[karabu]

My doctor said that generally for each baby - labor takes half as long. So if my labor was 18 hours with my first, it would be around 9 hours for my second.
I realise this is more of a guideline than a hard and fast rule, but I wondered how true it was.
For anyone who has had more than one baby - how did the legenth of labor compare?

[QueenAngie]

Honestly, each labor & delivery is different.

I do not think that my 2nd L&D was 1/2 the time of my 1st L&D.

One would think that the 2nd delivery would be shortened.....
but each one is different.

One of my friend's told me her #3 was the worst.

My Mom had 9 live births, so with the above doctor's theory, they should have gone:
20 hours,
10 hours,
5 hours,
2.5 hours,
1.25 hours,
0.75 hours,.......
but each one was a long labor for my Mom.

I would not be worrying about the time frame at this point.

What will be, will be.....

I do not think you can control the length of the labor, unless you go for a c-section.

((Hugs))

Don't worry about the length of time. Focus on a healthy Mom & healthy Baby.

[angelic_ky]

my aunt had 5... the first she went over 24 hrs and then they c-section; the next 3 were 30+ hrs (last was another c-section, but before labour)... she did say they were shorter each 1 (36, 33 & 31 hrs, i think it was; something like that anyway)

[kimchee67]

Sounds good to me! My 5 hours of active labor seemed to fly by, so I wouldn't mind one that was only 2.5!

Honestly though, I've heard that the first is usually faster, but not sure by how much or how true that is.

[LeanyBean]

My first was 18 1/2 hours, my second was 16 hours and my 3rd was 8 1/2 hours ending in an emergency c-section.

1st: woke at 4:30 a.m. having contractions, went to hospital around 2 p.m., was stuck at 4 cm for hours and hours, finally about 9:45 I was at 9 and at 10:37 pm Noah Reilley arrived

2nd: Went to bed around midnight, rolled over at 12:30 when I felt a warm trickle down my leg, got up and left a small stream from my bed to the bathroom, walked for a few hours-nothing, got pitocin to induce labor, I steadiluy progressed throughout the day and at 4:34 after about half hour of pushing Ridley Thomas arrived.

3rd: Had mild, infrequent contractions all morning, went my regular appointment, had membranes stripped and labor started on the way home, contractions came quicker and harder very quickly. I was 3 cm at my appointment at 2 pm and when I got back to teh hospital at 6 I couldn't walk more than 2 steps without bringing on another contraction, first checked and I was at 7 cm, 15 mnutes later I was checked again and this time I was at 10 cm and my water broke all over the nurse. 2 1/2 hours of puching later we all decided it was best for me and baby for a c-section. At 10:36 p.m. Charles Elyas Daniel was born.

I guess your doc's theory was more of a guideline for them to follow.
If I would have followed it my labors would have been 18, and 9 and 4 1/2 hours which would leave just about 2 1/2 hours for a 4th. A 4th most likely would be a scheduled c-section for me because it would more than likely be a last baby and I would have tubes tied at the same time.

All labors and deliveries are different.

[pattiewrites]

My first labor was 21 hours. When I was pregnant with my second, the doctor said it would probably take half as long. Well, it took 23 hours.

[twinzplus3]

My first labor was 9 hours, my 2nd was 36 hours, my 3rd was 4 hours and the twins were about 3 hours. My 2nd was in a posterior position which is why he was longer.

[mollymae]

First one 14 hours - posterior presention - natural onset
second 12 hours - induced and augmented - cord round neck
third 12 hours - induced and augmented - shoulder distoxia cord twice round shoulders
4th breech/unstable lie - section
5th tranverse with a knot in cord - section

[mollymae]

First one 14 hours - posterior presention - natural onset
second 12 hours - induced and augmented - cord round neck
third 12 hours - induced and augmented - shoulder distoxia cord twice round shoulders
4th breech/unstable lie - section
5th tranverse with a knot in cord - section

[riveneuphoria]

My labor for my first child was probably 36 hours. He was face up instead of face down, so he kind of got stuck. Plus I had an epidural and wasnt able to push as hard as I needed to. With baby 2 (just born 1 week and 2 days ago) I was in labor maybe 3 hours. I woke up with contractions and wasnt even sure if thats what I was having. With baby 1 I knew it was time because my water broke. Baby 2 I waited an hour before not being able to take anymore and telling Hubby we needed to go. By the time I got to the hospital the contractions were 2 minutes apart. By the time someone came off the elevator to take me to the maternity department they were about 45 seconds apart. And by the time I was in an exam room they were 30 seconds. They got me into a labor room after torture in the exam room. I was already all the way dilated. Labor went so fast I didnt get an epidural. 57 minutes after arriving to the hospital, Jacob was born. It all went very quickly.