Painful first labour but not so painful second labour stories please!

[Dorisdolalee]

Just that really. My first was so so painful. I progressed well and contractions ramped up considerably. I had mobility issues & monitoring so was on my back and didn't stand a chance of alleviating pain through movement. I was quickly offered an epidural. The actual birth was instrumental and I had a bad tear and Pph.

This time around i want to try and avoid the chain of events that led to forceps and tearing. I'm not immobile this time & I'd like to hear from people who didn't suffer from the pain so badly second time around. Although maybe I'm being overly optimistic here!

[CarbeDiem]

I didn't have any assistance but from 18 hour, failed epidural, stuck on my back, hours of pushing with ds1.
To less than 6 hours from start to finish, with an actual 2 minutes of 2nd stage labour, I actually pushed once (he flew out that quick his little eyes were bloodshot) Ds2.
It was still painful obviously but because it was much much faster it was more bearable.

My sis had forceps with her first after a slow labour with her first but had a quick delivery with no problems or intervention with her second.

As they say - after the first the path is already made :)

[SpaghettiMeatballs]

It wasn't any less painful second time in terms of the contractions but it did only take 50 minutes and was so easy compared to my first.

Good luck!

[Dorisdolalee]

Thanks for your feedback!

[BlueChampagne]

DS1 12 hours start to finish: TENS followed by pool. Home following morning.
DS2 3 hours start to finish. Unplanned home birth, TENS only. Not admitted.

Hope that's what you wanted to hear. Don't let your TENS be knocked back to zero on the way to the hospital!

[oohnewshoes]

With ds I had a 30 hour labour. Bac to back. Failed epidural. Felt the urge to push from 5cms. I could talk for hours about it.:( I could never understand how anyone could say they forgot their labour.

With Dd I had 3 hours of very manageable contractions. My midwife broke my waters at 9cms and 2 push later she was born.

My dc's biethos couldn't have been more different.

[sjs1528]

First on monitor, sytocin drip, very painful, stuck on back, unable to move. Kept being told to "just try to hold out a little longer for epidural so you can progress more" then when begging for epidural told "oh dear you are 10 cm and far to late now". In a hospital. 12 hours.

Second - 4 hours in total, water birth, no pain relief, contractions painful but know what to expect and being far less scared made the whole experience much more pleasant.

[Dorisdolalee]

Really great to hear all your second time round stories. Thank you.
I'm wondering about a tens machine now. The gas and air made me queasy and cross.

[MyCrazyLife]

I think fear = pain.

First birth: I had just turned 19, had no birth partner and no clue what was happening to me. I was terrified. The midwives laughed at me rather than explaining. I had an induction which took off very quickly and then a forceps delivery and episiotomy all with just 15 minutes worth of gas and air at the end.

Second birth: I was nearly 22, and had a supportive fiancé with me. I had a fantastic midwife and a home birth. I was also on maternity leave from my midwifery degree - as a result I'd seen a few births, and also delivered babies. I knew what was happening, I knew what was coming. Despite, again, only having 15 minutes worth of gas and air (it broke!), the pain was much less and the birth far 'nicer'.

I've since gone in to have a third DC but still, the second birth was the best overall. Hope that helps :)

[SpaghettiMeatballs]

YY to pinkflamingo. DC2's birth was one of the best experiences of my life. I understand how people can think that and what they mean by 'urge to push'. My body just did it all for me in two pushes that were really just massive contractions pushing him out.

I don't have a favourite child but I do have a favourite birth!

[Dorisdolalee]

Yes I was terrified first time around and midwife and partner mirrored my fears rather than encouraging me.

[Mammanat222]

Number 2 is due anytime soon and I optimistic about this birth!

Last one was 36h at home (contractions never got beyond 6 minutes apart but they only told me to come in when waters went). I had another 15 hours after I went in despite being 5cm I was exhausted and dehydrated after the horrific 36h at home

I did manage to have baby without any intervention and although I ended up needing the drip from 6-10cm I managed on G&A and had a natural delivery after 2 hours pushing.

I had no tears or grazes or anything untoward in terms of actual childbirth but I was a battered wreck from the physical ordeal of such an epic labour. From head to toe I was a complete mess (veins in my face all became visible from the exertion of pushing, shoulder pain from using the bars on the bed for leverage couldn't lift my arms up for weeks after, Hip pain due to stirrups again this pain lasted weeks, massive bruising on arm due to needing a new cannula put in and they couldn't get it in my hand)

Only part of me that was unscathed was actually the part I expected to suffer!!!

[777emm]

my first was painful but my second wasn't as painful but yet still heavier than my first

[nutsinwinter]

Second time around was soooo much easier!

Yes it hurt, but it was totally doable. It was faster and easier than my first (which was a nightmare on many levels to be fair).

I had mild PTSD after my first. And yet believe it or not I look back fondly on the day I gave birth to my second. No pain relief either (not a stealth boast, just a statement of fact, I never got my medal ).

I was repeatedly told that (barring specific circumstances) how your first birth goes is no indication of what to expect in subsequent births).

You can totally do this!!!

[CLJ52]

First baby - 26 hours, 20 of them very difficult, ending in a high cavity forceps delivery and a need for a pelvic floor repair. (7lb baby) Nightmare experience.

Second baby - only went to hospital because waters had gone, 20 minutes of labour - 9lb 12oz baby. Easy peasy. It really was a joyous, happy occasion.

Good luck!

[5dogsgoswimming]

First labour was agony at 4 cm stage. Absolute agony. Maybe I wasn't prepared.

Second labour at 4 was in pain but coped very well

Had an epidural both times eventually