Do second babies come earlier??

[mlm4ncsu]

Ladies, I know all pregnancies are different, but what are some of your experiences with Baby #2? Did you deliver earlier, shorter/easier labor, etc.? I am 37 weeks today and I just "feel" like this baby is coming soon, esp. in less than three weeks. I've not dialated any or lost my plug, but the baby feels much lower and I have more pressure when I stand/walk. My heart rate is in the low-mid 100s and my hands/feet are swollen. My dd is only 15 months old and I've read that having another baby in less than 18 months can result in premature birth. I think I am just scared because I'm not ready. When people say 'I know you're miserable' or 'you're ready to pop' I think no, actually, I would stay pregnant another 6-8 weeks if I could. We just have A LOT going on right now at home, work, church, etc. and I am just not as prepared as I feel like I need to be.

[mama bronc]

Both of mine came early, but my 2nd was born at 38 weeks while my 1st was born at 37 weeks. So, I actually carried my 2nd longer than the 1st. I don't know about others, but my 2nd did not come earlier.

I will tell you that I am sure you will be ready when the time comes. I am sure God will prepare your heart/mind/body when it is time. Try not to worry, I am sure stress will not help anything!

[breezykc2]

My first came at 36 weeks (but had pre-eclampsia set in right before he came and terrible swelling/blood pressure), my second came at 38 weeks (I was healthy this time).....but with my second, I walked around for 3 to 4 weeks at 4cm dilated and 85% effaced!! Ugh!
beware though, they usually come FASTER!!! Mine sure did! So when you feel those contractions start to get uncomfortable....get wherever you need to be! It can go really fast the second time! (not always, but as a general rule!) My first was 23 hours of labor, but once I hit 6cm...I went to 10 in 15 mintues and only pushed three times.......My second.....3 hour labor total! Was already dialated to 4, so 4 to 6 in 2.3 hours, 6 to 10 in under 30 minutes...and delivered on the "test" push the nurse asks for to see if you're ready or not! Guess I was! We ruined that poor nurses shoes! At least she was a good catch! DS shot out like a speeding bullet! LOL

[PBJ]

My second one came faster then my first. My third came faster then my second. And my forth came faster then my third. I had trouble keeping them in after my second one.

[ChamomileFriend]

I feel kind of guilty but I almost hope this one comes earlier & than my first (who came 2 days shy of the 40 wk mark), and def with a shorter labor/pushing time if God allows it! Anything on or around 38 weeks would work for me, now to just wait and see what the Lord has in mind for me and Sebastian (ds#2).
The most important thing of course is that mommy and baby are both ok when it is all over, and i would prefer a vaginal delivery with minimal or no tearing if at all possible.
One of the girls at my job was just in labor for 72+ hrs with her first and then ended up having a c-section, I felt so bad for her bec it must have been so disappointing to labor for so long and then not deliver the way she wanted. He is beautiful and healthy (and so is she), though so PTL!!!

[Christy+2]

I hope so! :wink: I'm pregnant with my second, but hope he doesn't come earlier than my ds (he was born at 36w 1d)....a week or 2 early would be great!
The faster part scares me! My labor was pretty short for a first time mom at 7 hours. I want to make sure I have enough time to get an epidural! I'm such a wimp! :wink:

[Mommy37]

:) My second came faster & was all natural because it was so short. I ended up not having to be induced, because I went into labor on my own that same day I was to be induced! :P

[Eva]

I hope this one comes earlier bcuz dd was 10 days late. But I don't want him/her to come too fast bcuz I have to travel 45mins to get to the hospital. I don't want to deliver on the side of the road! And tell my kid you were born in the middle of nowhere. :lol:

[luvmy4sons]

Second babies do not necessarily come earlier. Your cervix might start to dilate sooner( or not) with a subsequent pregnancy. This is helpful as any cm's you achieve without being in labor is better! :) And often the labors do get shorter! :D

[kymommy]

My first dd came right on time, with the second one I had to be induced at 40 weeks :(
Also, my first was 6lb 12oz, my second was 8lb 14oz and with both I gained almost 40lbs. I'm not sure why the differences? Except God's plan :D

[jen1981]

Well, here is my story.
Keith-12 hrs. start to finish, 1/2 hr. pushing-8 lbs. 12oz.
Elayne-8 hrs, no pushing-8 lbs.
Eleanne-7 hrs., no pushing-7 lbs. 15 oz.
My labors got shorter but the babies got smaller. I always go slow until about 7 cm. Then 7-10 within about 1/2 hour and the babies come very fast. I warned the nurse with the last one, but she still wasn't prepared and pushed the emergency button. You should have seen the welcoming commitee! :lol:

[pioneerchristianmomof3]

As far as I have ever heard, duration of pregnancy is a case by case thing. However it is true they do get faster. My first was 6 hrs start to finish at 40 wks (the day bf my due date), my second was 1hr 45 min from start to finish (I was induced at 42 weeks), and my third came 3 days early and was 2 1/2 hrs start to finish. The doc said the second was fastest b/c of induction and would have probably been 3-4 hrs if natural. My doc now jokes if I have a fourth I need to camp in the hospital parking lot from about 38 wks! :lol:

[ChamomileFriend]

As far as I have ever heard, duration of pregnancy is a case by case thing. However it is true they do get faster. My first was 6 hrs start to finish at 40 wks (the day bf my due date), my second was 1hr 45 min from start to finish (I was induced at 42 weeks), and my third came 3 days early and was 2 1/2 hrs start to finish. The doc said the second was fastest b/c of induction and would have probably been 3-4 hrs if natural. My doc now jokes if I have a fourth I need to camp in the hospital parking lot from about 38 wks! :lol:

Wow that is fast! My first was 23 hrs, 40 min (1 hr 40 min pushing - I was watching the clock at the end!) I am hoping this one will be 12 hrs or less, but I know that is not up to me, so I will just go with the flow whenever it happens.

[SupermansLady]

Well, I hope my second isn't too much faster than my first. I was in labor for 4 hours, pushed 3 times and he flew out like a speeding bullet. So - about the same would be fine with me.

[GabrielsMommy]

Wow, my first also was rather short. my water broke around 12 pm, i got to the hospital at 1 am. I was 1 cm, 100% 4 hours later I was 10cm. Gabriels cord was around his neck though so they didn't want me to push we let him decend on his own for about 1/2 hour then he was out in maybe 3-4 pushes. I hope my second time is also somewhat the same... except for the cord around the neck, that part I can do with-out.