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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

2nd birth - Better? Worse? Same? Different?

32 replies

chocolatestar · 13/10/2010 10:10

My first birth was okish, started early in the day, stayed at home until midnight, journey to the hosptial not nice, arrived at hospital fully dilated and they thought they baby was coming right away. He didn't. They broke my waters and then noticed he was back to back. Then I had four hours of agony, eventually had pain relief.

The last four hours were scary for me. I am just wondering what people experienced the second time round. Might it be faster? Similar?

No way of knowing I suppose but wanted to ask what others had experineced.

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thisisyesterday · 13/10/2010 10:12

my second was my best labour out of all 3
first was 18 hours, lots of pain relief, epidural, ventouse...

second was at home, very relaxed, used lots of visualisation and breathing techniques to get me through it.
when midwives turned up i was already 8cm.
labour was 6 hours from very first contraction to him being born
incidentally he was also back to back, pushed for around an hour and a half... but all was fine

Original poster
chocolatestar · 13/10/2010 20:29

Your second sounds nice! I am kind of anxious, I didn't feel good about the first one at all.

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rubyslippers · 13/10/2010 20:33

First birth - looooong first stage (2 days) and 10 hours of labour with over an hour of pushing

Second degree tear

Second birth - 7 hours from start to finsh

Wonderful water birth, no tears and all round fabulousness

Both births were great but second was particularly great

Both were back to back labours altho DD turned and shot out with two pushes

Also had a natural 3rd stage with DD which felt great and an hour of skin to skin and feeding before she got weighed

June2008 · 13/10/2010 20:37

First was long, long, long. Started Sat then eventually gave birth on the Tues after an epidural.

Second, 1 hr 19 mins from start to finish. Only just made it to the hospital in time, was there for 11 mins before three pushes and she was out.

The first was obviously hard hard work but the second was really scary it was so fast.

I'd convinced myself that the second was going to be long too but with my tens on I totally ignored the early contractions - in fact didn't even tell anyone I was having them!

We've got two lovely dds but they started in very different circumstances!!

RhinestoneCowgirl · 13/10/2010 20:39

Both births straightforward, but first definitely longer and there were times when I felt firghtedn and overwhelmed - was in labour overnight so very tired by the time DS arrived the next afternoon.

Second time was much quicker - waters went at midnight, established labour by 2am, DD born just before 6am. Felt a bit weird at transition but this was shortlived.

MrsJohnDeere · 13/10/2010 20:53

Better, shorter (1 hour for 2nd, 5 for first), more painful (no gaps between contractions). Much more aware of what was going on. First was a blur.

pigleychez · 14/10/2010 23:03

DD1- In hospital with planned Induced, waters broke quickly but then failure to dilate. Hormone drip and every drug going. Realised DD was back to back, forceps delivery in theatre. 27 hours in total from waters breaking.

DD2- Waters broke at home. Fully dilated in 2 hours,reached hospital at 10 cm. no pain relief untill discovered baby was back to back again so Forceps delivery. Total 6 hours from waters breaking. If baby hadnt turned she would of been born in the carpark or in the car!

Original poster
chocolatestar · 15/10/2010 07:37

Lots of people saying number two is faster!

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SpecialPatrolGroup · 15/10/2010 07:46

First horrible long induced labour ending with forceps.

Second 2.5 hours from first contraction and disasterously DD was born on the front seat of the car in the hospital car park.

However, the second was easy peasy compared to the absolute nightmare of the first. If I ever to do it again, I shall be having a home birth or leaving the house when the first contraction happens!

Good luck!

elliepac · 15/10/2010 07:50

First was looooong 36 hours in total, ventouse, stitches, the works.

Second, 3 hours, only 20 mins pushing, no drugs just gas and air and home within 8 hours.

Good luck!

Lizzzombie · 15/10/2010 08:00

Loving this thread of quick 2nd birth stories.

specialcontrol can I just ask - logisitically how did your 2nd birth work? There is a massive car park for our hospital and I am not relishing the walk from it to the maternity ward. But did your DP run in and grab someone leaving you in the car, or did you ring ahead & someone meet you at the front of the hospital? I'm facinated (just in case!)

SpecialPatrolGroup · 15/10/2010 09:32

Lizzzombie - The whole thing makes me shudder when I think about it!!!

Just before we arrived (in between contractions) I calmly explained to DH that I would not be able to get out of the car (I had been involuntary pushing for about 15 mins and my waters exploded about the same time) so he was told to phone the last number on my mobile (the delivery unit) and so he got out of the car and ran in to get a wheelchair telling the midwives he was at A&E - we were actually at the main entrance instead so no wheelchairs and by luck midwives on their way to A&E saw hysterical man dragging a boken wheelchair being persued by a cleaner who thought he was stealing it.

By this time I was lying accross the passenger seat - the midwives arrived - said they were going to move me - I said I had just felt the head they checked and swiftly pulled my trousers down, shoved one of my legs up on the dashboard and caught DD as she came out. I had involuntary grabbed the steering wheel and pressed the horn but couldn't let go!! Quite an announcement that my DD had arrived (at least it drowned out the screams). DH was giving the cleaner (who was also spectating) money to pay for parking at this point.

It was 5.25am and dark but I had to get out of the car wearing a vest, knickers round one ankle and a flip flop on the other. Decency didn't seem to be my concern at this point luckily, because they then got me to sit in the broken wheelchair, put DH's jumper over my lap and wheeled me up to delivery. One of the midwives carried DD in an awful scratchy beautiful family blanket that MIL insisted asked to have put over DD for coming home from the hospital. It is now permanently stained with blood and birth stuff. You win some, you lose some.

This all happened a year ago yeaterday and even though it was without pain relief/frightening/decency out of the window type event it was a damn sight better than the awful induction for DS.

Thanks for asking me to explain it - it has made me giggle thinking about it again (I usually shudder at the recollection!

Sorry for very long post.

bumpybecky · 15/10/2010 09:34

2nd birth was the best of all four :)

just over 2.5 hours at home in birth pool in middle of the night. dd1 slept through it :)

Lizzzombie · 15/10/2010 11:22

specialcontrol woah! You are hardcore!

I heard of one woman giving birth in the ambulance outside our local hospital a couple of weeks ago, but that seems like total luxury compared to your experience.

Loving the fact DD came into the world with your horn blaring! Maybe if you ask MIL nicely she'll make another blanket?! Wink

I am so hoping for a quick labour this time round. 2 days of evil contractions, 10 hours between having waters broken and then 2 hours actively pushing before episiotomy & ventouse is all fine when you don't have any other children, but how on earth am I going to manage a 3.5 year old DS through all that?!?!!

(desperately trying to teach him how to use the sky+ remote & DVD machine properly before I go into labour!)

Poppet45 · 15/10/2010 11:42

Specialcontrol thanks for making me laugh out loud. Great post and what a way for DD to make an entrance!

NorkilyChallenged · 15/10/2010 11:49

Loved that specialcontrol, sure it was scary but is a totally brilliant story. Hats (and flip flop) off to you!\

dc1 - waters broke Monday early morning, contractions for 2 days but getting nowhere, ended up with induction then almost emcs as heartbeat dipping, ventouse delivery in theatre at the last minute. Fine but a extremely tiring and all a bit stressful at the end

dc2 - 7 hrs from first twinge (5am) to birth. Got to hospital at 9.30 only 2cm, had paracetamol Hmm and got in the bath, went all weird (transition), got out of bath (not pool, so not suitable for birth) and had baby within 30 mins. 2cm-birth was 3hrs. Great. As soon as she was born I said "I could do that again". Midwife raised her eyebrows. Had the best tasting tea and toast and then a shower, totally brilliant experience.

Good luck!

Xavielli · 15/10/2010 11:52

My two labours were very similar (and very straight forward) - The main difference between the two is that second time round I was much more relaxed in between the contractions as opposed to the panic I felt first time.

Original poster
chocolatestar · 16/10/2010 05:03

Specialcontrol what a story!! Brilliant, also love he horn!

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onceamai · 16/10/2010 06:47

Hello Chocolate Star. A bit of reassurance -my first baby was back to back and I remember the agony well although the birth went OK. Didn't realise how painful until second baby who presented normally. 2 hours 8-1/2lb baby and no stitches. Good luck.

violethill · 16/10/2010 09:56

I've only had two vbs (dc1 and 3 with a cs sandwiched in the middle)

IMO although neither vb was a picnic, at least second time around your body has done it before, those muscles have contracted before and you have squeezed a baby out before. Nothing can be as bad as that first time!

CrazyPlateLady · 16/10/2010 12:23

Special, loved your story. Especially the cleaner thinking your DH was stealing a wheelchair! PMSL.

This thread is making me see birth in such a positive light.

My first was forceps and 3rd degree tear. I have until 35 weeks with this one to decide if I want a c section, I don't. Knowing how much better the second one can be is really reassuring.

Does anyone know that if the birthing pool is unavailable, then you are allowed to have a bath first (at the hospital)? I am keen to be in the water to soften everything up but I don't really want to hang around too long at home. First labour was only 11 and a half hours from start to finish which isn't bad for a first one. I'm thinking this one is going to be pretty quick.

mumbybumby · 16/10/2010 12:41

Phew! Thanks for starting this thread! I am more scared this time round than with my first, but sounds like I'd better get some good (quick to arrive) childcare sorted out for DD! :)

mrsbigw · 22/10/2010 21:06

1st Ds was horrendous, epidural, distress, 2nd degree tear lost a lot of blood. I used to cry at the thought of going through childbirth again...

DS2 was so different, I had some gas & air and it was very controlled & we were fine.

DS3 was even better, if they hadn't made me lie down I wouldnt of even needed the gas & air.

Hope DC4 is as good as the last 2, good luck!

mrsbigw · 22/10/2010 21:08

Crazyplatelady I have had a bath on the delivery suite before & it helped.

special that is a fantastic birth tale, DD will love hearing that when she is older!

Bloodberrybatbait · 22/10/2010 21:19

DD1 I was induced due to a bleed - 7 hours from synto drip to delivery - epidural, very managed.

DD2 went in for monitoring Wednesday evening ws told we will see you in a week. Drove home at midnight (40 mins) got home I wasn't feeling great so DH went to bed at 1.40ish contractions started at 2mins apart, I left DH sleeping he woke at just after 2 called for back up - they took 10mins to arrive, 5 mins to walk the 20 steps to the car, we drove back to hospital (took 25mins) 10 mins to walk across tha car park, got into delivery suite at 2.55ish DD2 was born at 3.10 with 3 mins pushing and 2 mins to dleiver the placenta. It was awesome, no pain relief as G&A made me vomit. It was the most amazing thing I have ever done and it still makes me sigh in amazement.