Tell me your 2nd birth stories please!

[emily199027]

Please tell me your 2nd birth stories.

I'm 28 weeks and was supposed to see a consultant yesterday to discuss my options....I ended up seeing some bloke that fobbed me off again with percentages of how 2nd labours are easier blah blah blah. He said I'll have to wait till 36 weeks 😩 which is making me panic and stress even more. I'm seeing my midwife Tuesday so will be discussing with her as she's been very supportive.

My first labour was horrendous and I'm absolutely terrified of giving birth again. So I wanted an ELCS but now he's made me question myself and I'm now panicking because I don't know what to do and I feel a bit forced into having another natural birth and I only stopped crying this afternoon since our appointment yesterday. I would love to give birth naturally but I'm just terrified!

So some 2nd time labour stories would be great please!! X

[nervousandexcited2018]

Hey,

Sorry to hear u had a bad time with the consultant.

My first was awful, 28hours, epidural didnt work, he got stuck, big babe, etc etc

Was under consultant care for 2nd due to above and size of 1st. decided against an elective C-Section on the basis that during labour I wanted the autonomy to say enough is enough which they said was fine.

2nd labour, induced 5 days over (rather then 15 with my son), 18hours, started very similiar to my first and I got worried but epidural worked this time and it was a completley different experience and so glad I did it.

Although i was also scared the 2nd time round I think knowing what was coming and them allowing me some control (which I had none of the first time) really helped and made the experience so much better.

Hope that helps settle your nerves a little and good luck xxxx

[Namechanger2015]

My first was a nightmare too - I went 2 weeks overdue and was induced and had waters broken. 22h labour and no dilation followed by emergency Csection.

With second one I was told I had to have a csection on my due date and was very upset at the prospect of going through that again. Instead she came 2 weeks early, contractions for 7h followed by a natural birth, no tears or scratches and I was up and about immediately. It was a textbook birth.

My third was different again as I had to have an elective csection due to other complications.

But knowing what to expect was a huge advantage after the horror of the first birth. I think anything after that first shock gets easier.

Good luck

[ShackUp]

I had a 3rd degree tear first timeOP - small baby but turned at the last minute. Consultant said I'd be fine to have another vaginal delivery.

DS2 was out in a couple of pushes.

[Scotsmum2017]

First delivery was induced due to expected pre eclampsia, had the legs in stirrups, ventouse and a second degree tear, as DS heart rate went plummeting down, so he had to come out sharpish.

Delivery 2, completely different, natural labour, no assisted delivery, although did have second degree tear again 😱

No two deliveries are the same, big hugs, and stay calm x

[Fia256]

Second delivery for me was 20 minutes from start to finish!! Waters popped movie style, got to the hospital where the midwife said I wasn't dilated at all, tried to fob me off with going home after 10 mins of monitoring. Checked me again before sending me home as was in a lot of pain and had gone up to 8cm DH who id told to turn round and go home made it with about 2 minutes to spare of her being born lol. Was as straight forward as you could be for a Labour, but I'd of much preferred a bit of extra time to get some form of pain relief down me !!

Good luck for when it happens OP fx for a smooth birth for you this time x

[emily199027]

Thank you so much ladies.
I felt like such a failure last time 😞 I had pethidine which I won't be having again! Totally knocked me out and I had no clue what was going on. Also had legs up in stirrups, the ventouse and then forceps. My poor husband must have been panicking. Ended up being cut and I tore and it took the doctor an hour to stitch me up 😩 the pain in the 2 weeks afterwards was the worst, I couldn't sit down, stand, lay down. Which meant I couldn't really do much with my baby.
I feel ashamed to say it as well but it did affect my relationship with him and I remember crying to my husband and Mum because I thought I didn't love him 😞
A short labour would be great...as long as my husbands at home 😂

[emily199027]

P.s epidurals - has anyone had one and how did you find it?
If you actually manage to give birth without assistance...can you go home after if you've had an epidural? That's the only thing swaying me towards a natural birth...going home!!!

[Fia256]

I had an epidural with my first. You press a button every so often to top it up when you feel it's wearing off slightly. I found it great, completely numbed my contractions however it didn't really numb down there, so the pushing part I felt every part i don't know if it was linked or not, but I had to stay in for 2 days after dc1 as my blood pressure shot up. It didn't with dc2 but I had no pain relief. But it could have been anything and not the epidural that caused that anyway but that was the only difference for me.

[Arapaima]

My first labour was long - 20 hours from being 5cm dilated, episiotomy, lots of stitches.

Second labour was a breeze - 3.5 hours in total from the first contraction!

I had an epidural with my first but I couldn't go home until 24 hours after the birth (as there was more than 24 hours between my waters breaking and giving birth, which increases the risk of infection). Second I didn't need / have time for an epidural as I gave birth only 40 minutes after getting to the hospital. Just gas and air.

[blinkineckmum]

1st - 24hour labour with back-to-back baby. Transferred to hospital from midwife unit after 18hours. Drip, epidural, episiotomy, ventouse. I found it very traumatic and the recovery was long (8 months for the episiotomy to heal, plus carpal tunnel syndrome, backache, piles...).

2nd labour: waters went, nothing happened so booked in for induction at 9am. Cramps started at 1.30am on their own. I stayed at home coping with an exercise ball and Tens. Got intense at 4am. Went in at 5am. 10cm dilated! Time to push! No time for pain relief but baby here by 6am. Felt fine within a few days easily. Painful but much less traumatic.

[blinkineckmum]

PS. After 18 hours of excruciating pain in 1st b2b labour, the epidural was a lifesaver. I also topped it up myself and could feel the contractions but no pain. I went home the same day.

[bulldogmum]

I had an awful 1st experience. 42 hours of contractions under 3 mins, slow to dilate. Pethidine made me so sick, asked for an epidural but the ward was so busy I waited 8 hours for it to go in. When it did it was fab! Ventouse delivery and episiotomy.

Had DC2 3 days ago. I too had asked for ELCS. Was under consultant care as a result of the 8 hour wait and decided to go naturally as they gave me loads of assurances.

Last week I was induced at 41 weeks, after 2 hours of contractions every 2 mins I asked for epidural. They got me prepped and then anaesthetist spent 2 hours trying to get it in, during which time I had to sit or lie totally still thru each contraction. Finally got it in and it didn’t work. Anaesthetist got called back and was trying again when DC2 decided to come. So I ended up with no pain relief and a very sore back. However my midwife was fantastic, she gave full instructions when to push and not and I didn’t tear at all. DC2 scratches me inside on the way out with his nail & I required a stitch. Lost lots of blood. DC2 was born at 1.30am and we were home by 6pm so epidural didn’t matter. They only kept us so long cos I lost so much blood.

[NextInLine]

My first was awful, baby was in distress, I was rushed into theatre, luckily they managed to get her out with forceps and an episiotomy. The epidural stopped working and I was given a spinal block.
2nd was actually a lovely experience, 12 hours of labour using gas and air and about 15 minutes pushing. Left hospital a few hours later.

[Yogagirl123]

Quick! DS2 was born in under 2hrs, natural delivery, but more slightly more painful than I remembered with my first DS. But that may have been due to the speed and DS2 birth weight.

[LuxuryMilk]

Had a horrendous birth first time round. Big tears, took forever.

2nd birth was genuinely lovely. I was able to keep myself calm and get in the zone with contractions, letting them wash over me and truly resting between each one. I was in a big corner bath which really helped.

[Chocolatecake12]

It’s so horrible when you have a scary first birth experience and it’s natural to worry about subsequent labours.
My second birth was so much easier than my first and I believe it’s because I was in more control, I knew what to expect and my body had done it before.
First labour I was induced on wed night and he wasn’t born until fri morning.
Second labour started at 6am and he was born at 11am.
I would say to speak to your midwife and it’s great she’s been supportive so far.
Also next time you see a consultant write down your questions and don’t leave until you have the answers. Take someone else with you too.
Good luck

[Melmam]

My first Labour was horrible induced at 40+4 as he was too big for me got I was only 8 hours in Labour but started contractions just an hour after induction and was contracting every 2 minutes got the epidural and he went into distress he turned while coming through the birth canal and got stuck ended up with failed ventos then forceps and episiotomy my son's face was really badly damaged from it and I felt like a complete failure and it took me a good few weeks to recover from the trauma of it all. My second was a much better experience although a much longer Labour I was 27 hours with him and I just used gas and air it was really painfull from the time they broke my waters to him arriving was just under a hour and I was home the next day feeling great.

[TriJo]

First birth was a relatively calm birth centre birth at 41+1. Second birth was a nervy induction at 38 weeks for reduced movements, true knot in the cord which was around his neck, shoulder dystocia (big baby problem with a 7lb 2 skinny little thing...) and a trip to the NICU for my son.

[emily199027]

Thank you so much for all of your stories, you've all put my mind at ease a little.
I'm trying to fill myself with positive motivational thoughts of I can do it and I'm not going into not knowing anything about it this time.
Last time I didn't have a birth plan, this time I'm going to have one and put epidural at the top of my list!!!!

[blinkineckmum]

Good for you. Sensible plan!

[dawn96]

I'm pooping my pants my first was so fast I started having contractions around 5:30 am and they were 2 mins apart straight away ,went to hospital at 6:30 ,got checked after a bath at 7am only 3cm dilated and in a horrific amount of pain at no time between contractions I was uncontrollably vomiting from pain and blacking out as it was so sudden Haha! at all the midwives were absolutely shattered bless them ,8am came and I was 10 cm ,I'd gone from 3 to 10 in an hour! Then baby came at 9:20. She was back to back though or she'd probably have come quicker. I had about 20 seconds tops between contractions, I'm glad it was quick but I don't really remember my labour except the extreme pain of the contractions I don't even remember the baby coming really :( , I'm scared my second one will be even quicker as they say that's the case but my OH works nights 3 hours away.

[Oysterbabe]

Mine was so easy. 40+3 and Started having a few mild cramps and pink discharge about 11:30pm so I went to bed to try and get some rest before things kicked off. I couldn't settle for some reason and then my waters broke spectacularly at 1:30am. The contractions started immediately and were close together and intense. We asked in-laws to come to look after DD. They arrived at 3:30am, by which time we were waiting on the drive in the car and I was getting very anxious about needing to get to hospital. Arrived at hospital 3:45am and he was born at 4:11am. Pushing stage is recorded as 11 minutes but I didn't consciously push at all, my body just ejected him. I had a small second degree tear that healed well. We were home for lunch.

[PandaCat]

My first labour was straight forward, with gas&air, no tears just a graze, just over 7 hours! Contractions started before waters went, 5mins apart, then waters went about an hour later. We got to the hospital I was 6cm dilated, she was born 3 hours after we arrived.

Second (3 days ago now!) was more intense was written down as 2 hours 22 mins. No pain relief, there was no time. No tears again. Waters went first, contractions an hour later 2/3 mins apart, quickly got closer together. We got to the hospital just over an hour after contractions started, she was born 7 minutes later!

[emily199027]

Wow these fast labours sound amazing 😂 although I bet they seem like they're going on for hours!

[emily199027]

Just thought I'd give you all an update on what my midwife said today!
She wasn't happy at all about what happened and when she looked at my notes, I'd been called Vicky...who on earth is Vicky?! I'm Emily!
So she's rang the hospital for me and got me an appointment next Thursday with someone who can actually discuss my options instead of someone who just goes on percentages and numbers! Fingers crossed someone listens to me!