Second labour

[Sabina93]

Hi Everyone. I’m currently 36+6 weeks pregnant with my second and was wondering if you could please tell me your second labour experiences also compared to your first? My first was born 41+1 and took 76 hours from first contraction, ane ended up with forceps and epidural. I’m soooo scared this time. I know that no one can tell me what second birth will be but would nice to hear your experiences. Also first one was back to back so that’s probably why it also took ages.
Anyway thank you. 😊

First induced, epidural, managed to push him out, took all day but he arrived at 9.58. Second accidental homebirth 3 hours from first twinge.

First was a 52 hour labour. Managed a natural delivery, despite having my waters broken and being put on a drip as I stalled at 7cm. Feck me I was a wreck afterwards. No tears or grazes (by some miracle) but whilst my vagina was fine, every other part of me was a mess. Was close to assisted delivery and gave birth with about 10 people in the room! Baby needed to be kept in for obs so we were in for 36h.

Second was 4 hours from waters going to baby in arms. Was a delivery in birthing centre with just myself, DP and MW. Got to hospital at 6am, baby came at 7am and I was home for a late lunch!

My first was awful: over 30 hours from first contraction to child being born. Ended up using forceps, stitched to within an inch of my life. Had to sit on a rubber ring for a month afterwards.

Second child: Mild labour pains from mid afternoon until bedtime, managed to get a night's sleep, woke up with stronger labour pains: went into hospital at 8am and child born an hour later. He shot out! Had stitches, but felt euphoric as it was such a different experience.

Both pregnancies went 10 days over due date.

First was in labour for around 24 hours and then had emergency c section.

Second had latent labour for a few days but proper labour was shorter at around 10 hours so much better!

First was five days late, 23 hour labour with episiotomy and ten stitches.

Second was five weeks early, four hour labour and no stitches.

First was 3 hours 50 mins. Gas and air pain relief. 2nd degree tear.
I was induced at 42 weeks with my second. Manual breaking of waters, baby was out exactly 2 hours later. Both vaginal births.

Very similar.
1st - induced at 37+3 , 2 hour active labour after pessary and ARM, gas and air, episiotomy and manual placenta removal

2nd - induced at 37+2, 1 hour active labour with drip after ARM, gas and air, 2 degree tear and manual placenta removal.

Second felt much more controlled and relaxed.

Back to back labours are particularly painful. My first was 22 hours and back to back. My second was only 5 hours induced, but if I had a gun I'd of ended it all right there and then!

First birth:
30 hours, started with tens, gave up and had epidural and episiotomy

Second birth:
12 hours, tens/gas and air only

Third birth:
On off labour for around 15 hours, then when it started properly around 2 hours, tens/gas and air only. Left hospital 3 hours after giving birth (was only in the hospital 4 hours!)

Really the 2nd and 3rd were a total breeze compared to #1. I went in to the hospital too soon, tried far to long to just have tens machine and when I gave up I was exhausted.
With both #2/3 I went in saying I wanted an epidural and both times the midwife said she'd hold off on doing an internal, but I'd have to hold off on having an epidural. She promised that as soon as I said I wanted one she'd page the anaesthetist, so I felt in control, but I never even got near the point of thinking that I might need one. Like you, I was far more scared the 2nd time.

First was about 50 hours and ended up with ventouse in theatre, baby went to special care and I had a huge episiotomy including an internal cut (his head got stuck high up due to my narrow pelvis).

Second labour also very long but he was born naturally in the end and we were able to come home the same day. I tore badly but it didn’t take anything like as long to stitch, or heal, as the cut first time round.

I had difficult labours because of my pelvis being small and a funny shape though-hopefully that won’t apply to you!

Start to finish all my labour's (3) took 2.5 hours ish...including back to back for the second.
My DD had a very longish Labour with her first child and barely reached the hospital with her second.
It's bound to be worrying for you but not a given that it will be as stressful this time.

I was induced on first at 41 + 3. When it came to pushing needed intervention. Failed ventouse eventual forceps delivery. I was in a lot of pain after.

Second went into labour myself at 40 + 2. First pain around 5.30am baby in arms 12.30. Completely different experience. No intervention needed and very quick recovery. It was quite healing after the trauma of the first delivery.

I had an epidural both times.

@Flashinggreen wow the second one was really fast. 😀 and what week did first and second came at?

@Crunchymum 52 hours and 4 hours. Wow what a difference. Hopefully my second will be that quick too. and what week did first and second came at?

@Piffle11 thank you for your response. So second one was also a lot easier for you too. That’s good to hear.

41+3 for DC1 and 40+1 for DC2.

My first DC was 41 weeks, I was in active labour for 25 hours, had an epidural and a ventouse delivery with 1.5 hours of pushing followed by a nice PPH that put me on the borderline of needing a transfusion.

DC2 was 4.5 hours all in all with a bit of gas and air,pushed for 8 minutes (felt like 30 seconds) and that was that.

Lots of stitches with both for different reasons, but number 2 was so much easier. I wish you the same.

@popandchoc that’s good that you could have the vaginal birth with the second after the c section 😊

@Blossomtoes second one also a lot easier. That is good to hear.

@skippy67 and @shakeitoffsis thank you for your responses. Both labours seem quite fast. Hopefully the second one will be quick for me too. 🙏🏻

First was 37+6 and 3 hours
Second was 32+6 and 45 minutes. Luckily I was in hospital with the second or he wouldn’t have survived. Both labours started with waters going in a very dramatic way.

@Sabina93 first was 12 days late, the earliest they would induce me, second was 6 days late, thankfully in time for my brother's wedding 3 days after.

@MissMaple82 😀😀I’m sorry to laugh but it just reminds me myself. I was seriously the same. I just wish this one is easier and hopefully the baby won’t be back to back because these back contraction were killing me.

@MargaretThursday thanks oh so much for your response. I’m happy to hear that other labours were easier.
anyway that is why I do not want to give birth at birth centre because I want to have the option to have an epidural or other pain relieves just in case.

@Whitacre im so sorry to hear you had this difficult labours. At least the second wasn’t that complicated and you could have gone home the same day. That’s good 😊

First 39+2 latent labour for 2 days couldn't keep anything down, admitted to hospital as dehydrated so induced laboured for a further day and a bit still only 4cm so gave it up as a bad job and had EMCS

Second 37+3 didn't realise I was in labour to start with thought baby was moving a lot and possibly braxton hicks, realised it was proper labour at tea time ish, arrived at hospital at 23:10 baby arrived 23:30. A few stitches required but a total walk in the park compared to no 1.

Good luck x

@neilyoungismyhero wooow. Lucky you 👏🏻I wish my second will be quick too. I mean not that quick because I want to be able to get to the hospital but quick enough so I don’t get exhausted and depressed like last time after 4 days of labour. And What week did your first and second came at if you don’t mind me asking?

@Frasa that’s what I’m hoping for that the second one will be easier because the first labour really made me think twice if I really want to go through it again

@pointythings thank you very much. 8 minutes of pushing. Nice work 👏🏻😊

@MrsALambert oh wow that sounds crazy. So both were really quick but as you said luckily you were at hospital with the second. 45 minutes that’s really really fast.

@Flashinggreen haha so good timing actually 😊

@TheArtfulScreamer1 thank you for your response. So the Second one was so much easier for you, that is good to hear. Hopefully I’ll have the similar experience with second 😊

First was induced at 42wks, back to back, drip, ventouse, third degree tear and episiotomy and minor pph. Only 12 or 13hrs but traumatic.

Second was also very late, 10 days over but spontaneous. Was actually my longest labour from first contractions to birth - about 18hrs. But actual active labour was only 6hrs. She was back to back but turned. Second degree tear, but much better experience.

Third, fourth and fifth all induced. Sigh.

First 39+1... straight forward to start but ultimately ended in forceps & 3rd degree tear after a 10 hour labour but 2.5hours of that time was active pushing.

Second 39+2 was a planned homebirth. 2 hours, born in the pool. Minor 1st degree tear :)

It's anxiety inducing having a rough first labour but it really doesn't mean a definitely bad time the next time.

Good luck!