Hellobee Boards Topic: How long did you labour at home with your first?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How long did you labour at home with your first? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:12:07 +0000 AprilFool on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first/page/2#post-2644164 Fri, 28 Oct 2016 06:42:49 +0000 AprilFool 2644164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Went into labour about 6/6:30 pm and left for the hospital around 2:30am. I was a 5 when we got there and DD was born 5 hours later with 2 hours of pushing. birdofafeather on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first/page/2#post-2644131 Fri, 28 Oct 2016 01:26:51 +0000 birdofafeather 2644131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @MrsB2012: whoa!! Very similar FTM stories!! birdofafeather on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644129 Fri, 28 Oct 2016 01:26:01 +0000 birdofafeather 2644129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Water broke at 830 am, went for a long walk to breakfast and back home. Labored at home til I threw up and said, we gotta go, around 1230/1. Checked at hospital and was 9cm. Baby born at 3:15 pm. MrsB2012 on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644103 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 22:24:20 +0000 MrsB2012 2644103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My water broke at 8am, but contractions didn't start until about 9/930am. We got to the hospital by about 11am and baby was born before 2pm. It was quicker than usual for a first time birth, but I think the judgement was the same as any birth. I went to the hospital when things started to really hurt haha. avivoca on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644097 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 22:04:10 +0000 avivoca 2644097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ With DD1, contractions started at about 5:30 pm and we went to the hospital at 4:00 am the next morning. So, about 10 or so hours. Labor was 15 hours long. With DD2, Contractions started at 12:30 pm and we went to the hospital at 5:30 am the next morning. Labor stalled at about midnight and I took a nap, but it moved quickly once Inwas at the hospital. 22 hours in all. winter_wonder on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644095 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 22:03:30 +0000 winter_wonder 2644095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Labored at home from 2 am to 11 am. It seemed like it took awhile to get epi. I had to have some fluids first and then wait like 30 minutes. I remember feeling SO done by the time I got it. cascademom on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644090 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:58:07 +0000 cascademom 2644090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Goldengirl: The nurses put in a shunt or something like, so they can quickly hook you up to meds. It's a small needle with a plastic opening that they tape to your hand. Goldengirl on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644083 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:45:20 +0000 Goldengirl 2644083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @cascademom: Sorry, what do you mean getting your hand prepped? MrsSCB on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644078 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:35:22 +0000 MrsSCB 2644078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not long. I started having contractions at about 3 am. Decided to try to get more sleep and woke up at 5 am with much more intense contractions. Headed to the hospital at 5:45, though I was really afraid of getting sent home. When I got there, I was 3cm and contractions were three minutes apart. I was admitted, got an epi and baby arrived at 1:47 pm! cascademom on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644075 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:29:42 +0000 cascademom 2644075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO #1, I labored at home for about 5-6 hours. I came home from work and felt off. The contractions ramped up from there. I got an epidural about 2-3 hours after I was admitted. The key to getting your epi early is to have your hand prepped in triage for it. From there, it's quicker for them to get it started when the time comes. LO #2: I labored at home about the same time as my first. I woke up like a normal day, but felt off. We went to do something with our toddler. At that event, I labored through contractions. We left early. On the phone with the doctor, she told me to get my childcare in order and then come to the hospital. By the time I got there, the contractions were bad. It took awhile to get my epi because of a blood test. After that, they let me alone to labor 4 hours for the GBS meds. LO #2 already kicked out the bag of waters and was ready to go. He was delivered soon after the 4 hour mark. Corduroy on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644073 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:25:40 +0000 Corduroy 2644073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Goldengirl: Yes, I couldn't wrap my head around the difference and I was in total denial with #2. I knew baby was on his way all day I was only having time-able "sensations" and not even a hint of pain... until it all came on at once. Even when I got to the hospital I didn't believe I was going to be admitted, I thought I was a 3 or 4 at most based on the first round. I was waiting for an update on how dilated I was when the doctor said "push." Goldengirl on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644070 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:13:38 +0000 Goldengirl 2644070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Corduroy: Omg! Such different experiences :) Corduroy on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644068 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 21:12:28 +0000 Corduroy 2644068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ With LO1 I went to the hospital after 30 hours and was sent home and was admitted after 40-something. With #2 I labored at home for about 3 minutes and was 10cm when I arrived. Alba4 on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2644055 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 20:52:29 +0000 Alba4 2644055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For #1, I labored at home for about 4 hours. I went to the hospital once I was puking and my contractions got super intense. Then I labored another 4 hours at the hospital. I didn't have/need an epidural with #1. For #2, I didn't labor at home at all. I was already dialated 5 cm when I went to my 38 week appointment. They sent me to the hospital @11 am, but I wasn't admitted until @4 pm. Labor didn't start until they broke my water @ 8 pm. I got an epidural @ 2:30 AM when I was 8 cm dilated.. Delivered an hour later. Goldengirl on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643443 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 12:10:17 +0000 Goldengirl 2643443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Thanks for all the stories! Seems like majority definitely took awhile. I'm really hoping not to rush to the hospital like a madwoman but also realize I'll probably be freaking out and nervous about waiting too long... hopefully my body will tell me what to do. It is so strange waiting/planning for something that you just have no idea what it will be like or feel like. Maysprout on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643140 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 08:41:01 +0000 Maysprout 2643140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ About 25 hours. They started very mild about 10 min apart. By the afternoon they were often like 4 min apart but still fairly mild. I might have to stop and breathe for a few seconds but I could feel them getting closer and stronger. I wasn't quite sure what would be the signal to go in. I lost my MP like 16 hours after contractions started and they were ramping up. I had to pace and didn't feel comfortable sitting down. Around 3 am or so I tried to get some rest and my water broke. Contractions started coming very strong then. I got to the hospital at 6 cm and it was still 12 hrs before she was born. catlady on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643127 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 08:32:24 +0000 catlady 2643127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I pretty much didn't. My water broke in the morning and when I called, they told me to come into L&D to get checked out and that if labor wasn't progressing, they'd send me home for awhile. I took about an hour to get ready and felt only minimal contractions the whole time, and then as soon as we got in the car, it seemed like they started coming fast and painfully. By the time we checked into L&D (less than 30 min later), they were already every 5 min apart, so I just stayed. I got stuck in triage for a long time (I think 4 or 5 hrs) and when they finally opened up a room for me, they checked and said I was a 4 and it would be a good time to get an epi if I wanted one. I hadn't been planning on the epi but all that time in triage sucked (you can't really move, don't have access to birthing balls and tub and all the stuff I counted on) so I told them I wanted the epi at that point. They checked me again about an hour after it kicked in and I was a 10 and ready to push. I have no idea if I would have been able to get the epi if I had waited but I'm glad I did it when they first offered. Anagram on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643102 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 08:09:51 +0000 Anagram 2643102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Goldengirl: not long enough, is the short answer. Afterward, I knew I should have waited longer at home. Long version: I was in early labor the night before but didn't really realize till 11 pm. I SHOULD have taken a dang Tylenol pm and gone to bed, but I was so excited and anxious I couldn't sleep. By 4 am, I was in very early "real" labor with timeable (but not super painful) contractions, so I took a shower, dried and straightened my hair, added some things to our hospital bags, and then woke up my husband. At 7 am, the contraction were more painful and (being a ftm and not having a clue what I was in for), I thought I was maybe halfway there (ha. ha.), so we woke up my mom and told her we were going to the hospital at 8am. I did not deliver until after 12 am that night. =( And unfortunately, after I was at the hospital, they had me laying in bed on my back hooked up to monitors and that SUCKED and I'm pretty sure stalled my labor. I should have been up walking around. And laying on your back during contractions is way more painful, too. I vowed to wait at home much longer the next time. However, with #2, I didn't get the chance because the whole labor was only 2 hours from start to finish and I barely made it to the hospital. lilyofthewest on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643095 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 08:06:03 +0000 lilyofthewest 2643095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I birthed at home, so, the whole time. But, I called the midwives to come to me about 20 hours from the time I was pretty sure I was in labor. At that point I'd been having contractions that were consistent, lengthening and strengthening for about 8 hours and I was having transition-like symptoms. I had another 21 hours of labor yet to go :shocked: Smurfette on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643091 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 07:58:59 +0000 Smurfette 2643091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Water broke at like 9pm, and we left for the hospital around 10pm, since the doctor on call told us to just come right in. I was almost 3cm when we got there. Around 3-4am, I got the epidural cause I was shaking and freezing so bad, I was maybe 5cm then. chibee on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643073 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 06:41:03 +0000 chibee 2643073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I realized I was definitely having contractions around 5:30pm, headed to the hospital around 11pm. It wasn't terrible at that time but I asked for the epidural right away (I might have asked the ER receptionist and got "honey, you have to ask the doctors ok?") I was afraid it would progress fast and I wouldn't have time! I actually didn't get it until 2:30am because there was an emergency, and I was starting to get REAL uncomfortable at that time so I was super grateful for it! hilsy85 on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643071 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 06:34:34 +0000 hilsy85 2643071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ With #1 was at home from 5am (when my water broke) til 8:30am. Got the epidural at 11:30am--ish, and had the baby at 2pm MrsKoala on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643070 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 06:28:24 +0000 MrsKoala 2643070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My contractions with my first started at 9:30 am and I worked a full day and went home. I didn't go to the hospital until my contractions were unbearable and 2 minutes apart/1 minute long at about 8:45 pm. I got to the hospital at 9:15, asked for an epidural right away, got it at 10:15, was complete and ready to push at 11. I labored down for a little bit and my son was here by 11:55. looch on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643067 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 06:18:23 +0000 looch 2643067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I labored at home for about 5 hours and I did miss the epidural window completely. My contractions were too close to even consider it by the time we got to the hospital. matador84 on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643051 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 05:24:27 +0000 matador84 2643051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ With 1-as soon as my water broke I went to the hospital 2-wasn't sure if I was in labor until I was on the floor having contractions. Went to hospital about 10 mins later. SweetCaroline on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643047 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 05:11:46 +0000 SweetCaroline 2643047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I labored at home for 28 hours before going to the hospital. They eventually started me on Pitocin and I was there another 20 hours before birth. LCTBQE on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643044 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 04:31:52 +0000 LCTBQE 2643044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ same as you, I was nervous about missing the epidural window! I labored at home for 11 hours--contractions started super slow, far apart, menstrual crampy, and picked up after 5 hours and got intense. I did not wait for the 5-1-1 rule as instructed and I'm really glad I didn't. when we left for the hospital they were 10 minutes apart (but 2 minutes long and unbearable), by the time we got there, they had jumped and were only 2 minutes apart. I was 4cm upon admission and they ordered the epidural immediately, it was placed in less than an hour, and by then I was 6cm. Had the baby a total of 17 hours after labor first began. BUT, I know several women whose first-time labors went in under 5 hours beginning to end, so trust yourself :heart: :goodluck: Ms. RV on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643043 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 04:31:46 +0000 Ms. RV 2643043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I labored at home for six hours and in the hospital for 21. I got my epidural as soon as I was able because I wasn't dilating but my contractions were three minutes apart. Something about the epidural and being able to sleep helped me dilate. Kemma on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643040 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 03:16:08 +0000 Kemma 2643040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My waters broke at 0530 on Monday morning, we went to the hospital at around 2200 and 5cm dilated, labour stalled so I got an epi and pitocin at around 0230 but baby didn't arrive for another twelve hours. lamariniere on "How long did you labour at home with your first?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-did-you-labour-at-home-with-your-first#post-2643038 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 02:10:24 +0000 lamariniere 2643038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I didn't labor at home at all either time. My water broke spontaneously both times with no contractions so I went in within an hour or two of water breaking. As for the epi, when my contractions started the first time, they were fast and furious, none of this every 4-5 minutes stuff. I asked for the epi pretty much as soon as they started. I was already 7 cm when they administered it. (And for my second, I asked for the epi right away but it was already too late when the anesthesiologist arrived).