https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 07:40:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2520352 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 08:10:11 +0000 misolee 2520352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote crapshoot. 😉 My entire second pregnancy my midwives and OB was telling me that it will be similar to my first pattern but well they couldn't have been more wrong. </p> <p>Lo1: induced at 41 +1 with pitocin bc she didn't want to come out. With pitocin, steadily and slowly progressed over a 24 hour period. Water had to be broken after epidural. Got to 9cm and it was stuck there for 4 hours and ended with a csection where doctors informed me she was sunny side up. </p> <p>Lo2: went to my 38 week appt where I was barely dilated and midwife told me that I was similar in my pattern with my first and to go ahead and schedule an earlier repeat csec date (I wanted to have a vbac). That night, contractions started at 2ish, got to hospital at 3am where my water broke as I was walking in, and baby was born in the next hour. So super fast that it was too late for an epidural. </p> <p>I want to mention that I also did nothing special or different with my second pregnancy. The most I did was Google "ways to have a successful vbac" but didn't get around to doing anything 😉 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2520344 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 07:53:31 +0000 Mrs D 2520344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First labor I started having contractions after an intense membrane stripping (12hrs later) at 40w2d. Labored at home/on the way for 3 hours and at the hospital for 6 hours. They broke my water at 8cm...2 hours later I started pushing. I had her out in a few contractions...maybe 10-15 mins of pushing.</p> <p>Dd2 I was induced (no membrane stripping this time) at 39w5d. Pitocin started at 9am, epidural at 1:30pm after getting to 11 on the pitocin strength. Water broken at 2:45 (5cm). Started pushing at 3:30pm DD2 was out in 3 pushes...like one contraction.</p> <p>Similarities: started labor at 3-4cm and 75% effaced. Both girls were similar sized. I had a 2nd degree tear with both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2520339 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 07:37:52 +0000 matador84 2520339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke first with my first child, and then I immediately started to have contractions. I had contractions first and then my water broke with my second.</p> <p>I went 40 weeks with my first and was a little over 36 weeks with my second.</p> <p>First labor was 3 hours, 2nd was less than 20 minutes.</p> <p>First vacuum delivery and episiotomy, major tearing. Second minimal tearing.</p> <p>First hospital birth and second was not a hospital birth, LOL. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2520086 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 16:28:17 +0000 SunriseMama 2520086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First labor: Water broke at 37 weeks, and my son was born 12 hours later after 2 hours of pushing.<br /> Second labor: Water broke at 39+1, and my daughter was born 2.5 hours later after 5 minutes of pushing. I was officially admitted to the hospital just 10 minutes before her birth! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2520034 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:36:39 +0000 Pumuckl 2520034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: well semi. My overall time in labor with my second was longer but the "effective" and painful part was only 20 minutes long the second time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519785 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 12:28:11 +0000 Cole 2519785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless I misread somewhere so far every persons second labor was shorter than the first! :shocked: I have only had one so far and it was pretty quick so I am curious to see how the next one goes. </p> <p>Did anyone have a longer second/third etc labor than first? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519719 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:31:45 +0000 kodybear 2519719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>they started differently but it was kind of similar towards the end (faster for #2 of course!)</p> <p>lo1 - water broke in the early morning, contractions started soon after, 4cm dilated and i got my epi, and contractions continued until i delivered in the early afternoon</p> <p>lo2 - started feeling light contractions during dinner, they were pretty consistent throughout the evening (altho 10 min apart). since i knew i was 4-5 cm dilated already i went in to get checked. they could see contractions every 2-3 min but weren't super strong. i walked around the hospital for an hour and they started to pick up. got to 7cm before i got my epi. an hour or two later they broke my water and i delivered 45 min after that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519534 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 09:11:41 +0000 Anagram 2519534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sslm: no, totally different. First labor started with contractions that slowly increased and I was in labor continuously for about 27-28 hours before I had LO. I was in intense pain by the time I was only 3 cm dilated. Got an epi when I was only 3.5 or 4 cm dilated because I'd already been in labor so long and my contractions were right on top of each other, but I wasn't dilating.</p> <p>labor 2: I had prodromal labor for an entire week (real, legit contractions on and off that would just peter out and go away). I was 3.5 cm at my last doctor's appoint. One morning at work, I noticed some contractions again but thought it was more prodromal labor. Husband panicked since I was an hour away from home at work and convinced me to go home (we were texting). On my drive home, my labor kicked into gear and by the time I got to my house, I could hardly walk or talk. DH got home at the same time and drove me .75 of a mile to our hospital. I had the baby 20 minutes after arriving in the hospital and 10 minutes after getting to the maternity ward. I think I was basically in transition in the car and while they checked my in downstairs in the ER-by the time I was upstairs in the labor ward, I was ready to push. They didn't have time to get a room ready for me, so they just wheeled me straight to an operating room that already had the baby equipment. My water never broke, so (unfortunately), the hospital OB broke my waters as I was pushing. Otherwise, I think LO would have been born en caul, which would have been cool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519306 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 00:53:54 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2519306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They started the same way - regular contractions pretty much as soon as they started. The biggest difference was an unplanned c-section for Charlie on his due date, and an unplanned VBAC with Olive 5 weeks early.</p> <p>Everything went opposite than my plan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519303 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 00:49:36 +0000 anonysquire 2519303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1- water broke at 6pm, no contractions til the next day at like noon, labored and had baby at 11?</p> <p>2- contractions started at 5am and continued all day and water broke that afternoon and then broke 500 more times and had baby at 11. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519288 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 23:48:35 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2519288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD- Over two days from first contractions, first contractions overnight, slow down speed up slow down speed up etc, back labor almost 100%, water broke while pushing.</p> <p>DS- 15ish hours from first contractions? first contractions overnight, woke up at 3am and regular by 6 or 7, epidural didn't work quite as perfectly but it worked when I was on one side and for pushing, water broken by dr, meconium.</p> <p>I thought DS' birth was pretty ideal. DD's was tough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519272 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 22:47:30 +0000 Finfan 2519272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First was an easy vaginal birth with a great epidural! </p> <p>Second was bad from the start and that ended in an ermergency C-section. Still recovering physically from it 5 months later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519270 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 22:43:05 +0000 Corduroy 2519270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Similarities: both times I knew labor was coming about 8 hours before I felt contractions. I just felt off. I wanted to be on hands and knees for labor and delivery. I was hungry and ate a ton in labor. </p> <p>Differences: Labor 1 came on intense and lasted 51 hours. Labor 2 was barely noticeable at first. It didn't hurt at all until contractions were 2 min apart. Active labor was under 2 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519260 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 22:21:01 +0000 MrsB2012 2519260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They were pretty different :)</p> <p>#1 my water broke first ( 37w5d ) at 8am. Contractions started pretty stong about an hour later. I pushed for 45 minutes. Total labour was 5 hours and 50 mins. It wasn't as 'painful' more pressure once I was pushing. I had to have someone tell me when to push as I had a hard time feeling the contractions. </p> <p>#2 I had off/on light contractions starting in the morning. Wasn't sure if it was the real deal or not as they were inconsistant. Contractions became steady and regular around 2pm. They were very painful and regular right off the bat then. I pushed for 10 minutes and total labour time ( from timeable contractions ) was 3 hours and 25 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519140 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 19:54:40 +0000 hilsy85 2519140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine were pretty similar, but started differently--LO1 started with water breaking, and contractions started maybe 3 hours later. Went very smoothly and I dilated a lot once epi was placed. Pushing was 20 min. 9 hours total.</p> <p>LO2 started with contractions that got gradually more intense, and then my OB broke my water at 7cm. Epi again helped things progress, and I pushed for 9 minutes. 7 hours total. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519124 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 19:41:19 +0000 pinkb 2519124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very similar. First 36 weeks exactly. Labor started in the evening, birth around 3 am after 20 minutes of pushing. Dilation was steady up to 8 cm, broke my water and ready within 30 minutes.<br /> Second (40 weeks exactly) labor started in the evening birth around 5 am I think, after less than 15 minutes pushing. They made me wait till I could feel / move my legs before I could push even though I was ready at 3 am. 2nd was more painful but also larger baby. 9.8 vs 6.4lbs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519104 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 19:19:57 +0000 Maysprout 2519104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First- slow contractions that got stronger over 25 hours, went to hospital when water started leaking. Labored for another 12 hours at hospital. </p> <p>Second - ready to go to hospital an hour after contractions started. Water started leaking after I got there. Labored for 6 hrs at hospital. </p> <p>Both - despite time diff arrived at hospital 6-7 cm and fully effaced. Pushed a few times, 2nd degree tear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519099 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 19:17:39 +0000 Charm54 2519099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They could not have been more different </p> <p>Dd1 was a week early<br /> Dd2 was 3 days late</p> <p>I was in labour for 28 hours with dd1, 3 for dd2</p> <p>The epi after 24 hours was my lifesaver for dd1. No time for any pain meds with dd2</p> <p>They broke my water for dd1, my water broke all over the dr for dd2 haha</p> <p>I pushed for 3 hours for dd1 before a vacuum assist<br /> I pushed for maybe 15 seconds with dd2...the dr barely made it into the room in time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2519093 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 19:13:25 +0000 Canoli 2519093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My second labor was much much faster.</p> <p>With my first my water broke around 12am and he wasn't born until 4:12pm the next day. I had an epidural with him and several failed vacuum attempts that resulted in an emergency c section.</p> <p>With my second contractions started around 6pm and were consistently 4 minutes apart, got to the hospital at 8pm, water broke at 10:20 pm, pushed a few times and he was born at 10:52pm and no time for an epidural. </p> <p>So 2 very different experiences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518816 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 16:08:08 +0000 fussygal 2518816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first, labor started slowly with some light contractions around 9pm when I lost my mucous plug. I was able to sleep a bit that night and they didn't really pick up until the next morning. We went into the hospital at 2pm and things really picked up around 4pm when my water broke. She was born at 8:25 after 40 mins of pushing. </p> <p>With my second, my water broke at 2pm and we were at the hospital by 3:30pm. Contractions didn't start until around 4:30 and they started to pick up around 8pm. I was only dilated to a 5 at 10:30pm, but was a 10 by 1:30am. I got the urge to push QUICKLY and had to hold the baby in for 4 or 5 contractions so the doctor could make it there on time. I pushed the second she walked in the door and he literally came out with 1-2 tiny pushes at 1:54am!</p> <p>I think the pattern of both labors was similar, just more accelerated the second time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518787 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 15:55:58 +0000 Foodnerd81 2518787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess similar except that the second was on extreme fast forward. </p> <p>First: woke up at 6:30 am with mild contractions. Very gradually intensified thoughout the day, I'd say active labor didn't start until that night, had her the next morning. 25 hours from first contraction to birth. Water broke in the hospital a couple hours before she was born. Born one day before due date. </p> <p>Second: I had been having contractions every night leading up to it, so they started again around 7 and I did my usual rest and drink lots of water. Started getting a bit more intense so I thought it could be real. Said goodnight to toddler and told her I might be having the baby that night. Contractions got way more intense very quickly, had baby about 3.5 hours from when I thought it might be it. Water broke during pushing. Born at 40 weeks exactly. </p> <p>So yeah other than the speed it was fairly similar. I have a friend whose first birth was like yours and second was nothing like it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518754 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 15:35:44 +0000 sarac 2518754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was induced due to persistent low fluid with my first. It got too low after 41 weeks, she wasn't moving, no good. Not a problem with my second, and I went into labor on my own at 40+4. That one was an unmedicated water birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518727 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 15:17:48 +0000 Pumuckl 2518727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With LO1 labor started at 4/5am. I was 41+2w. Baby was out by 10am. I was a 5 at around 8am. Contractions were intense from the get go. No epi.</p> <p>With LO2 labor started at 11pm with mild contractions but they wouldn't let me sleep. I was 38+4w. I got to the hospital at 7am. At 1:10pm I was still only a 4. By 1:35pm my DD was born. No epi. </p> <p>So my labors were similar in the sense that they progressed quickly once a certain point was reached. I'm scared mindless on how fast a potential third labor would progress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518518 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 13:15:08 +0000 lamariniere 2518518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine started similar, both times my water broke with no contractions. I had an epi with LO1 and pushed for an hour. With LO2, labor was so fast (45 minutes) there was no time for an epi and I only pushed 3 times. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518473 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:56:48 +0000 LAZB 2518473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My labors were very similar. Started with my water breaking, no real contractions, and roughly the same time in labor and pushing. I'm hoping for the same this time, I've had easy labors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518469 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:54:13 +0000 sslm 2518469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: other than faster, were they similar? </p> <p>My first labor started with a bang, my water broke (no signs prior to that) and contractions were immediately really painful! Wondering if I can expect something similar or maybe I will actually have early stages of labor this time? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518466 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:53:34 +0000 Truth Bombs 2518466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first: Contractions came out of no where and were 4 minutes apart right from the start. It was about 12 hours from first contraction to baby out (about an hour and 45 minutes of that was pushing). Never needed any Pitocin or anything else to help labor along. Though getting my epidural did allow me to relax which had me start progressing more quickly than I had been.</p> <p>With my second: Water broke at 1am. Went to the hospital, I was still at 3cm which I had been for about a week, and my contractions weren't very regular or strong. My husband had stayed home with our 3 year old and planned to drop her off when day care opened at 6:30am and then come to the hospital, so I asked the hospital staff not to start Pitocin or anything else until my husband could get there, which they were fine with. So we started Pitocin around 7:30am. I had an epidural some time around noon. By 3pm I was only at a 5. I was having a really hard time. My epidural kept failing on my left side, and the baby kept having a lot of sleepy periods which meant they had to keep me on oxygen and couldn't increase the Pitocin. When the OB came in at 3 I pretty much had an emotional break down because I wasn't progressing and I was worried about the baby. She told me she would give me a C-section if I wanted one, but she didn't think we were there yet. As we were talking through the options, and waiting on anesthesia to come fix my failing epidural I was getting really agitated and uncomfortable. The doc decided she better check me one more time before she left the room, I was at a 9! They had to stop me from pushing so they could get extra nurses and everything they needed for me to deliver. I pushed about 3 times and he was delivered at 3:33pm (only 33 minutes after I had been checked and was at a 5).<br /> ETA: He came out with the cord around his neck twice which accounted for all those sleepy periods but it was loose enough that they could pull it over his head rather than cut it and he was totally fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518458 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:52:27 +0000 Anagram 2518458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>faster. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518455 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:49:55 +0000 Lilbear 2518455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1st LO - labor was 37 hours long with 45 minutes of pushing. Born at 41+2</p> <p>2nd LO - labor was 3.5 hours long with 7 minutes of pushing. Born at 39+4 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-were-your-subsequent-labors-different-from-your-first#post-2518413 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:35:29 +0000 sslm 2518413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lots of labor questions today :)</p> <p>Just curious if subsequent labors are typically similar to first labors, or is it really just a crap shoot (suspect the latter)?</p> <p>ETA: Not just time wise, but how did the labors start? How long did you push? What time of day? etc </p>