How long were you in labor with your first baby?

[K1990]

So my best friend in 22 weeks pregnant and due in the middle of Feburary but wants me to be there for the birth.  I live 45 minutes to an hour away depending on traffic.  How long did you labor with your first baby?  I don't want to miss it and she is worried I might.  If I am at work it maybe closer to 2 hours since I will have to have the parent of the kids I'm watching come home from work so I can leave.  Was your first labor fast?

[casandbaby]

I was in labor for 45 hours, he was a stubborn baby LoL he was ten days late and the pitosin didn't work quite the way they wanted. I'm sure you'll make it in time =]

[baby796607]

i was in labor around 8hrs before my son was born.. i was induced at 730, they broke my water 745 and started the pitocin.. i got my FIRST epidural at 905 ha, im a wimp.. was complete by 1.. but he was turned the wrong way and and did not want to move at all.. and was born at 343

[lamb18]

My labor from the time of induction at 6 am lasted until 8:37pm. My water was broken at around 8:30am and about an hour after that, I got hit hard with contractions. So, about 13.5 hours from the time of induction and about 11 hours with painful contractions.

[kjbutcher]

I knew I was in labor 27 hrs before the baby was born.  If I really wanted someone there who I knew may miss it I would have probably let them know about 9 hrs before birth which is when I knew it was a definate that it was it.  I did wait too long to go to the hospital so by the time I called people and went myself, everyone got there about 15 mins after he was born.  I left immediately after the call and they all got dressed, took showers...  so My son was born right after I got to the hospital, so everyone was late.  I wanted none of them in the room with me, and they were all there by the time we were ready to see them.  So basically, if she calls you at the first sign of labor to give you the heads up and then again as it gets more painful you should be just fine.  I would said the docs want you at the hospital at 5 mins apart 1 min long and for 1 hr, so I would say maybe at 8 mins apart she should call you and you should be able to make it there just as she is ready to leave for the hospital.  Even if she calls you when they hit 5 mins apart and 1 minute long she still has 1 hr she has to wait at home before she can even leave for the hospital.  Then once she leaves it will take at least one hr to get there, check in, and get to her room, so I dont think you will miss a thing.  When people say they are late to the hospital, it is not because they have no warning.  It is just because they wait too long.  She will have plenty of warnings and I am sure she will give you plenty of time to get there.  I would tell her not to worry!  Enjoy the experience!

[CYW]

i was induced so it was planned..kinda a good thing...didnt have to worry about my parents not making it in time etc and whatnot.. i was really glad my mom was there..she knew exactly what was going on and thought i handled it very well...dr broke my water at 1230ishpm...i walked and nothing happened...i was put on pitocin at 4ishpm...830 the epidural was being done, 9:05 or so it was working..i slept for a lil...30 mins at the most where the pressure got intense..the nurse didnt want to check me.. finally at 11pm she went to do a catheter and couldnt, she got another nurse and the nurse asked if she had checked me.. i went from 3cm 75% at 9 to 10cm 100% effaced in 2 hours... i figure i was fully dilated prior but she insisted on me not having dilated...i was 2cm for about 3 weeks prior to the baby..1120pm i was asked to give small pushes to crown the baby..1140 we went to the delivery room and 1146pm he was born...so...technically it took me 7h46mins...my mom had her first contraction at 315pm and 9:03 pm i was born...

[abbysmommy4]

My first was pretty quick, my water broke but labor wouldn't start so the induced me and maybe 3 hours later I had him.  Again, everyone is different.  You never can tell.