Labour 2nd time round, less painful or just quicker?

[plasticface]

It seems from stories I've heard that labour is always quicker for your 2nd baby than 1st, but is it less painful, or worse or the same?

Mine was much much longer and needed more intervention. Number 2 was also late despite 1being early.

Mw had told me dd (no2) would be super fast and early -nope!!

neither in my case, I'm afraid.
With DD1 I laboured for 12 hours at home, with just G&A.
With DD2 I laboured for 36 hours, and it was more painful. Ended up going into hospital for some lovely lovely diamorphine.

My 2nd was quicker and a lot less painful.

2nd time around I felt much more in control (did some hypnobirthing stuff beforehand which helped me) and I think lack of panic meant I was better able to handle the pain.

I could have done it again the following day, whereas after my 1st I thought I would rather die than go through it again!

Oh and number 2 was also late despite number 1 being early!

my first was a 20+ hour job.

No 2 was 3.5 hours

No 3 was a rather swift 1.45 hours.

So yes, in my experience, 2nd was quicker.

The pain is just the same though, but because you know what to expect, I think you can relax more and know your limits....with No 2, MW asked if I needed more pain relief than Gas and Air, but I deferred as I was not yet at that exhausted "give me drugs" stage,

WIth baby no 1, I think I was overwhelmed and would have taken anything to stop the FEAR of pain. not the pan itself, which in retrospect was not that bad. But nothing prepares you for it and the fear that those early contractions are going to get much much worse....

With No 2, I was confident that I knew what was happening and was more in control and less frightened.

MW also reminded me, at about 6cm, that the pain wasnt going to get any worse, just closer together, and that really helped me focus. Consequently, didnt need drugs other than G&A

Second baby - 25 minute labour. I've had worse period pain. Didn't even manage to get my knickers off. No pain relief, no gas and air, no stitches. Just made it to hospital, but didn't make it to the bed. Sorted. She's now 11 and still in a rush.

2nd was a few hours quicker & the pushing much easier. Wouldn't say the contractions less painful but I dealt with pain better as I knew what to expect. The only bit that was harder with 2nd & 3rd were the afterpains which nobody really told me about, they went on for days.

Oh, yes, those afterpains were nearly as bad as labour!

My first was about 6hrs from water breaking in middle of night to delivery. Second was about 5 hours from regular contractions to delivery (water didn't break until right before delivery), so not terribly different time-wise. Contractions the same- painful, but the pushing was SO much better second time around. An hour with a slight tear for baby 1 and about 2 pushes with no tears for baby 2.

1st was 13.5 hours, second 2.5hrs. Definately more painful 2nd time as more intense with no let up at all, the 2nd stage was so much better though, no pushing, body did all the work and lasted just 2 minutes. The afterpains were awful though.

ooh good thread plasticface - was about to post something similar myself:)

Can I please hijack thread and ask about afterpains? Not really sure what these are - should I be worried about them? When do they happen?

It's good to hear all your experiences! I have recently had my baby after a 50 hour labour, intending to have a water birth but ending up with diamorphine and forceps, so was just hoping to hear that next time would be better, and it mostly seems to be.
Thanks!