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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Second time round - is it better?

40 replies

ScarlettButler · 05/12/2010 21:05

Reassure me ladies....last time I ended up with a spinal, ventouse, forceps and an episiotomy...
Have moved and I'm due to give birth at St George's, Tooting, this tiem round and was impressed by the Carmen Suite and the tour. But am increasingly nervous
a) after all the bad reports I've read here about St G's and
b) whether I'd be able to stomach a birth with G&A and possibly pethedine (got to 10cm last time on nothing - not cos I'm tough but by mistake, was too scared to go into hospital until last min after being sent home once - but then it all slowed down, had a grumpy midwife who I found very difficult to deal with and DC got stuck... and I can't say I look back with fondness)
Any words of reassurance to cheer me up?

OP posts:

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stickylittlefingers · 10/12/2010 23:08

hey spiggy (sure third is a doddle!) - I only have experience of a second time, but that was definitely easier, both because I knew what to expect and was all calm and zen-like :) - and also because she shot out like a greased ferret :o

spiggy · 10/12/2010 23:18

hey slf, at the idea of shooting out like a greased ferret. I might have to adopt that phrase

stickylittlefingers · 10/12/2010 23:23

:o you're just lucky you can't hear my accompanying sound effect!

Think the successful moment after a few goes with a dyno rod...

FunnysInTheGarden · 10/12/2010 23:35

much better 2nd time round. Both induced at 40 plus 11. The first time, all pain relief going inc spinal block and near EMC. Four hours pushing as baby got stuck. Hideous pain etc. Ended with ventouse delivery. Baby with pointy head, woolly hat etc

The second time, was scared as scared could be, but 2 hours, with G&A for the second hour and a half and there was DS2. Still had a ventouse delivery, but this time was a Kiwi ventouse, which is much gentler.Baby had beautifully round head! Miles better experience. Walked from the labour ward minutes after giving birth, had a shower on the way to my hospital bed and was home in 2 days.

I knew how to deal with it the second time round, and counted up the contractions as though I was walking up a hill, knowing that the top was no more than 60 seconds away. It really helped!

Good Luck and many congratulations!

violethill · 12/12/2010 11:45

Yes, second is better. Still hurts a lot, but there isn't that gut wrenching fear that you'll die. I think it's the fear that makes the first time so bad - the pain is so unimaginable that you don't know how your body will survive. At least on subsequent occasion, you know it has!

Original poster

ScarlettButler · 15/12/2010 20:38

you know I can't remember the pain properly what it actually feels like although i know i will soon

OP posts:

HormonesHollyandIvy · 15/12/2010 20:54

I couldn't believe how different the labour & birth with my 2nd was from the first.

I didn't even believe I was in labour till I was having contractions every five minutes the pain felt so different and more 'efficient' iyswim.

When I got to hospital I was already 7cm dilated and my DS was born 1.5 hours later. I can remember thinking I'd be happy to do it all over again and I just wanted to get up and go home then.

After my first baby's birth I was in a kind of shock for about six months - after the second, although it was painful, I was totally surprised it was so easy.

Hope yours is too Scarlett

changer22 · 15/12/2010 21:05

Ok here are my stats

1st - 24 hours, 5.5 hours pushing, ventouse, forceps, 3rd/4th degree tear, 1.5 hours of repair surgery immediately after - 9lb 11.

2nd - planned c-section

3rd - doula, 7 hours - gas and air, graze, 9lb 5.

4th - same doula, 4 hours (I was waiting for the contractions to get more intense but they were pretty short) - gas and air, graze, 10lb 14.

When I was having my third (second labour) they said that second labours were generally quicker but third labours could go either way.

So exciting - I'm excited for you!

pigleychez · 18/12/2010 23:14

DD1- 40+12, Induced, 27 hours of labour, Back to back, Failed ventouse, forceps delivery, every pain relief going until Epidural ( topped up 4 times!)

DD2- 39+3, Spontanteous start of labour, 10cm in 2 hours and home with no pain relief, Back to back, Ventouse delivery. 6 Hours total.

Sooo much better! Think its a combination of your body knowing what its doing this time, everythings already stretched and Things not being so unknown and scary.
:)

arizonagirl · 19/12/2010 12:39

pigleychez - your second birth sounds identical to mine. Curious though - did you have a ventouse at home? And were you disappointed to have a ventouse. You sound realy happy at how things went and I have been feeling slightly disappointed about havng a ventouse - your post makes me think I am being silly! Sorry post is written badly - typing one-handed with newborn baby in other arm

TaurielTest · 19/12/2010 12:49

My second was worse - but then my first was blissful textbook drugfree waterbirth, to my huge surprise. Second was bigger OP baby who got into cardiac distress, leading to transfer to hospital delivery suite, synto, stirrups etc. - still not a bad birth though, all told, we dodged a section and instruments in the end :)
Good luck OP!

pigleychez · 19/12/2010 14:27

Arizonagirl - Sorry if I confsued you. It wasnt a home birth. I had rather a mad dash to the hospital and was 10cm on arrival. It was only as baby had turned back to back that I need the ventouse, I couldnt help but to push when on the way so if she hadnt turned she could of been born on route!

Before the labour I wanted a more natural birth this time, but was more bothered about not being induced again. As she was 4 days early I was happy to have avoided it.
I think having no pain relief this time, I was just so eager to get her out that I was happy to have ventouse!

Having the instumental help the first time round, I wasnt so bothered about it this time. DD1 was born Back to back so when I was told she had turned I kind of accepted that i'd need some help.
I guess my back is just more comfy to lie on!

I think the combination of no pain relief this time and being much shorter made up for having the ventouse. It was as natural as I was going to get!

Im guessing you didnt have instrumental help the first time? I felt that same way after my first...I wanted the full natural birth but it was the complete opposite and felt abit of a wimp for all the pain relief. Needless to say It makes no difference in the long run. I still have a normal stroppy 2yr old regardless how she got here!

Congrats on the newborn! DD2 is only 7mths and im already getting broody for number3!

arizonagirl · 19/12/2010 17:13

Lovely reply, pigleychez - thank you!

Yes, my prior births were instrumental - very!!! Had 3 sections which were all emergency and awful. This time I had a vba3c .

Identical birth to yours - 10cms in one hour at home, then transferred pushing in ambulance. Pushing lasted four hours and baby born by episiotomy and kiwi ventouse with baby born in 20 minutes from arriving. We got transferred due to baby's heart showing slight decelerations - didn't want to take any more risks with my history!

I think my disappointment was because I had to work and train hard - both physicaly and mentally for a vba3c, So this time I wanted the PERFECT waterbirth scenario to put all the ghosts to rest.

However, I got my vba3c and the hospital were all congratulating me as I was the first they had known. They were great and supportive. And my labour was only 6 hours compared to previous 72 hours and 15 hours. Plus I had no pain relief at all so felt everything. And after reading your post I know I should feel at peace. Thank you. And lucky you for being able to feel broody - I now have four so probably this is it.....still broody though. A fourth section would have been it, but now I have had a natural birth a fifth woul be an option . Won't though - need time for my gorgeous brood. Sorry for any errors - baby still in arms .

fantus · 20/12/2010 14:31

Second was definately much easier for me.

1st - vontouse, episiotomy, infected tear, spent most of a very intense (but short) labour hoping to die rather than face any more contractions. I also had no pain relief due to being 8cm when I arrived at hospital, too late for epidural, G&A made me sick.

2nd - home birth, 3 and a half hours from start to finish, no pain relief. I just felt so much more in control and this time I knew what to expect.

Good luck

cara0705 · 20/12/2010 19:03

im also on my 2nd baby in 7 weeks and getting woried about labour as 1st was good considering they broke my waters at hospital at 9.30am then at 12.12pm i had a wee girl at 7lb 15oz with gas and air at the start as it made me feel really sick towards the end and only had a slight tear so an teriffied incase 2nd is the total opposite as it would be just my luck.

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