Second births

[LadyPug]

Hey everyone,

I had a really awful first birth experience - induction, epidural, 18 hour labour, emergency c section etc. Chances of a second one being this bad are slim, right?

Those who have had second birth experiences, were they better (and shorter) than your first?

[Newbietwo]

Following!

[NameChange30]

I’ve only got 1 DC so can’t answer the question I’m afraid. But I imagine there will be women who have had easier births and others who have had harder ones.

Have you decided yet whether to request ELCS or VBAC?

[Bumbumtaloo]

Yes, I won’t go into details about my first birth, it was absolutely awful and won’t be helpful for anyone to hear.

Second birth 39+3 induced (they were concerned about her weight) 7.5hrs labour, 7mins and 3 pushes and she was born (she was small but didn’t need SCBU).

[Onceuponatimethen]

I had stop start labiur with dd1 - was two and a half days from first contraction to birth. The labour itself from first full on contraction to birth was about 24 hours. Had failure to progress, syntocinon drip, well over two hours pushing, bad second degree year.

Second labour - so different. But stop starty again but from first contraction to baby arriving only 15 hours, first full on labour contraction to baby coming only 6 hours and the pushing was so much easier - couldn’t believe how quickly and almost no tearing.

Hope this helps!

[Wow1234]

Just had an elective c section for my second child after emergency c section first time. It was a million times better than emergency.

I was up walking after eight hours, home after 24 hrs... two weeks later now and I feel great! Still taking pain relief but not feeling any discomfort.

I would definitely recommend elective in terms of how much calmer and quick the recovery has been.

[Matilda1981]

I had an horrific first labour - back to back baby, epidural, tear, lasted about 14 hours. 2nd labour, had contractions most of the day (not very painful, carried on looking after my 18 month old as normal, arrived at hospital around 9.15pm with contractions quite close together, dd2 was born about 9.45pm and I was home in bed by around 12.15am the same night!! Unbelievably easy, just had a bit of gas and air!

[Onceuponatimethen]

Sorry I added up wrong in my post. First labour from very first contraction to dc being born was 39 hours! With lots of stopping and starting. At one point contractions were 4 minutes apart and then stopped for a whole day so second birth was a blessed relief!!

[user1483387861]

My two births were radically different.

Birth one-was really long, about 33 hours in total.I took about 19 hours progressing from 1cm to 2cm with regular contractions which got worse and worse as labour progressed. It was a never ending nightmare. Waters were broken to speed things up. I had a bit of pethadine and gas n air but no other intervention. I was crazy though, lots of screaming and yelling. I had a third degree tear and had to wait 8 hours before I could go into theatre. I wasn’t allowed to drink or eat anything during this time and I got incredibly stressed out as a result.

Birth 2-started at 7.30pm, contractions every two minutes from the beginning. It felt a lot more intense even from the beginning but I was a lot calmer due to hypnobirthing and was able to breathe through it easier. Called hospital at the point I felt I needed gas n air and they told me to stay at home. Ten minutes later my waters went and I needed to push, OH rang 999 and ended up delivering her with no medical personnel in the house whatsoever. All in all labour lasted 90 minutes! I tore again but a minor second degree this time. It was a much easier, albeit intense experience but I do wish I had been in hospital as it felt really scary knowing that the baby was coming so quickly with no expertise on hand if anything went wrong.

[emz1990]

I had a horrendous first labour. Had to be induced first with pessary and then put on the drip. Hated every moment as was stuck on the bed attached to monitors so couldn't do anything to relieve the pain. Was 18 hours from the pessary.

Second however was a breeze, went into labour naturally and had her within 5 hours.

[Lilsquish]

Following ( and praying) too

[FraterculaArctica]

First birth - 36 hour terribly painful labour, ended in crash CS. Second birth - waters broke, baby born next morning 50 mins after 1st contraction, just gas and air. So yes.

[DuckBilledAardvark]

My first was fast, my second was even faster. Woke up having contractions, planned to have a bath and chill out for a few hours whilst the baby sitter came over... what actually happened was that I had a quick shower and felt the urge to push and had to leave urgently for hospital and arrived fully dilated, no2 was born in time for breakfast! 😳

[TheHolidayArmadillo]

My second birth was much faster and easier than my first. First contractions at 6am, full labour by 1 and DD born 2 hours later.

[MagicFajita]

My second labour was far quicker and easier. 8 hours from start to finish and out in a few pushes. My third was 6 hours and out in a few pushes.

My first was long , very inconsistant and required intervention.

[Babdoc]

As you’ve already had one Caesarean, there is now an incision scar on your uterus, and a small risk that it can rupture during a second labour, leading to an emergency Caesar. You will be carefully monitored if you and your obstetrician decide to have a trial of labour, aiming for a normal vaginal delivery for your second baby.
A lot depends on what the reason was for the original Caesar. If it was for a small or malformed pelvis, you will probably need an elective section for all future babies. If it was fetal distress or failure to progress, then you may well manage a vaginal delivery next time.
Second labours are usually shorter and less traumatic than first ones, but that’s not a guarantee, especially when you have a bad obstetric history. Be guided by your obstetrician, and don’t set your heart on a vaginal delivery. All that matters is the health and safety of you and your baby, whatever form of birth is involved! Good luck, and best wishes for a safe and pain free experience.

[Rosiie]

You know they say the more you have the easier it gets. I don't believe in that shit, sorry. My first labour was very painful and long 20 hours long I passed out several times on gas&air , second 8 hours and third labour my most painful and shortest 6 hours, I still have lower back problems because of it and he's nearly 2. So my advice is not to listen to anyone's stories cuz everyone's different. I went in there thinking it would be easier cuz I already had two DC but boy was I wrong.

[LadyPug]

Thank you babdoc our consultant has recommended vbac which is what I would also really like but I am nervous of it going wrong. Most of these stories are those who have had vaginal births twice. I’m wondering if my labour will be just as bad this time as like you say, they want to monitor me closely (I don’t want to be on my back again), also I guess with the second vaginal birth the route is clear. I only made it to 6 cm last time so only part of my route is clear! I had c section due to dd getting stuck (I believe not helped by being on back). Lovely to hear story of a c section birth followed by a good vbac as my worry is how likely this is!

[LadyPug]

Ps thank you everyone for your comments

[ChocolateButton15]

1st birth completely traumatic and ended in a crash c section under General. 2nd baby I had a c section booked but he came at 38 weeks naturally. Only had gas and air in the end. I was very shocked in a good way as I was 1000% sure I needed a c section or the same things would happen again.

[moomoogalicious]

Ist birth horrendous. 2nd was 2 hours from first twinge to delivery.

Was expecting 3rd to be even quicker but apparently the muscles don't work as well. Dc3 was still out in 2 pushes!

[LadyPug]

Wow chocolatebutton that’s so good to know! Did you need to be attached to a monitor or anything throughout?

[LadyPug]

Thanks for sharing moom these stories make me feel positive!

[girlandboy]

First birth relatively easy, took 7 hours.

Second birth, horrible and took 15 hours. Sorry.

[LegoLady95]

My second birth healed a lot of mental wounds about my first birth (emergency c-section under a GA following a long labour, followed by a 5 day hospital stay with post dural headaches and blood patches.

Second was a breeze in comparison and I really enjoyed it.

[ChocolateButton15]

Yes I was attached to a monitor but I didn't really notice it, tbf i was in too much pain to move anyway. The doctor popped in a few times to check it was all ok. When I went into labour they did give me the option of a c section but my 1st went wrong because of a failed induction so I decided to try labour because it was happening naturally. I had the c section booked because I wouldn't consent to another induction.
If you try a Vbac and it isn't working they should be quick to offer a c section. They was also good at offering me pain relief this time but the gas and air was ok and I was keen to get home. On the whole I can say I was terrified of going into labour but in the end it was ok and has healed some of the feelings I've had since the 1st birth.