Thank you ladies for your lovely well wishes! I’m reminded again just how powerful and unstoppable we are to bring these little people into the world. Holy moly it isn’t easy haha. Grateful for the incredible people who work in the hospital system. We are so lucky to have the care we do here.

Aw, how exciting Chi Wren, that you have just given birth ! Well done to you for getting through these 7 hours of labour ! Enjoy the baby bubble ( I bet you are totally in love) and this period of bonding with this new member of your family. Hope you recover well 🙂

Ummm so shorter – yes for me that’s definitely been the case
Baby 1 – 6 hours (by hospital definition of labour, I count hers as closer to 9). Born 39+2
Baby 2 – 4 hours. Induced so how I and the hospital count it, it’s the same. Born 39+1
Baby 3 – 2 hours (3 from actual start) Born 38 weeks – after trying to come at 36 weeks
Baby 4 – just over an hour…. but this baby can at 40+6, after being fully engaged since 36 weeks and I was 5cm dilated for 2 weeks before she arrived.

Baby 1 was definitely the hardest birth because she also needed a ventouse to assist delivery and I had an episiotomy which took a long time to heal from.
Baby 1 and 2 I had epidurals as well.

Baby 1, 3 and 4 I went from 5cm dilated to fully dilated in 30 minutes or less. Very intense and painful. Epidural did nothing to help with this.

Baby 3 I asked for an epidural and wasn’t believed I needed it then or it would be too late.
So baby 3 and 4 were both delivered with only a bit of gas to help.
Not easy.

Baby 2 was probably the easiest birth 😂

Omg! Congratulations Chiwren! A beautiful new bub! Well done on getting through 7 hours of labour!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful time of bonding and resting! I hope everyone takes good care of you and your first bub is super excited to have a new sibling!!!
My labours got shorter each time thankfully! I’m so glad that parts done but I do really miss the little baby stage! Such a precious time .

So I finally have anecdotal evidence on this, as it’s fresh in mind and happened today. My labour was almost just as long, 7 hours. Took less time to progress and be in active labour, but this guy was stubborn. So not longer, but not a huge difference from the first time for me

I’m really hoping so, but so far I’m learning that it really is random how the whole process goes. My first was born 2 weeks early, about 7-9hours labour. I’m currently awaiting the arrival of my second at 40+1 and most likely getting induced tomorrow. They just do their own thing on their time it seems, unfortunately!

Shorter yes, that could well be the case. The most logical explanation would be that your body knows what to do as it has done it before; your uterus and pelvic muscles have stretched before already, your body works more efficiently, you have done it before so physical, emotional and psychological you are more prepared.