Two questions about 2nd labour/birth

[ChocolateCoins]

I'm pregnant with DC2 and feel more worried about Labour and birth this time round!

1. I had an episiotomy (sp?) with DD, is it more likely to tear this time or will they need to re cut it ?

1. We've moved house since DD was born and now live in the middle of nowhere, 45+ min drive to the hospital on a good day. I'm always being told how much Faster 2nd labours are. I'm so so scared we won't get to the hospital on time! So were your second labours faster than your first?

Thanks!

[PickleSarnie]

I had an episiotomy the first time around. I had an ever bigger headed child the second time around but only had a scratch and one token stitch put in.

My labour the second time around was much quicker and easier but I still had plenty warning. Was your first really quick? Would you consider a homebirth if so?

[BR44]

Hi Chocolatecoins. No words of wisdom I'm afraid, but I am in the same boat. Episiotomy with DC1 and now 35 wks with DC2 and starting to get twitchy about the thought of the scar tearing or new tearing or another episiotomy or any horrible combination of the above...

Unlike you though I am only a 5 minute drive from the hospital so am very much hoping for a rapid experience!

[Faffette]

I had an episiotomy the first time. Got a small tear second time round but the old scar was not affected. Labour was quicker but I also had plenty of warning. Although I started to push quite soon after getting to hospital so I am glad I went when I did.

[shottspar]

I had an episiotomy the first time and was induced - labour was about 17 hours. Second time round, also induced, my labour was only 3 hours. My old scar was not affected at all and I didn't so much as have a bruise - the midwife was quite pleased with herself when she checked me over!

[cassell]

I didn't have an episiotomy but did tear with dc1, no tear with dc2. 1st labour was 2.5hrs, 2nd labour 45mins good job I didn't live 45mins from the hospital, only just made it as it was.

[Queenofknickers]

Third degree tear with DS1 and not even a graze with DS2 who was 2lbs heavier.....

However yes DS2 was born in 45 mins and if I didn't live round the corner from birthing centre he would have been born at home. DS1 took 14 hours.

[ToThreeOrNotToThree]

I had a tear along the edge of the old scar tissue with DD2. Healed much better though.

My first labour was days and days (ended up on drip), second was about 10 hours. From first proper having to pay attention, but had been having irregular contractions all day. I could have made it 45 minutes in the car if I had gone early enough to be able to cope with sitting down (back to back baby, had to stand up for most of it).

How fast was your first?

[BlueChampagne]

A tear and couple of stitches with DS1 but none with DS2 (slightly larger). DS1 12 hours start to finish; DS2 3 hours. Only lived a couple of miles from the hospital but he still ended up an unplanned home birth because my waters hadn't broken and I didn't realise how much things had progressed until too late!

MW gave me one very good piece of advice: you are easier for them to find if you stay at home rather than somewhere on the road between home and hospital!

Would you consider a planned home birth?

[mrsbungle]

I had an episiotomy first time round (which also tore either end of it). Second time I did have a very small tear but I didn't really feel it, had only a couple of stitches and it healed very well and very quickly (unlike the first time).

My second labour was a lot faster than my first!

[RobbinyoureastereggsSparkles]

I had an extensive episiotomy the first time and it did tear along the scar the second time but it felt like nothing TBH. Second labour was a lot faster but was still roughly ten hours.

[Queenofknickers]

Good advice from Blue Champagne - if there's any doubt you'll make to hospital stay home and they will come to you. I didn't realise I was in labour with DS2 even though had only had DS1 18 mos previously. I honestly thought I had trapped wind. I was pushing by time got to birthing centre!

[crazypaving]

I tore, very long 2nd degree with ds1.

ds2 was bigger, with larger head circumference and came out with his hand next to his head (thanks pal) and because I listened really carefully to the midwife I didn't even have a graze this time.

ds2 labour was pretty much exactly half the time of ds1.

good luck! you'll be fine, just listen to what they're saying when you're pushing. and I'd recommend looking into homebirth - I had my first unplanned - not fun at all - and my second planned, and it was fab.

[ChunkyEasterChick]

I had a 2nd degree tear with DD, lost a fair bit of blood, a bit traumatic at the time. Had a much, much smaller tear but in roughly the same spot with DS, so wonder if it was on the edge of some scar tissue. This time it healed much quicker & easier, little blood loss at the time. Barely worth the paperwork... :)

DD arrived about 12hrs after the show, maybe 11hrs after the first contraction, and after maybe 4hrs of 'active' labour. DS arrived less than 7hrs after the first contraction and after less than 90mins of active labour. So yes, much quicker!!

[CPtart]

I had a second degree tear and an episiotomy with DS 1, then an extremely quick labour and another second degree tear with DS 2.

[Suzieismyname]

40 hours from start to finish with DD1, keillands forceps and episiotomy too.
5 hours in total with DD2, no pain relief at all and she was born within 25 mins of arriving at the hospital. I tore a bit with DD2 but not down the episiotomy scar.

[ChocolateCoins]

Thanks so much for all the replies! I have been considering a home birth but keep changing my mind about it.

My first labour was 37 hours, so not a short one! I was having very irregular contractions, so the midwives were reluctant to let me come to the hospital, but let me in the end as they weren't busy. It turned out I wad 6cm when I got there after just 8 hours of labour. DD hadturned back to back during labour which was what was making my contractions irregular apparently. But then everything slowed down after that.

Hope that made sense?

[ChunkyEasterChick]

I had a homebirth with #2. Really positive experience. I would totally recommend it. :)

[Suzieismyname]

sounds much like my experience with DD1. She was back to back and the contractions slowed right down after pethidine and the epidural. That labour was more painful than appendicitis...
I took the view with no 2 that it couldn't get any more painful than before and DD2 pretty much shot out of me once I got on a bed with a midwife at my side!

[PickleSarnie]

Mine was almost identical suzie . Hideous back contractions for hours, pethidine got me off my face but the contractions totally stopped. Was 3cm for what seemed like forever then epidural and nearly ventouse. I

Second was a homebirth and baby arrived about half and hour after the midwife did. Was lovely in comparison.

[snowqueenrollo]

dc1 8 hour labour, episiotomy, hospital birth

dc2 6 hour labour, tiny tear near to epi scar site but nothing that needed attention, planned home birth

[Flisspaps]

Episiotomy and 3a tear first time. Episiotomy 2nd time for forceps. A tear heals better than a cut, and it's probable that you won't need a second episiotomy unless you have an assisted birth.

First one 17hrs induced labour, second one 29 hours from first ctx to birth. You should have loads of time!

Now going to RTFT!

[BettyFlutterbly]

Interesting thread. My labour with dd was 12 but I really want to be at honme with her for as long as possible before going into hosp.
I live abroad and a home birth is not reallt an option. I'm literally 5 mins from hosp so if I can get there and give birth and have dd visiting straight away I'll be a lot happier! Easier said than done I know!

I think I'd opt for a homebirth if I lived in UK.