Second births

[vallinnapod]

Just looking for some anecdotal experience. Due with #2 at the moment. Straightforward, quick (6 hours start to finish) first birth. A friend has just had DC #2 and mentioned a couple of things that MW's have since said are common but that I was unaware of. Just wondered if there is anything else to add to the list? Or if anyone can dispel some of the more unfavourable ones

• The birth is likely to be (much) quicker.
  
• The baby is likely to be larger
  
• The afterpains are considerable worse, both generally and during BF (due to the uterus having been stretched previously therefore harder to spring back)
  

Interested in other people's stories

[jazzyjenbo]

A) my birth was much quicker... First 22hrs, bleeding, ventouse, retained placenta, surgery.. Second... 7/8 hrs, no pain relief, small tear but stitched up.
B) dc1 7lb. Dc2 7lb 4oz
C) labour and afterpains were alot worse, uterus took longer to shrink back down.

[BackforGood]

Well dc 2 was MUCH quicker (as in, didn't make it into delivery suite )
She wasn't much larger though ... dc1 was 7lb,2 dc2 was 7lb4
No afterpains - indeed, I was in FAR better condition than I was after having dc1.

[TychosNose]

Yes to all three.
Though dc1 was a girl and dc2 a boy so if you had boy then girl weight may go down since girls tend to be smaller.

Also, harder to lose the baby weight second time round, sadly.

[ItsFunnierInEnochian]

2nd birth: induced early due to complications, baby weighed 5lbs 2oz, labour lasted 94 mins from waters breaking to birth (7 hours prior to that but very very mild irregular contractions) and there were NO after pains for me! Fully braced myself for them and got none. My 3rd birth, however... I was convinced there was another baby in there trying to get out, they were really strong.

[Wolfiefan]

Bloody fast labour! 10 hours first time. Less than an hour second time.
Boy first and girl second. He was late and she was early (and 6lb lighter.)
After pains dreadful but then uterus did snap back pretty sharpish!

[weebairn]

Second birth much quicker. 30 hours and 4 hours. Both straightforward home births. I was shellshocked after the first; bouncing around the house on a high after the second.

Second baby much bigger! 6lb 14oz and 8lb 9oz.

First baby born 5 days overdue, second on due date.

Bad afterpains with both. Did lose baby bump quite quickly though.

For me, second pregnancy was much harder than first but second birth considerably quicker and easier despite significantly bigger baby.

[weebairn]

Do you mean 6 oz Wolfiefan!?!?

[vallinnapod]

Thanks ladies! Really interested. I had a DS first time at 38+4, 7lbs 7oz. PG with a girl so intrigued on the size front!

[BlingBubbles]

I am due my second in January so these stories about fast second deliveries are making me nervous! My first birth was super quick I was in active labour at 4am and my DD was born at 7:02 after 20mins of pushing.... MW told me if I ever have another to consider a home birth as might not make it to the hospital

[weebairn]

Blingbubbles unlike you I had a long first labour so was really hoping the shorter second labour thing was true… but just to say I really loved both my home births (despite finding the first one very hard) and the amazing thing about the second was DD slept through it and the next morning got to meet "her" baby in her own home… it was pretty much the loveliest moment of my life.

[weebairn]

Both of mine are girls by the way vallinnapod - I was a bit shocked at the size of DD2!

[LadyHamiltonsPussy]

First birth 38+4, 16hr labour, 7lb 2oz. Boy.

Second 39+0, 22hr labour, 8lb 2.5oz, girl.

No afterpains to speak of either time.

[angelopal]

First was 6hrs with 5.2lb
Second was 3.5hrs with 6.12lb

No difference in after pains that I can remember. I was told that 2nd labour would be quicker. Do you have a plan for childcare as you might not get much time?

[JuniperTisane]

Birth no1 was also 6 hours start to finish.
Birth no2 was 2.5.
MW told me to expect labour to be half to 2/3rds length of the first one. I expected about 3-4 hours.

DS1 7lb6oz
DS2 7lb2oz

No significant afterpains with either of them.

[Taffeta]

Birth 1 :a week early
8lbs
boy
36 hours from first contraction, ventouse, episiotomy, epidural

Birth 2: one day early
7lb 7 oz
girl
1 hour 20 mins from first contraction, no pain relief- no time, just got pants off in time, had her within 4 mins of arriving at hospital

[Poolbirthx2]

Second labour was so much faster (6 hours) but also much more painful, although no pain relief
DC1 - 8.9. DC2 - 8.3
Omg after pains were so painful!
Good luck x

[Bagoffrogs]

Second labour a breeze (5hrs) compared to first (24hrs). DD2 was 15 days late and I was warned by midwife to expect much bigger than DD1 (who was 13 days late and weighed 8.6). Out popped the dinkiest 7.10lb-er! Afterpains horrific though and lasted a fair while.
Good luck x

[Rubberstamp]

First, 6lb8, 7 hr labour.
Second, 7lb3, 40min labour.
After pains worse after first labour.
Both born on due dates.

[Littlegiraffe]

1st labour was 7.5 hours and, at 38+6, DD was at 6lb 12oz.
2nd was 5hours, 39+4, and DS was 7lb 14oz.

Both were pretty textbook, had gas &air, but I couldn't get out of bed with DD due to a meconium issue.

I don't remember after pains at all the first time around so was shocked by how strong they were with DS. But they didn't last long at all.
Congratulations btw

[Thesimplethings]

First baby was a week overdue. First stage labour just under 6 hours, pushing 6 minutes. Born 6lb 8.

Second baby 9 days early. 1hr 50 min labour and 3 mins pushing. Born 5lb 5.

First baby was by far the easiest birth.

[Thesimplethings]

Oh and I don't really remember after pains

[AlwaysWashing]

Yes to faster and (slightly) bigger but no to increased after pains.
Physically I felt pretty damn good after ds2 compared to ds1.

[minipie]

Reading this makes me realise DD2 is likely to be born really VERY fast. DD1 took 10 hours from first twinge to birth AND that was despite me being given some drugs in the middle to slow contractions (as I had to be transferred to another hospital). DD2's going to pretty much shoot out isn't she?

Eeek

Really hoping DD2 is bigger though - DD1 was prem and just under 5lb...

[DramaAlpaca]

Yes to faster and bigger.

Afterpains were about the same with both.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

This is all making for lovely reading! Am due dc2 within the fortnight but hope it will be a quicker birth than dds which was

DD, 40+3, 24hr labour from first contraction to exit, sytocinon drip, prepped for csec, episiotemy and forceps delivery, agony for a week after, 6lb 11.

Cant wait for DS .but I am really hoping for it all to happen in under 12 hrs.