Do 2nd babies come faster than the first?

[Classical Country Mama]

So I'm 39 weeks, 5 days, pregnant with my second child--went into labor with my first child ON my due date. Everyone seems to think my second baby will come early or exactly the same as my first, but we're running out of time!

 

So I'm curious--informal poll--did your second (or subsequent) children come earlier than your first???

 

(affirmative responses especially appreciated!!! :lol:)

[KidsHappen]

Most of my children were late. Four were due between the 22-25th. One was due on the 9th and the other on the 10th. They came on the the 31st, 30th, 6th (14 days late!), the 15th, the 29th, and then the 5th. The one on the 5th was 5 days early. So they were all between 6-14 days late except for the early bird.

 

As far as labors were concerned though, almost 24 hours for the first, exactly 3 hours and 45 minutes for the rest.

Edited April 28, 2010 by KidsHappen

[lionfamily1999]

My first was one week early. My second was verging on two weeks late. My third was right on time :p The labor durations did diminish (3 hrs, 2 hrs, and 1 hr), that's counting from having my water broken.

[Leanna Tomlinson]

Baby #1 - 4 days early - 9hour labor

Baby #2 - 4 days late- 4 hours labor

Baby #3 - 2 days early - 2 hour labor

Baby #4 - due date - 1.5 hour labor

Baby #5 - 2 days early - Labor? what labor? - he just slid into the world

Baby #6 - 8 days late - INDUCED - 12 hour labor

Baby #7 - 2 weeks early - induced due to BP- 1 hour labor after pit started contractions.

 

Unfortunately the pregnant mind tends to consider any baby late when it comes after the timing of the first baby.

 

BTW- the two that were late......they still struggle with being on time....

Edited April 28, 2010 by Leanna

[myfatherslily]

Ahhh, I think it's nonsense, even though the answer is yes for me:) Your baby will come when it comes! But I do think women tend toward a pattern. One of my SILs has had all of her 6 babies a good 5 days or more past her due date. My other SIL hasn't had any of her 4 babies later than a week before her due date. My three were born at 1 hour before, 7 days before, and 5 days before their due dates.

 

Congrats on your soon-coming baby!!!:D

[Tess in the Burbs]

My first was on his due date. My second was 10 days late. I went in for an induction and was in early labor.

[Caitilin]

Not for me. Twins were 3 weeks early, ds1 was 4 days early; ds2 was 2 days early; dd3 was 3 days late; ds3 was 10 days late. Sorry! :lol:

[Pamela H in Texas]

my second was at 34.5 weeks so much earlier than first. I had been on medication to stop labor from 19 weeks on.

 

I guess I won't tell you that labor was much worse the second time.

 

I'm sure you'll do just fine. 38-40 weeks and 3-10 hours :)

[hsmamainva]

My 1st was 3 days late

My 2nd was born on his due date (he's STILL Mr. Punctual!)

My 3rd was 5 days late

My 4th was 6 days early

[kokotg]

Later, but only by one day. My first was 3 days before my due date, 2nd was 2 days before, 3rd was 1 day before.

[SquirrellyMama]

My first was 10 days early, my 2nd was 4 days early and my 3rd was 7 days early. My labors got shorter by 2 hours each time if that helps.

 

Kelly

[HayesW]

Faster, yes. Sooner, no. My 2nd labor was MUCH quicker. However, #1 was born on her due date and #2 was 12 days late. She was my smallest baby and quickest labor though.

[SproutMamaK]

My second was earlier, but only slightly. My first was born on his due date, my second was 4 days early. (For the record, my third was 3 days early.)

[Granny_Weatherwax]

I voted the same.

 

My first was born on her due date and after 12 hours of labor.

 

My second was born close to his due date after 45 minutes of labor. He was a stinker, though. It was a high risk pregnancy and I experienced a few pre-term labor episodes. We did everything we could to keep him from being born early. When the critical period passed the doc. said if labor started again they would let it progress and I would have my baby. It took DS three more weeks to make his appearance.

[Amber in AUS]

My 1st was 4 days late and induced, my 2nd was 2 weeks early and 3rd was 3 weeks early. Sending labour vibes your way :D

[MissKNG]

My water broke three weeks early with my first and my second came three days early. So I'll never know the actual comparison since water breaking is not extremely common.

[Angel]

I couldn't use you poll :001_smile: My second came days later than my first. Both past due date. Second dd a week past :blink: However, my second dd came faster in labor. 17 hours opposed to 22 with my first.

 

Good luck!

[lynn]

My first 3 were 2 weeks early and all took about 4 hours from the time I felt labor to birth. Babygirl came just a few days before due date and about the same amount of time.

[Carrie12345]

I'm an other.

 

40w1d- Induction started at 40w0d. Born 32 hours later.

 

41w- Induction, about a 6hr (mostly active) labor.

 

40w1d- Spontaneous, about a 7hr labor. She obviously would have been born earlier than #1 would have been, had I not been induced with him.

 

42w- "Light" induction (yeah, yeah), about a 15hr (10 active) labor. The chances that the first two would have gone later than that are pretty darn slim.

[Dandelion]

My first came one week early - 10 hour labor after my water broke.

 

My second came 3 days early - only 2 hours of labor after my water broke and she was born 22 minutes after we got to the hospital (I thought she was going to be born on the side of the freeway!!)...

 

Wishing you a smooth delivery! :)

[Jennifer in MI]

#1: 7 days late (and he's still trouble! :loll:), 53 hours of labor (not kidding)

#2: 3 days earl, 25 hours of labor

#3: on his due date, 12 hours of labor

#4: 8 days early (she's my favorite!! :loll:), 15 hours of labor

 

I'm not made to have short labors.

[texasmama]

My babies came as follows:

 

first - 37 1/2 weeks, spontaneous

second - 39 weeks, 2 days, induced

third - 38 1/2 weeks, spontaneous

fourth - 39 weeks, 5 days, spontaneous

 

My first baby came earlier than the rest, as you can see.

[Jennifer in MI]

My sister was three weeks early with her first. She expected to be early with her second. He was 3 days LATE!!!! So, by the time he was born, she felt like she was nearly a month late. It was really hard for her!!! As hard as it is, try not to expect anything except that this babe will come when he/she is ready!!

[Aubrey]

#1--3 hrs, started so hard it was like being knocked to the floor. Thought I was going to have to do *that* for 8-12 hrs. :svengo:

#2--19min

#3--7 hrs, but only 2-3 painful

#4--probably only 3-5 hrs of actual pain, but a total of 30 hrs after my water broke.

 

Not much help, eh?

 

ETA: Oops. You meant due date.

 

#1--3 days late

#2--6 days early

#3--on due date

#4--3 days late. In August. W/ broken a/c.

Edited April 28, 2010 by Aubrey

[jentancalann]

mine seemed to come later...

#1- 4 wks early

#2 5 days early

#3 3 days late

#4 5 days late

#5 induced 4 days early, I was convinced he would be late and I was so miserable w/ #4.

[Cricket]

My first two were induced and my last two were natural.

 

My first labor was 4 hours.

The second one was about 2 hours.

The third was a little over an hour.

The last was about 24 hours! She had some trouble though--a prolapsed cord. Each of the last two births happened about 45 minutes after my water broke.

[fairfarmhand]

#1 5 days late (induction)

#2 2 weeks early (naturally)

#3 1.5 wks early (induced)

#4 1.5 weeks early (induced)

 

Since most of mine were induced, there;s no telling where I would have ended up;

 

But, the last two had labors that were SOOO fast!

[May]

#1-10 days after due date, labor was 8 hours

#2-induced because they miscalculated the due date (got pregnant while on birthcontrol) DD was about 2-3 weeks early

[tabrizia]

#1 was induced at 39 weeks, 3 days, was born the next day so 3 days earlier then due date. Since I didn't go into natural labor with him, no clue when he really would have arrived.

 

#2 went into labor 2 days before my due date and had her that day after 13 hours of labor. So technically she came later then DS, but it is hard to know if she would have come before him if I had gone into labor with him naturally.

[Needleroozer]

I was very glad the second one came sooner than the first- she weighed a pound and a half more than the first- if she had been full term there is no way I could have had her vaginally. I was also starting to develop toxemia, and was swelling up badly. Was very glad she came 2 weeks early!

[justamouse]

First one was right on time, 14 hour labor.

 

Second was right on time, 3 hour labor.

 

Third through 7th were three hour labors.

[Krista in LA]

My water broke the day before I was due with the first one. With the second, I was getting so huge that the dr decided to induce 2 weeks early (according to *my* dates). So, I'm absolutely no help.

[sagira]

My first baby was early -- 37 1/2 weeks

My second baby was just a tad early -- 39 weeks

 

Sorry, OP! :tongue_smilie:

[Shelly in the Country]

My firstborn came on her due date....she's always been the most agreeable child. My other 3 kids were all late. My third child was the latest...5 days past due date. My second child was my longest labor. My fourth child was my shortest labor.

[Quiver0f10]

My earliest was 9 days late and my latest was 17 days over with a few variations in between.

[myfunnybunch]

Not sure if you're talking due dates or length of labor? My due date/birth dates were astonishingly regular; labor times varied.

 

My children all came 13-15 days past their due dates. All had due dates between the 10th-12th. Three were born on the 25th of their birth month, and one was born on the 23rd.

 

Labor times:

 

DD: 3 hours

DS1: 6 hours

DS2: 12 hours

DS3: 6 hours (Did not follow the trend, thank goodness. I was afraid of a 24 hour labor. LOL)

 

Cat

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

My first came two weeks before the due date. The second was induced 2 days after the due date, due to the enormous swelling of my feet.

[BMW]

My first was two weeks early and a 24 hour labor.

 

My 2nd was on time, and 12 hours labor.

 

So, my dh thought the 3rd would be 6 hours and took his time dropping kids off to the sitter and doing the banking and missed his son's birth!!!

 

The four others were all born on the due date or a day prior or a day after due dates and they all varied from 6 hours to 9 hours labor.

[Colleen in SEVA]

B was 39 weeks 2 days, longest labor (slowed by epidural)

G was 39 weeks 4 days, very short labor (he surprised us at home, went right from early labor to crowning)

D was 39 weeks 1 days, average labor (non-medicated water birth at birthing center)

R was 39 weeks 6 days, average labor (non-medicated birth at birthing center)

W was 40 weeks 0 days, shortest labor (planned home water birth, active labor less than 30 minutes)

 

I responded "the same" in the poll as they all arrived on time during their due week.

Edited April 28, 2010 by Colleen in SEVA

[Caraway]

 

BTW- the two that were late......they still struggle with being on time....

 

:smilielol5:

[higginszoo]

My first was a 35 weeker who was delivered when I had a placental abruption.

Second was induced at 37 weeks due to internal bleeding (me).

Third came uneventfully at 38 weeks

Fourth was induced at 39 weeks due to rising blood pressure and spilling protein. The placenta was calcifying, indicating that she was a little 'overdone' ... our dates were right, I just seem to cook em fast.

[momofkhm]

My second came on the same day as my first - 10 days past due - but my second was induced.

 

My third on the other hand came earlier than both. He was only 3 days past due. And yes he was definitely past due - meconium before birth. OH, and almost 10 pounds - 9 pounds 13 ounces.

[Sasharowan]

First came about 15 days early, had cord wrapped twice. 2nd came about 13 days early, induced by barometric drop due to hurricane. 3rd came the day before due date, pitocin induced after 3rd visit due to false labors. 4th came on due date, pitocin induced due to gestational diabetes.

[JenneinCA]

My first was four days late. About 24 hours of labor, too much of labor spent at hospital.

 

My second was six days late. About 14 hours of labor, about 2 hours of labor at hospital.

 

Number three was an hour and a half early, born at 10:30 the day before he was due. About 30 minutes of labor at hospital, delivered by the hospital on call doctor because my doc didn't get there in time.

[Crimson Wife]

All 3 of mine were induced. The first and third were at 41 weeks, the second at 39 weeks. He actually looked like a preemie even though I was technically full-term so I think I would've still been pregnant at 41 weeks had my OB let me go that long.

[FO4UR]

My 1st 2 were born exactly on their due dates (I was born on my due date too. fwiw) My 3rd was 3 days early.

 

Their labors were 5, 3, and 1 hour ....I joke with dh that if we ever have a 4th it will HAVE to be a homebirth b/c each delivery just comes faster and faster...we won't have a choice...:tongue_smilie:

[Pretty in Pink]

I voted later, because with my first I was induced 3 weeks early.

[Night Elf]

I *love* my story! But I voted 'the same'. Each of my 3 children were born at 38 weeks 2 days. It's about the only predictability my body has experienced! :)

[nova mama]

Baby boy was born two days early, compared to on-time for DD5. AND, from water breaking to cute face popping out was 5 hours and 8 minutes, compared to about 2 days for his big sister. Thanks for voting everyone!!

[dani3boys]

I voted other. My oldest son came at 38 weeks. My second pregnancy was with twins, and they would have induced me at 38 weeks if the babies didn't come earlier than that. I ended up being induced at 36 weeks because of complications. It's hard to compare a singleton pregnancy to a multiple pregnancy.