I think it could only be coincidence not genetic. You have to consider all the factors in every labour to determine what might happen. Sorry not trying to dishearten anyone, but i wouldn't actually like to have an excessively quick labour, your body doesn't get the chance to get used to the pain IYKWIM!
My first labour was 8.5hrs and i was happy with that
lol oh i wish! my mum had my sister in 4 hours, my brother in 3 and me in 1. DS's labour was 11 hours and then DD's was 15.5 hours! So my second born was longer than my first!
I really dont think there is a link either. I'm pretty sure my mum was in labour with all 4 kids almost a whole day each. My Sister was in labour with her #1 for quite a while (don't know the exact time) and ended up having an emergency c-section... normal C-sec with her #2.
I, however, didn't go into labour naturally, I had to be induced 2 weeks after due date and had DS in 3 hours. Labour started at 7:30pm and Ben entered the world at 10:47pm.
I was so scared I would have the same experience as my sister because we are so much alike (same height, weight, body shape etc... we even look alike!).
DanniiM - I would actually say that the time length of my labour was perfect (for me anyway)! It was over so fast. I didn't get the chance to use any pain relief, but afterwards i was so proud of myself and felt as though i could really work with my body properly.
I'd be inclined to think that there could be a link, but that circumstances can certainly change whether there's a pattern, as Cyathea mentioned.
For instance, my mum and I both had posterior bubs with our first-born. Her labour was 30 hours (I'm a bad daughter ), mine was 14 hours (and would have been less if I'd not had such a long second stage). I was very active during labour, ate and drank well, and used water and gas for pain relief. Mum laid on a bed, wouldn't eat or drink (because she was scared to, but wouldn't tell the staff, poor thing), and used no pain reilef. No wonder her labour went on for 30 hours, her body probably almost shut down! I think if we'd laboured in similar ways our labour lengths would have been more similar.
ETA I'm not saying that not using pain relief made mum's birth longer, just that with all the other factors, she must have been bl00dy exhausted!
Janie - I reckon there is a lot of truth to what you said about circumstances being different. Strangely though, the opposite happened with my mum and I! My mum was 20 when she had her first bub (my bro) 38 years ago. She went to hospital at night and they put her on a bed, shut her in a room by herself with some gas and turned the lights off! She was absolutely terrified. She still managed to have my brother in a total of 4 hours labour. I had my first DS in the same hospital as mum had hers, but I had mum and DH as support and only used gas. My whole labour was still 37 hours! It's sooo not fair LOL!
My mums were 8hr, 5hr and 90min.
Mine so far were 3hr and 90min. No idea about #3 as I havent had him yet but Im expecting mega fast lol
My sister is yet to have any kids.
I think that genetics CAN influence it but I also think other things factor in - how you labour, fitness levels, weight, bubs position, spontaneous or induced, personal mindset, use of drugs etc etc etc
We really dont know how our bodies will react to labour until we've done it atleast once! I have such quick labours because a) Ive dialated before I went into labour and have weeks of pre-labour cx's, and b) my cervix is a fast dialator. Just luck really.
Last edited by Freya; November 13th, 2008 at 03:04 PM.
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), mine was 14 hours (and would have been less if I'd not had such a long second stage). I was very active during labour, ate and drank well, and used water and gas for pain relief. Mum laid on a bed, wouldn't eat or drink (because she was scared to, but wouldn't tell the staff, poor thing), and used no pain reilef. No wonder her labour went on for 30 hours, her body probably almost shut down! I think if we'd laboured in similar ways our labour lengths would have been more similar.
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