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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Tell me about 2nd time labours

42 replies

Ivortheengine8 · 29/07/2011 20:43

Was yours quicker?
By how much?
Easier?

I am hoping mine will be quicker this time around :) , am now 29 weeks and starting to think about the birth.

I also wondered how long you stayed in hospital after the birth?
I had to stay in 24 hours with dd because she had meconium(sp) in the waters. I hated staying in overnight!

Finally if you had an episiotomy with your first did you have one again with your second?

Thanks :)

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sittinginthesun · 29/07/2011 20:48

Hi. My second labour was a fantastic experience. Same length of time as first (11 hours) but no real pain until I was around 8cm.

I had a crap time with first - meconium and DS got stuck and in distress. Ended up with 3rd degree tear.

Second time, I felt far more in control. It actually went to plan, and I had an epidural and cut at planned to avoid further tearing / he was born at 2.45am and I wad home in bed by 11.30am.

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Ivortheengine8 · 29/07/2011 20:51

Thanks sitting. I had an epidural with my first. Did you find it slowed labour down or not really?

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IHeartKingThistle · 29/07/2011 20:51

1st labour 20.5 hours. Meconium and late night delivery so had to stay 2 nights.

2nd 6 hours. Home 6 hours later. Was lovely.

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mousymouse · 29/07/2011 20:52

much quicker and thus much more intense than the first.
stayed 2 nights because we were waiting for test results for a blood condition that might have required treatment.

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smallpotato · 29/07/2011 20:54

1st was pretty straightforward 12 hour labour and waterbirth on gas and air, though I did have a 2nd degree tear.

2nd time I ended up being induced I was gutted but only needed one lot of gel to get me going and then it was pretty similar to the 1st. More painful but that was probably due to the induction. No tearing though and I was up and about and feeling normal again much sooner. Both times very quick second stage. And both times had to stay overnight due to meconium.

Good luck!

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mckenzie · 29/07/2011 20:54

ist labour 27 hours followed by being prepared for C section when out popped DS. Cant remember if i had an episiotomy or not

2nd labour at home, in birthing pool, 2 hours from start to finish. So so so much better/easier/nicer.

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Jojay · 29/07/2011 20:54

Second birth much quicker, 7 hrs v's 20+.

Pain much more manageable due to being less knackered.

Episiotomy with first (epidural, forceps) 2nd degree tear with no 2.

Went home the same day. Lovely.

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notsuchayummymummy · 29/07/2011 20:55

DD1 37 hrs DD2 7 hrs (two hours active if that)
DD1 G&A, Pethedine x 2, Epidural & 3 top ups, Epi and forceps. DD2 G&A for the last 10 mins!!!!! Natural Delivery

DD1 - labour = nearest thing to hell for me. DD2 - labour = easier than some days in the office!!

I did have a small 2nd degree tear with DD2 - no need to suture and healed oh so much better!

HTH :)

Good Luck x

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sittinginthesun · 29/07/2011 21:00

I think the epidural did slow it down, as I was almost fully dilated when I had it and had to wait for an hour before I could start to push, but it was lovely. I could feel everything (including the stitches afterwards) but it took the edge off the pain. I just felt in control.

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wotabouttheworkers · 29/07/2011 21:00

5 hours but managed the contractions with yoga breathing exercises. Managed too well as my daughter arrived at home, feet first (undiagnosed breech), delivered by a rugby-playing ambulance man. All was fine - this is not a horror story!! Had a small tear. She's 23 now.

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hayleysd · 29/07/2011 21:02

I was induced both times, 1st was in labour for 3 hours, 2nd only 20 mins and nearly passed out as it was so intense! Only pushed twice and ds had to go to scbu as he had fluid on lungs from not pushing for long and was small and cold

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Henrythehappyhelicopter · 29/07/2011 21:05

First labour beyond hideous, second heaven.

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Ivortheengine8 · 29/07/2011 21:08

Keep them coming :)

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libbyssister · 29/07/2011 21:09

1st labour, overdue, long, meconium, forceps, episiotomy, blah blah blah
2nd labour, 8 hours, got to midwife led unit fully dilated, water birth, made me smiley for weeks afterwards
3rd labour....don't ask

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CantMoveForCrap · 29/07/2011 21:10

My first labour was about 6 hours. The second was totally different and alot quicker - they kicked me out of hospital as I was only 1cm dilated - but exactly one hour later I gave birth at home!

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SusiaX · 29/07/2011 21:13

Wouldn't say either was any more or less painful and had G&A both times.

1st 18 hours, ventouse and episiotomy due to wanting to get DD out quick because of meconium. Again, evening delivery so two night stay for meconium checks.

2nd 15 hours, slight graze not requiring stitches, walking out the door three hours after delivery.

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Ivortheengine8 · 29/07/2011 21:13

Really can't move? How did it go at home?

When you phone into the hospital in labour with the second do they generally let you come in a bit quicker?

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libbyssister · 29/07/2011 21:18

My midwife didn't seem too bothered about getting me in quickly for no. 2. She said that I couldn't be that far along because I was giggling when I was talking to her (nervous laugh more like it). Like I said, got to the unit fully dilated and DS2 arrive about an hour later. I stayed in overnight but only as it was a late evening delivery.

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RedHotPokers · 29/07/2011 21:19

1st labour: about 7 hours from waters breaking (no pain) to birth. A couple of hours of moderate pain, 10cm within 30 mins of getting to hospital, followed by 2 hours of pushing (cord round neck). Placenta a nightmare.

2nd labour: about 5 or 6 hours from waters breaking. Period-type pain for a few hours. Just enough time from onset of severe pain to get to hospital. DS born 5 minutes after arriving. Placenta a nightmare again. Was making up spare bed for my mum and dad and tucking my DD in 30 mins before DS entered the world!

So generally very similar, but a much quicker transition from period type pain to birth the second time!

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stripeywoollenhat · 29/07/2011 21:20

my first was just over 4 hours. i'm a little concerned that this means dd2 is going to be born in the car...

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CantMoveForCrap · 29/07/2011 21:21

It was actually a (very quick) amazing experience, - my mother in law actually delivered the baby! The ambulance arrived 5 mins later, closely followed by a community midwife. She made my day when she offered the gas and air while she stitched me back up - I thought I'd missed out! Happy ending all round!

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Ivortheengine8 · 29/07/2011 21:32

Don't say that stripey! :(

I only have DH to take me to the hospital so if he isn't home, I've had it!

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Rosie55 · 29/07/2011 21:40

First labour: 2 days from 4cm to delivery (after 2 days to get to 4cm), pethidine, G&A, episiotomy and ventouse. Stayed in 2 nights.

Second labour: 8 hours from 4cm to delivery, G&A, waterbirth, 1st degree tears that didn't need stitching. Went home 12 hours later.

Both started off back-to-back.

No comparison:)

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Ivortheengine8 · 29/07/2011 21:43

eeek Rosie, I thought I had a raw deal at 14 hours from 4cm!

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BlueyDragon · 29/07/2011 21:51

DD: 14 hours, start to finish, didn't go to hospital until 7 cm as I listened to the hospital's advice, smooth progress to 10 cm with regular contractions, ended up with a ventouse delivery after 2 hours pushing so had an episiostomy and the stitching was almost the worst bit! G&A only (and they even took that away!). DD born at 20:14 so 2 nights in hospital. In postnatal ward with lots of snorers. Multiple changes of midwife team, rubbish postnatal care owing to busy hospital, disaster on the bf front.

DS: Couldn't work out if he wanted to get started or not, one false start visit to delivery suite at 8 a.m. when they gave me a sweep. Things seemed to get going around 5 p.m. then I decided to tell the hospital I was coming in at around 10 p.m. as I wasn't going to wait as long as last time! Cue lots of walking around the hospital, in proper labour by 1 a.m. (or the point I said to the midwife "Is this enough pain for you?"). Couple of hours in the birth pool, got to 10 cm but couldn't then push him out in the pool; he was born about 15 minutes after DH and midwife finally persuaded me to get out! G&A only. Did tear but stitching was fine (less tidy than with DD, I guess because it was a tear not a cut). Single midwife who was amazing, own room for postnatal, much better aftercare aided by having a bit of an idea about what I didn't like the first time round. 2 nights (including labour night) in hospital. BF for 8 months.

All in all, DS had a much better textbook start aided by a bit of experience. 16 months later none of it really matters as there were no real major issues either time. Knowing what I wanted and knowing the system a bit better really helped second time around though. Good luck!