn't even feel like contractions just stabbing knife pain down my legs at 37 weeks(2nd VBAC).  I delivered her in Triage.  

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by Amy May 

Steph- this is my first, so I'm not speaking from experience, but I wanted to make a friendly suggestion to you!  Have you considered hiring a doula this time?  They can help you distinguish between prodromal labor (early warm-up labor) and true labor, and can help you assess when to go to the hospital.  More importantly, they support both you and your partner during labor.  Sometimes partners have no idea how to support and be helpful, and can kind of freak out when seeing the woman they love laboring.  The role of the doula is to support and empower both partners, and also guide the partner in how to support the laboring woman.  One study found that doulas were actually more effective in providing pain relief than epidurals (obviously this is somewhat subjective), but their job is to help you labor into positions (upright, mobile etc) so that the baby can get into the right position.  For any woman interested in having an unmedicated birth (without pitocin or an epidural), my personal opinion is that a doula is an invaluable resource.  I'm obviously totally biased here, because I'm a doula and aspiring midwife, but I believe you might really benefit from having a labor assistant!  Just something to consider!

Thanks! I have considered it and am looking into possibilities here With my ds the nurses at the hospital took pity on me (I was basically alone as ex wanted nothing to do with it so wasn't there the majority of the time I was in labor) and they sent in the hospital doula for a few hours. She was a huge help when I felt like I was all alone. If she could have been with me the whole time, I don't think I ever would have gotten the epidural. I still have to talk to dh about it and figure out what my options are here, but it is something I'm strongly considering!
 

[Shonahsmom]

Both my births were unmedicated.

#1, 8 hours

#2, 29 hours

Sent from my Droid

[hjdmom24]

1st-6hours from water breaking (and first contraction) to birth

2nd- induced with a cervical gel..no pit- 8 hours from 1st contraction to birth

3rd-12 hours from 1st contraction to birth

4th- 18hours from first contraction to birth

So as you can see for me they just keep getting longer :/  With the first 3 I had only had nubain and was tied to the bed with a monitor,,the fourth was all natural. I'm hoping this one gets the memo that it is supposed to come quickly being my 5th and only takes and hour or two!!

[Amy May]

Steph- awesome to hear.  Another thing to keep in mind is that new doulas need to attend a certain number of births in order to get certified.  They're still professional doulas in every sense, but still working on certification.  Some are willing to assist at labors for free, and others for a tiny fraction of what a doula would usually charge.  Just another thing to keep in mind as you're considering!
 

Originally Posted by StephandOwen 

Thanks! I have considered it and am looking into possibilities here With my ds the nurses at the hospital took pity on me (I was basically alone as ex wanted nothing to do with it so wasn't there the majority of the time I was in labor) and they sent in the hospital doula for a few hours. She was a huge help when I felt like I was all alone. If she could have been with me the whole time, I don't think I ever would have gotten the epidural. I still have to talk to dh about it and figure out what my options are here, but it is something I'm strongly considering!
 

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by Amy May 

Steph- awesome to hear.  Another thing to keep in mind is that new doulas need to attend a certain number of births in order to get certified.  They're still professional doulas in every sense, but still working on certification.  Some are willing to assist at labors for free, and others for a tiny fraction of what a doula would usually charge.  Just another thing to keep in mind as you're considering!
 

Great to hear!

I do want to add though that I know my dh will be totally helpful in any way he can be. Except when it comes to blood or other fluids But if I give him a specific list of things to do, he'll do them all without complaints. I think that's where a doula will come in handy- they can tell him exactly what to do and he'll willingly do it. But as much as he wants to do the right thing, as soon as things start, his brain will completely shut down and he'll forget everything we discussed before that. LOL!

[bethanyclaire]

Didn't read responses yet, just wanted to share my experience...

DS1 - Labor was almost exactly 48 hours (like almost to the minute) and 2 hours of pushing. (Hospital birth with pitocin, epidural and all the crap)

DD - Labor was 24 hours almost exactly, so half the time, from first contraction to birth. Pushed for 20ish minutes (natural birth but in the hospital)

DS2 - Labor was almost exactly 12 hours (I seem to like to go with the almost exact timing thing, I guess, lol!), he was born in 3 or 4 pushes (born at home)

So, my labors have been shorter by exactly half every time. :)