How long was your first birth/.?

Question

Im due in May and im a first time mommy and i was wondering how long was the birth of you first child? How long did it last? I know every birth is different just wanted to know. Were you scared? The only thing im scared about is being too tired. Thanks and Happy Holidays.

Answer 1

20 minutes from when my water broke to delivery. He shocked us all. I was only 1 cm and 30% effaced 2 hours prior to that with only mild contractions. I was lucky I was already at the hospital having my blood pressure monitored, or he would have been born at home!

I was terrified. I had no clue what was going on because it was happening so fast. I thought I had hours, not minutes! The nurses were running around yelling and trying to find a doctor. I thougth there was something wrong with the baby. Turns out he was just on his way out quickly, and I wasn't even hooked up to a fetal monitor! 3 pushes and he was born. 8/8/03 perfect as can be, and no pain meds. :)

Good luck.

Answer 2

My first was about 14 1/2 hours. I was induced because I was 10 days overdue, though, so if I'd gone into labour myself it probably would have been shorter. Induced labours are usually quite drawn out, as once they start using aritificial methods, the keep using them instead of letting the woman's body do its own thing. I had the gel put on my cervix, my waters artificially broken, I had the drip to keep contractions going, a catheter, a monitor stuck in the baby's scalp, etc etc etc.

My second birth was 12 hours 22 mins, but most of it was really pitiful labour pains, so it was only the last three hours or so that were really hard work :) This time I went into labour all by myself, and had no intervention at all. Much better!

Congratulations, and good luck!

Answer 3

Every birth is different.
Most people are scared of the unknown, they don't know if they will cope with the pain, they don't know how painful it will be, if they can birth vaginaly or not (actually every woman can birth vaginally with the right support and frame of mind)

My first was 8 hours from when my waters broke till she was in my arms.
With all of the others my waters broke during the pushing stage.
My second was 15 hours (the most gentle and easiest one out of the lot even though it was the longest) my 3rd was 5 hours and my 4th was 8 mintues (the most painful and because of an unnecessary induction I had 32 hours of unproductive 2 minutley contractions)

I would advise watching plenty of birthing videos and get hold of a good doula to help support you during labour.

Answer 4

My first took 8 hrs. Yes, I was scared up until it all started happening. They gave me demerol for pain, so I was in & out throughout. I really regret allowing them to give me meds because I was pretty much out of it. I decided with my second I would have it totally natural w/ a midwife. It was wonderful. I had him at home and was vacuuming the floor getting ready while having contractions 5 mins. apart. total labor for 2nd one was around 4 hrs. My 3rd child took around 45 mins. If we had lived any further from town I probably would have had him in the car.

I highly recommend talking w/ a midwife about what to expect and breathing instructions. The biggest help you can possibly get is to know how to handle the contractions and really work with them getting the baby to work its way down. If you work w/ the contractions it doesn't hurt nearly as bad and makes labor go SO much faster. There is no other experience than having your child natural and actually remembering every little detail. It's hard enough to go through labor being so focused and remember everything. When your drugged up it's like they take the memories away from you.

Answer 5

I was in labor for 6 hours and pushed 3 times. I was very scared and did it all natural. I was induced at 37 weeks. She was so beautiful. 5lbs 4 ozs 17 1/2 inches long. So pretty. My second daughter I was in labor for 7 1/2 hours pushed about 4-5 times, induced at 37 weeks, 6 lbs 8ozs and 19 1/2 inches long, rolls everywhere. It was the best thing I have ever done and Cant wait to do it again. Good luck and congrats.

Answer 6

I labored most of the day at home. I was 5 minutes appart at about 7:30 PM. Went into the Hospital and was admitted and checked in my 9:00 PM. I started to push at 11:00 PM and my son was born at 1:10 AM.

My first time birth was fairly short, in comparison to most first time births, but just a little something to let you know that not all first time births are long.

Answer 7

you'll do great! my first birth was rather quick... i woke up at 2:30 with crampy, measurable contractions. at 3:15 my water broke. at 5:40 i decided to go to the hospital, since the contractions were 3-4 minutes apart. started "hard" labor at 7, baby born shortly after.

the key is to not freak out. yes, it is uncomfortable. yes there is some pain involved, but if you let that (or the idea of pain) overwhelm you, it's actually worse! there are many methods of pain management to keep you comfortable~like epidurals~ but your state of mind is the most important element.

you have the strength and the ability to birth this baby. move past the fear, most of that fear ends up being unfounded and works against you. the best thing you can do is educate yourself about what to expect. yes, you are a magnet for people's horror stories now~ but like you said, everyone is different!

don't worry about not having the energy. your body is running on instinct and adrenaline at that point!

i had a really good first experience. you can too!

Answer 8

It lasted about 15 hours from my first contraction until birth. It didn't really get bad until the last 5 hours though. Yeah, I was a little scared but it wasn't that bad. I don't think you'll have to worry about being too tired, because when it starts you'll get an adrenaline rush. I couldn't sleep for hours after the birth of my son because I was so wound up.

Answer 9

I'm a mom to 4 ~ and each was different! My daughter (my first!) was born in 1.5 hours...NATURAL (no time for drugs!) She'll be 17~ My first son, went into labor and EXPECTED it to be faster than the first..that's what they tell you...My water broke and all labor STOPPED!! They induced me and he was born in about 2 hours...NOT alot of pain!! (He'll be 15) WHen I got pregnant with son #2, I EXPECTED to go natural in LESS time than both the first...HE wouldn't come out...my blood pressure dropped BELOW his and they had him out by emergency c-section in less than 60 seconds...labor for him was almost 10 hours long! (he's going to be 6) and then there's the baby.. I went into labor...got up and did some house cleaning...then woke my husband after about 2 hours of contractions..BUT no pain..then..got to the hospital...I was 8 centimeters...Pain then kicked in...BUT I had scheduled a c-section so that I could have my tubes tied ~ they wanted me to TRY to go natrual...NOT having that!! THey pulled the ultra sound out to see where he was placed...and in one week he had FLIPPED completely around and his butt was where his head SHOULD have been! SO...I had another c-section and tubes tied.. he'll be 3!Total labor for him less than 4 hours~
The only time I was scared was the last two pregnancies..because of the quickness that the babies were removed!!! Very quick and very un-nerving! You just seem to have that extra energy EVEN when you don't think you can push again...BUT PLEASE when someone OFFERS To let you sleep AFTER the baby is born...PLEASE take it...you will thank me later...cause you will be REAL TIRED THEN!!! Best of luck!

Answer 10

I went into labor late on a Wednesday and had my son at 9 the next morning. But I was only in hard labor for about 4 hours. There's nothing to be scared about. Everything will go just fine. Good luck!