Labours.

My daughter was born at 38 weeks 2 days. Got my first contraction type feeling at 10am but wasnt getting regular 'painful' contractions until about 10pm when they were 5 mins apart. She was born at 11.59pm.

Wish I knew the answer to the third question! Thats what I want to know! Hoping for the same..

Hopefully we both get what we want then! My midwife said its quite likely to have a faster birth second time so that would be nice!

my son was born at 41+1 and was a 43 hour labour with lots of intervention.

my daughter was born at 39 weeks according to the scan but my midwife said she "looked overcooked" lol.
that labour was only 6 hours with no pain relief whatsoever, only just made it to hospital.
for my next i would definitely have a water birth again, but this time at home.

Gabrielle was born at 34 weeks 1 day.

Officially my labour was 4 hours, 1 hr 45 mins of that was pushing. However, my waters broke on the Friday night at 10.15pm but I didn't go in to established labour till 10.30pm on the Saturday night. My labour was very monitored given that Gabrielle was early due to my waters breaking and she got stuck as she was face up with the cord wrapped around her neck, shoulders and between her legs - that's why it took me so long to push her out!

Maya I thought my 8 mins of pushing was good!

#1 22 hours from first Ouchy ache to finish. Waters broken for me. 6lb 8oz. I think 38/6?? Had really regular BH's for at least 2 days before that.

#2 5 hours from waters breaking to finish. 6lb 11oz bang on 39 weeks & a complete surprise as I felt nothing leading up.

So yep definitely faster. #2 was unexpected as I thought that #1 was cooked & we had guessed dates so expected to go OD

ETA: #1 labour very easy to deal with pain wise as was quite rhythmic, #2 hurt like buggery as each contraction was on top of the other. Also 2 very different birth positions.

Edited by Aliasmum

My first birth was horrible but the 2nd was good. I was induced both times due to labour not progressing after my waters broke.

With my son i was 2 days overdue and my waters broke at 2am then was induced with the drip at 8am the following morning. He was born 12 hours later. I had an epidural with him. The ventouse was used as i had been pushing for 1hr 45m and was exhausted. I lost 2 litres of blood, tore twice and had awful vomiting just after he was born. He was 9lb 11oz and had his hand beside his face. So he was 3 days over by the time he was born.

With my daughter it was 3 days before my due date and my waters broke at 9am then i was induced with the drip at 10am the following day. She was born 5 hours later. Established labour was 3.5hrs. Pushing was only 15mins. I managed with just the gas. It got pretty intense at one stage but i just made myself focus. I had no complications, only a couple of grazes. She was 8lb 1oz. So she ended up being 2 days early.

I was so worried that i'd have another bad experience but it turned out so well.

Oops a bit of a novel. lol. Just wanted to explain how different they were.

I can't remember actual times but second time round it was a lot faster and more intense, with a shorter pushing time. She also came a few days earlier than Jack and was bigger.

#1 40 hour labour at 39+3 weeks, hour of pushing, horrid birthing experience
#2 12 hour labour at 39+3 weeks, 12 mins pushing, drug free birth standing in the shower (highly recommend it!!!) fantastic birth experience!
#3 HOPING for a home water birth, although will wait and see, will let you know how it weighs up!!!

I went into labour with number 1 in a very naive state of mind, whereas with number 2 i was alot more prepared and determined, which I think made a world of difference

How long was your first?

6 hours from first contractions to birth.

How late or early were you?

8 days early

Were subsequent labours the same or different?

Unfortunately I found out it was a myth that second labours are easier! My first was a textbook, gas only VB, no tears or stitches and I was up and in the shower 1/2 hour afterwards.

Second baby was 3 days overdue, not that much really but seems like a lot when your first was 8 days early! Again I had a fast labour but E got stuck and I ended up with failed forceps and an emergency c-section - completely different to my first birth. My second baby was a 9-pounder though (probably why she got stuck), my first was 7p6oz.

My first  and only labour was 19 3/4 hrs, my first contration started at 4am it was quite intense and every 5 mins apart, gave birth at 11.40 pm.

I was 11 days early, and she was prosterior at 8 lbs 8oz , I used gas and the birthing pool as pain relief, managed to push her out without assistance and didn't need stitches.