Do second babies come earlier? An OB weighs in
The good news is that your second labor may be only half as long.
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Congratulations, you’re pregnant with another child! You’ve probably heard that second babies come earlier than the first, and now you’re wondering if you should expect an early arrival for your second birth.
The reality is there are no guarantees, because every baby—and every birth—is different. Giving birth the second time may be completely different from your first, or it may follow a similar pattern. Each season of motherhood comes with its own experiences, challenges and rewards.
Do second babies come earlier?
It’s not always the case that second babies come earlier. A full-term pregnancy normally lasts between 39 weeks 0 days to 40 weeks 6 days from the first day of your last menstrual period, according to ACOG. But, based on anecdotal evidence, most pregnant people state that their second babies arrive earlier than the estimated due date, and often earlier than the first baby.
“While there are many factors that can contribute to pregnancy length, second babies typically arrive slightly earlier than first babies–but, this is only typically by a couple of days, not weeks,” explains Dr. Sara Mucowski, board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and OB-GYN at Dallas IVF, an Ivy Fertility Center.
This is supported by a 2001 study investigating the duration of pregnancy in 1,514 healthy pregnant people. The researchers found that first-time mothers had a longer duration of pregnancy, while mothers who had given birth one or more times had their babies born two days earlier.
Related: Two weeks with 2 kids: 8 things I’ve learned about having a second child
One study published in “The European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology”suggests that the second pregnancy is shorter and closer to 40 weeks than the first pregnancy. And, in 20% of study participants with a pregnancy gap of less than 12 months, the next pregnancy was one day shorter.
However, a 2022 survey on the length of pregnancy for first-, second- and third-time moms indicates that second babies arrive around the same time as the first, at 39 weeks and 5 days. This survey analyzed the experiences of 2,437 second-time moms, and about 56.2% had their babies on or before the due date.
Hence, the available statistics imply that there are no hard and fast rules. Second babies may arrive earlier or just on time. Remember: Every pregnancy is different.
Should second-time parents expect their baby to arrive before their due date?
“If the pregnancy dates are accurate, second-time parents should expect their baby about 2 days earlier compared to their first child,” says Dr. Mucowski. “However, additional factors (like previous preterm delivery, multiple gestation, maternal health issues, shorter intervals between pregnancies, smoking/substance use, etc.) may also increase the likelihood of early delivery.”
Is labor faster the second time around?
Yes, your second labor is usually half as long as the first. You can expect labor to last 12 to 18 hours on average for your first pregnancy, while averaging just 6 to 8 hours for the second pregnancy.
Dr. Mucowski explains the biological reason behind this: “While your second baby may not arrive much earlier than the first, we do expect labor to progress faster once it starts, because the body tends to be more efficient in subsequent labors. Think of this like ‘muscle memory’ of the uterus – your cervix tends to be more receptive to dilating and thinning simultaneously, while your body coordinates more efficient contractions. Also, there may be less mechanical resistance from the pelvic floor muscles and birth canal, due to previous stretching.”
How much faster is labor with a second baby?
“Typically, labor is divided into 2 parts – the latent phase, or early labor, and the active phase, when you’re pushing. Both are faster in second pregnancies,” notes Dr. Mucowski. “In the first pregnancy, the latent phase may take up to 20 hours but is expected to be shorter than 14 hours in a second baby. The time spent pushing is about 1 hour longer in first babies compared to their siblings.”
That’s partly because for your first baby, it may take 8 to 12 hours for your cervix to dilate (open wider for the baby’s head to fit through) but only about 5 hours the second time around.
And, the actual pushing is shorter for your second baby. You likely won’t have to push for 1 to 2 hours. This is mostly because the tissues in your pelvis have been stretched once before and are not as tight as they were originally. Plus, you already know what to expect, so you’ll step more confidently into your second labor.
A version of this story was originally published on Nov. 1, 2022. It has been updated















































































