If you had forceps and/or ventouse with your first- what was your 2nd birth like?

[pupuce]

I always tell mums that if they had a very difficult time first time around (ventouse or forceps) and delivered vaginally the 2nd time around is much easier....
If you had one of the above and went for a 2nd vaginal birth... did you have ventouse or forceps again?
This is a non scientific survey but would love to hear your thoughts/views.
Thanks

I had a ventouse delivery with ds because "I wasn't pushing right" and he had heart decelerations due the cord being round his neck so they wanted to get him out quickly. Second time round, in a different country, I managed to avoid it by having an OB Gyn to deliver with whom I had previously discussed the problems I had experienced first time. In the end he did have to manually help dd around the birth canal because my coccyx didn't flex fully and she would go forward and back with each push. Once her head had passed that point though she was easier to push through and I didn't need other intervention so I felt far more satisfied that I had delivered her myself. I had a second episiotomy because he feared that my scar would reopen but he did a far better with the stitches.

DS1 was a ventouse delivery (OP, big baby, mother exhausted ) Episiotomy plus bad tear.

DS2 was a straightforward 18 minute 2nd stage delivery (right way round & 2lbs lighter!). "elective" episiotomy to protect the tear site.

Personally, I still belive that it was partly chance that made DS2 easier - 2 weeks earlier/2lbs lighter/right way round. I suspect that had he been the same as dS1, it would have been more difficult (but maybe not as hard as dS1)

Hi - here's my story...
I had a very long labour, forceps and really big episiotomy with my first and a very easy quick (4 hours) no tear too for my 2nd and she was 1lbs 7oz bigger.

One of my best friends had nightmare experience (very much like Sweetypie) with her first, and yet barely got to hospital in time with the 2nd it went so fast and (relatively) easy.

I had a terrible time with ds, ventouse and forceps. Lots of stitches internally and externally. Not yet expecting number 2 but hopefully will be one day and these stories fill me with joy!

I had ventouse after 12 hours with DD1 as got to 10cm dilated fairly easily but then nothing for hours, head high, waters didn't break, she just wouldn't come out. She was big for a first, 9lb.

With DD2 had a similar pattern got to 10cm, head high, waters didn't break, took ages to come out but this time she came naturally, if slowly after 25 hours altogether.

I didn't find it that much easier as it took so long second time around. Lots of stitches both times.

With forthcoming DD3 have given up hope of a quick easy birth.

With DD1, I had ventouse, epi and also tore - ventouse because she was getting distressed, even though it was a realitively short labour - only 5 hours. (Think it might also have been the fact that I was "out of it" on pethidine and gas and air.) With DD2, labour was a bit longer but didn't need ventouse. I was more in control this time as I just had pethidine, plus I was in a kneeling position. (First time I was told to lie on the bed and stay there - no option at all to try different positions, which could have helped dd1 come out.)

I had a forceps delivery with No 1, and had an induced waterbirth with No 2.

No 3 shot out - wanted waterbirth again but I was fully dilated on arrival at hospital!

Message withdrawn

DS1 was born with ventouse, epidural and a baaaad tear. DS2 was delivered at home, another bad tear, on my bedroom floor by 2 paramedics while DH went to get my mum. DS3 was born at home with a 2hours 15min labour from no pains to finish with no tear.....hoorah! although I felt like someone had beaten the living daylight out of me because of how quick it was.
DS2+3 were a 1000 times easier than DS1.

hmmm.... great little survey - so I am correct when I tell mums that 2nd time around is shorter (faster), usually easier (doesn't mean less painful) and chances of forceps or ventouse very very low.... none of you had a repeat of the instruments and I personnally don't know anyone who has (doesn't mean it never happens of course but seems fairly rare).
Thank you for all your testimonies Very useful!

Hi pupuce
Forceps, epidural for first.
Epidural,inducement, vaginal for 2nd.Was a bit easier but I found it more tiring.

Thanks doormat - you may be right and this sort of info is also useful when a woman considers if she wants to try again vaginally or if she wants a section (as MANY women opt for a section rather than trying again.... from complete fear).
If 2nd labour are generally easier/faster the recovery is also faster.

I think you'd have to say "generally faster". I do have a friend whose first was a speedy birth (barely arrived at hospital in time) whilst her second was a drawn out affair. Mind you, this does seem to be an exception.

I did say "generally"

pupuce 2nd birth was alot faster than 1st but that might be because I was induced.
dont know but as you say a great little survey for mums who are scared.
you are doing a great job

This is a good thread. I had emergency c-section during 2nd stage with ds after average length labour, then dd was faster labour followed by ventouse due to worry about heart rate (the ob did at least say that I would have got her out by myself but they wanted her out faster) quite bad tear and stitches. If I have another I am hoping for a home birth so I'm very glad to hear that instrumental deliveries are rare after one ventouse.

dd1 - induced, epidural, forceps due to foetal distress, episiotomy all in all took 27 hours, 2 weeks late.
ds - gas and air, tear but no stitches, 4 hours, 1 week late.
dd2 - emergency cs due to expecting large baby (wrong, she was the smallest of the 3) and ds's shoulders getting stuck-this was the main reason, one day late.

"so I am correct when I tell mums that 2nd time around is shorter (faster), "

I was refering to 12:38 post

Pupuce, thankyou very much for this survey. I feel a lot better now!

DD1 was ventouse, like LIZs not pushing right, and extremely exhuasted. I was quite unwell afterwards and actually had to go back into hospital with an indeterminate internal problem - Noone ever really explained what was wrong or whether it was related to the birth. (I was very constipated to put it bluntly and in extreme discomfort for ages)

Dd2 - labour was going very well and i was chatting away and just on gas and air. The midwife then broke my waters and hey presto - DD2 was breech! Action stations and an 'urgent' C-section (not emergency as i was told afterwards as neither of us was in immediate danger).
After the shock of having the section (i did burst into tears when told as i thought i was doing so well) i actually felt so much better than the last time and more in control. Breastfeeding came more easily and i generally felt much better.

The consultant who gave me the section kindly told me before he 'cut' that i should have no problems with the next birth..........

Me too - first one long horrible labour ending in ventouse with half King's Hospital peering up my fanny; second one waterbirth, three pushes, shot into water like cork out of champagne bottle (er, I did tear as well). Just as you'd told me it would be, pupuce