im very worried as im pregnant with no2 and my first labour went very very fast, i went from 5cm to birth in 50 minutes and im worried i wont make it the 40 miles to our "local" hospital in time, what i want to know is, is it true second labours are faster? if so by how much and are they easier or harder than the first. xxxx

id say faster but could you really get any faster then your first tho hun lol miles easyer i got all the way to pushing on just gas and air ( had epidural with my first) but then i found out baby was back to back so it all went wrong from there lol. x

Oh hun, i hope no3 coems out easier for you! i didnt have time for anything other than gas and air with no1 and sure it will be the same with no2 but so so scared to having baby in the car!!!!

i bet you are, 40 miles is hell of a long drive hun, id speak to MW im sure someone posted on here that she got induced early as she lived far away from hospital so couldnt chance going in to labour while at home, and with you have just a fast labour try and look in to it hun x

thanks Hayley, i might just do that. xxx

my first labour was 3 and half hours from first contraction to giving birth and my second was a very speedy 2 hours 29 minutes from first twinge. the midwifes predicted another 'spontaneous labour' with me third but 2 days after my waters breaking i went into labour, was in labour for 7 and half hours and ended up having emergency section. births can differ from person to person, but they do generally say second is quicker than first, but that doesn't apply to ev1

Like you Diane, I had a very fast first labour and birth and only just made the hospital. I was fully dilated on arrival and my daughter was born 25 mins after we got there, the whole thing was just over 1 1/2 hours!! My hubby had to do 100 mph to get us there in time, so I too am just a bit concerned this time around!!!!!! The midwife 'jokingly' said just after I had my daughter that if I had another I might have to either come in early or stay at home!!!! Luckily my husbands auntie is a retired midwife with 45 years experience so if we're really stuck i'll go there as she lives 5 mins away!!!!!

Good luck to us all!!!

Yes second labours are usally faster (my sil had her second in 25mins!) have you thought about a homebirth then thy would need to get a midwife to you asap and at least you wouldn't have the discomfort of a long drive and no chance of the babe being born in the car! LOL
Just a thought?
www.homebirth.org.uk has lots of info.
xx

Thanks guys, Michelee, i live in Northern Ireland where homebirths are totally unheard of, they wont do them and refuse point blank to help, short of giving birth at home without a MW and just with hubby there adn then call an ambulance thats about the only chance i have, im not sure, really thinking about going in early to be induced at 38 weeks as i had no1 at 38+2 and very afriad i wotn make it, its scary enough giving birth without the thought of giving birth in the middle of the motorway! haha. xxx

G/C from due in Feb, but saw this and was interested as I'm due no 2 on 18/2. No 2 Bump - where abouts do you live, I'm in NI too and I'm going to the Ulster Hospital. I live outside Lisburn so it will be a bit of a drive for me too, but it says on my notes that they do offer the home birth service to all low risk women. No good for me as I'm not low risk (part of the reason I'm going to UH), but might be worth looking in to if you are thinking you would like home birth?

RickiD 25+4

Hi Ricki, i will be going to Craigvaon and they really fight against a home birth, i wouldnt mind one at all as i coped very well with labour and only needed gas and air for the last 10-15 minutes, i might ask MW the next time i see her but i will be 26 weeks by then, do you think that is too late? x

Hi, I would def bring it up, I don't think 26 weeks is too late - it's your choice after all. My friend had her 2nd in Craigavon 2 1/2 yrs ago and really liked it, but if you're worried about getting there on time that won't help! As you seem to be low risk as well, they shouldn't really put up a fight about it, but I've no experience of that hospital so I suppose I can't really say. Good on you for just usig G&A for the last bit, I had a cocktail of drugs lol, the only thing that helped was the epidural, not sure if I'll get it this time, just wait and see.
Let us know what the m/w says - when if your appt?

RickiD 25+4

Hi my first was and induction pretty slow early labour & quick enough from established labour until birth but nothing like yours!! 2nd was 2-3 days late but came on her own again long slow labour but a tad quicker i was 2cm upon arrival then went from 2-6cm in 20 mins but slowed again & was still about 2-3 hours in hospital before the birth. 3rd again was induction & from induction to birth was 5 hours.

Would you not just leg it to the hosp at the first sign of anything happening? sorry if this has been discussed before did not read all the replies as im on my lunch & have to be quick!

best of luck!!
KJ.x

Hi hun, with my first i was in labour for over 48 hours, with my second it was an hour. I'm now due to have my 3rd on the 16th March and my youngest will only be 18 months. The mw advised me to have a home birth as she doesnt think i'll be able to make it to hospital this time (fingers crossed we both will) x

Im afraid if i go to the hospital too early they will send me home and as its 40 miles i wont make it home and back again, i might run to the hospital at first pains and then just walk around till its a bit more sore [wont leave it as long as last time though! LOL] i will mention a homebirth to the MW, next appointment is in early December and i will let you know what she says, she is lovely and a good friend of the family, she is also my community MW so should make thigns easier if she gives me the go ahead, thank you all for your replys, im excited and scared at teh same time cause first time i wasnt worried but now i know what i have ahead and whilst im not afraid of the labour, im afraid of the labour being too fast again! LOL x