... did your labors get progressively shorter with each birth?
My first labor was 6 hours, which left me feeling like I wasn't able to really experience it (just so fast and intense). I understand it went so fast because of baby's position, so if this baby isn't in the same position, maybe it could be longer.
Would love to hear about your experiences!
grapefruit / 4455 posts
I didn't have unmedicated births, but with my first I did go through two days of unmedicated labor to get to 8cm, and with my second I went through 8-9 hours to get to 5 or so cm. So based on the unmediated part of labor yes it definitely sped up! I also read/heard somewhere (maybe on hb?) that the second usually happens quicker and the third is a toss up, lol.
nectarine / 2466 posts
I wasn't completely unmedicated, I had a small dose of fentanyl with both deliveries to help relax a little ( though never time it made any difference!) Anyways, my first delivery was 6 hours from water breaking ( 5 hours from contractions starting.) My second delivery was 4.5hours from sporadic contractions ( 3 hours from regular contractions.)
My second labor was much more intense, but I'm not sure if that has something to do with them breaking my water during the second labour ( I remember the intensity picking up immensely after they broke my water. Though that was also at the end, they broke my water and baby was born half hour later, so could have just been the situation.)
pomegranate / 3375 posts
@2littlepumpkins: Interesting!! And yes, maybe I should change it to labor that started spontaneously!!
pomegranate / 3375 posts
@MrsB2012: One my water broke, things got crazy ... I wonder if yours would have been born en caul!!
pear / 1961 posts
My labor with DD2 was 2.5h from first contraction to baby in my arms. I just had our third, a DS, and labor was about 6h from first contraction to baby in arms. Both were unmedicated, and for both my water didn't break until the doc did it right prior to me pushing.
Anecdotally, I've heard that second is generally faster than the first, but that a third can be longer or shorter than the second -- it's a toss up.
papaya / 10560 posts
My first L & D, my water broke right around midnight and I delivered right before 2 am.
My second L & D I started to feel sick around 11pm. I started having contractions about 1115 and then delivered right before midnight.
So for me, the two did get shorter, but I had two extremely precipitous births anyway! (It runs in my family).
grapefruit / 4717 posts
I had 2 unmedicated births. First was about 11 hours from the start of contractions to baby, and the second was about four hours from when I finally realized I was in labor to baby. Here are some links to their birth stories.
Baby boy (4.5 years old now): http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-pregnantbees-birth-story
Baby girl (almost 5 months now): http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/baby-pregnantbee-2s-birth-story
papaya / 10560 posts
@littlejoy: I know. I didn't make it to the hospital with my second. We've been really wanting more but I am scared to have a home birth and/or complications--I delivered my second unexpectedly at 36 weeks.
pomelo / 5258 posts
First was 51 hours, stuck in prodormal labor with back to back contractions. My second was 2 hours after knowing I was in labor for most of the day but feeling nothing but sensations until transition (I think). The maximum intensity was equal for me.
eggplant / 11287 posts
two of my three labors were unmedicated.
My first delivery was an induction with pitocin. I requested an epidural about 11 hours in. The entire process was 16 hours.
My second delivery was spontaneous. It was 6 hours from the moment of the first contraction until the time I had a baby in my arms.
My third delivery was also spontaneous. It was much more difficult than the others, though, as I had a life-threatening complication (placental abruption). I was in early labor for 24 hours, but time from active labor starting until baby in my arms was about 9 hours.
So....no. I thought my third would be a dream since my second was only 6 hours, but it was much harder. You just ever know with these things!
nectarine / 2994 posts
First was induction no epidural and that was 11 hours. Second was completely unmedicated and that was 4 hours from waking up with first contraction to baby in my arms.
pear / 1586 posts
@littlejoy: my three were unmedicated. First was eight hours, second was two hours and my third was three hours (hr was posterior).
apricot / 444 posts
@littlejoy: interesting thread! My DD was just under 12 hrs unmedicated and my OB has suggested that labor with DS may be super fast (to the point of saying "go immediately. I haven't delivered in the parking lot yet and I'm not starting with you!")
So I'm curious, nervous, and following these responses!
pomegranate / 3375 posts
@MrsA: Haha. We are planning another home birth, and my midwives keep joking they'll just stay with us that week. 
pomegranate / 3921 posts
I've had two unmedicated labors. The first was 7 hours start to finish: my water broke at 11:45PM and DD1 was born at 6:37AM.
The second was just over two hours for the whole shebang--my water broke at 11:15PM and DD2 was born at 1:27AM. If I hadn't suspected meconium in my water (there wasn't actually any, but it looked sketchy so we went straight to the hospital) I would have given birth in my bathtub.
Also, my midwives and my OB claim the same things as
@KayKay:--that the second is almost always textbook faster/easier, and that #3 is a complete wild card.
ETA: Both times, labor for me was fast and furious from about 15 mins after water breaking--super tough, tightly spaced contractions right from the getgo. With #1, I pushed for about an hour and a half. With #2, I pushed for six minutes. (My doula takes notes.) 
nectarine / 2591 posts
Two unmedicated births and from start to finish they were about the same (13 hours) my active labour was incredibly quick with #2.
#1
6pm - First contraction
3am - 5cm
5am - Pushing
7am - Born
#2
6:30pm - Water breaks
5:30 am - Active labour starts after contractions stopping and starting all night
6:30am - 4cm
7am - Ask for epi settle for water injections
7:30 - Born
nectarine / 2210 posts
First, I had my first contractions at 7pm. We went to the hospital around 2am and I delivered around 7:30.
Second, I was induced. They started pitocin around 4am and I delivered around 7:30.
Both were unmedicated.
pineapple / 12053 posts
Two unmedicated births, both started with water breaking. First, contractions didn't start for another hour or so, delivered within 7 hours of water breaking. Second, contractions started right away and I delivered 4 hours after water broke.
pomelo / 5789 posts
I labored for 18 hours with #1 after my water broke before I gave in to a c-section due to my blood pressure and inability to push.
#2 was also a spontaneous labor. 5 hours from first contraction until birth (vbac). I had an epi with #2 at 10cm about 20 min before pushing.
pineapple / 12053 posts
@littlejoy: yes, but very very out of control the second time around. A friend of mine was similar and we didn't have PTSD, but it took us each a while to accept that it actually happened! It was nice to hear that someone else felt the same way because almost everyone was like, that's awesome! And it didn't feel that way at the time!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Inductions but #1 - too long, #2 just right, #3 too fast.
persimmon / 1270 posts
Both of mine were intentionally home births.
First was 24 hours from water breaking and first contraction to baby with 3 hours of pushing. He was 9 pounds.
Second was 4.5 hours from me realizing this was the real deal (I had two weeks of timeble contractions every day or two that would fizzle out) to baby and I spent most that time chatting and tidying up. He was 7lb 5oz and kinda just came out.
pomegranate / 3601 posts
My first was 6h from first contraction to baby. Pushing was about 30 minutes. (He had his hand infront of his face so that didn't make it easier).
My second was longer and shorter at the same time. While I had light contractions for over 12h prior to birth, transition and pushing wasn't even 30min. The first push broke my water, the second brought her head and she was out with the third push.
Both labors were unmedicated.
nectarine / 2797 posts
Two spontaneous labors, 9 hours the first time with an epidural the last 3 hours, 4 hours unmedicated the second time.
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