To think 2nd labour won't be as bad as first?

[jollybobs89]

29 weeks pregnant with DC number 2 getting really anxious about labour!

First labour over 24 hours ended up with forceps episiomty being stitched up in theatre afterwards.

I know probably not as bad as some people have had it but is it easier 2nd time round?

Haha I just don't want forceps again stories please!

My second labour was miles better than my first but my third labour was the worst of all of them!

1st was 26 hours, episiotomy, haemorrhage, complete nightmare. 2nd was less than 2 hours start to finish, no stitches, no pain relief, home the same day!

First labour was bad ventouse episiotomy 2nd degree tear. Second labour was a lot worse much more painful roughly same length of time episiotomy forceps and third degree tear x

1st was 22 hrs and hellish- wanted to die.
2nd was 8 hrs and hard work and painful -but didnt ever feel at the stage where I wanted to die.
3rd was 20hrs and emcs

Second was much quicker and I was much less hysterical about it so could handle the pain better. Overall it was a much more positive experience. Bad tearing with both but second time round didn't need stitched in theatre so marginally better.

Dd1 was 12 hours, 4 of those in hospital after being sent home the night before. Water birth, gas and air and a good helping of stitches.
I always considered myself very lucky to have this one, it was hard but felt like a positive birth experience.

Dd2 born at home. Planned home birth and was then advised against one as she was deemed too small with not enough water. She didn’t get the memo so thank goodness we were prepared for one anyway! 1 hour 45 mins after waking up she was born, no midwife, no paramedics, no nothing (not even DP as he was downstairs thinking I was being dramatic!)

Currently 24 weeks with dd3 and looking forward to seeing what her birth will bring! Definitely going to prepare for a home birth again, regardless of advice

You know what to expect this time and your body will remember. Let your body take over and go with the flow!

I will say I had gas and air for both.....because I couldn't speak through the pain to ask for anything stronger!

Sorry, my second was worse. Harder pregnancy, harder birth, not as good a sleeper, couldnt put her down. Very cute baby though, worth all of it. She a teen now and still makes me laugh every day.
My first was late and induced then labour happened very quickly. My second I went into labour naturally at 1 week overdue, all was fine then it seemed to stall and they had to break my waters to get things moving again. She came out face up so was a back to back labour which often take longer.

Either way, congrats on your second pregnancy, and try not to worry x

Never can tell. Have had six babies. 1st and 2nd labours 8 and 10 hours with gas, air and epidural. Next 3 labours born at home (unplanned) due to a few contractions and no pain relief, they literally fell out. Thought last would be fast but nope, 12 hours only gas and air, worst pain out of all labours. Congratulations and good luck.

Hopefully it'll go like mine.
1st 28 hours, episiotomy and 3rd degree tear that needed theatre to repair. Took months to recover. Gas and air.
2nd was born 4 hours after first contraction and within 20 minutes of arriving at hospital. No episiotomy but a second degree which healed lovely and I was out and about the next day with the pram.
Good luck!

My first was like yours, 24 hours long and resulted in emergency forceps delivery due to shoulder dystocia. Second birth was 6 hours long and I didn’t even go to hospital until I was 9cm, she was born within half an hour of arrival. I did however have retained placenta and a huge PPH, needed two blood transfusions and an emergency D&C to remove the placenta. She was an absolute dream to deliver though, just shot out in no time! Just a shame about the end part...

My first was about 23 hours. Tear and stitched.

Second was over within an hour. No stitches. No time for pain relief.

Good luck! Harder said than done but try not to worry 💐

1st - textbook 12 hour labour, had pethidine which I loved, think 2nd stage was close to being past threshold for intervention, but got there although melaconim in the waters. Sore everywhere for days.
2nd - 10 days later in pregnancy, labour started then stopped repeatedly over 5 days, stupidly decided only needed g&a, second stage very quick and painful. I was up and about almost immediately after. Only pain was stitches, probably due to me not listening and just pushing because I wanted it over asap.

I think second stage is normally much easier on second labour.

1st labour long , difficult, exhausting like a marathon I hadn't trained for. 2nd labour wow so quick I woke up with what I thought was trapped wind and had it all morning until I realised at 12pm that it wasn't wind as blood in my knickers, got rushed to hospital by my dad and dropped off at 3pm and 6cm dilated my waters got popped for me by the consultant when examining me with out my consent as I was fully dilated at 30 weeks gestation! I pushed my daughter out in 2 pushes . It was more painful but it was so much easier and quicker. I'm hoping my 3rd child will be a breeze I'm laughing hoping il sneeze my baby out

2nd one a lot easier and quicker. X

Stand up quicker and easier. X

Well fingers crossed it's a quicker one this time! The things us women go through hey 🤣 I hope he's early as I am so ready for this baby to be out haha

Thank you for all replies for most 2nd has been easier so I am hopeful!

second labour was more painful, 9lb 3oz baby boy. I didn’t tear as badly and a much quicker labour 2hrs compared to 10hrs with my first son.

Good luck Op.

Jolly, I had similar. Induction, 12 hours labour, forceps, 3rd degree tear, etc. It was horrendous and gave me massive anxiety about birth number 2. I burst into tears every single appointment at hospital (fortnightly and then weekly due to gestational diabetes). The consultants were all a bit mystified about my extreme anxiety, which essentially boiled down to the fear of faecal incontinence.

Please speak to your midwife about it. I was booked to see the senior midwife and she took me through the notes from the last birth minute-by-minute, explaining everything and why decisions were made and the timing of each decision.

She also talked me through all the options that would be different from last time. She told me that the strategy would be to position me on the side away from the scar and they'd support the perineal area while baby made her grand entrance.

Birth number 2 still required induction, but it was completely amazing. I have awful gag reflex, so I practiced the G&A mouthpiece before needed. They also gave me wireless monitoring so I was free to move around. It made such a difference!! Then just had a bouncy ball and G&A was a complete saviour. Labour was so much shorter. I think a couple of hours went by after the sweep and once things had progressed properly, it was very short and sweet indeed (a couple of minutes). I made sure they were all very aware of the previous scar and they even called a second midwife into the room to assist.

As the Registrar said, my DS had already paved the path for my DD . Still needed stitches, but nothing like last time. It was just mind-blowing how different the two experiences could be.

My first was like yours. My second took 2 hours. And how they were as a baby reflected their (and my) birth experience. The first cranky and crying the second chilled and easy going.

My second was like shelling peas compared to the first (effing nightmare see all of the above)

I think the first does tend to.... ahem...blaze a bit of a trail

I wouldn’t say easier, but much quicker. You’ll be fine!

My first was 27 hours, dr led, stitches and overall, horrible.

My second was a water birth with no intervention, only a few hours long and a much nicer recovery.

Good luck OP!

OP you should have a much better second birth.
My first was 36 hours and I had an epidural in the end.

With my second, after a few hours of increasing pain and just gas, I was on all fours and thought to myself "I wonder how (DD's name) is feeling?"

At that point my baby suddenly shunted down the canal, all pain left me and just became sensation. I remember being opened up incredibly wide and not feeling any pain whatsoever. It really taught me the power of the mind over the body.