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

Pupuce,I had two forceps.I do have big babies though.Second labour faster and more intense,in a painful way.They were both similar with syntocin drip and pethadine.

Had ventouse and episiotomy with ds1 and a fantastic homebirth with a slight graze with ds2 so I think the theory is right.

I had ventouse with dd1, labour was only 6 hours from start to finish but I was a wimp - I had to have an op 10 months later to re-stitch down below as it hadn't healed well - ouch! Had a lovely 1 hour labour with dd2 with just a tiny tear, and it was fab.

BIG forceps with 1st (Keilands), 2nd and third popped out with no difficulty and about 3 pushes. 2nd axctually crowned when i was asleep!(good epidural)
pelvic floor fine too.

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Ds1 - induced and ventouse
Ds2 - very quick and easy, no stitches. So much more straightforward than first time around. Plus ds2 seemed a lot happier from the start whereas I think ds1 had a great big headache for weeks.

Oh this is all so reassuring! Thanks to Pupuce and to everyone who's contributed.

DS1 - 10 lbs ventouse, long labour, episiotomy
DS2 - 10.5 lbs, no intervention, short labour, tear.

Second time was definitely a charm for me. I remember thinking the next morning ( as I gazed down at the baby lying on my stomach and wondered how the hell he fit in there ) that I would have done it all again that evening!

first birth labour lasted 5 hours but ds1 well and truly stuck. Had forceps and epi with loads of stitches. Forceps grip was so strong that ds1 still has a dent in his forhead from the scar 10 years later - honest!!
Like Nerdgirl second time round was a dream. By the time ds1 had his 1st birthday I was 5 months pregant again and nervous, but not to worry, had
a textbook birth with ds2 and was left wanting to do it all again. Never did though!!

My second birth was easier than my first -- both boys were back to back, but the first I delivered that way and the second, after the doctor tried hard with his hand, was flipped with the ventouse. I asked for it when the idea was brought up, as the first time my hip was extremely sore for weeks afterward (I couldn't carry the baby up and down the stairs!). Both times ripped a lot and had an episiotomy, although both times healed very well and it wasn't an issue for me. First son couldn't breathe when he came out and had the cord wrapped around his neck. Second one popped right out after the flip then pooped mightily all over the doctor.

DS was forceps delivery after 21 hour labour
DD was forceps delivery after 9 hour labour

Both were OP and consultant reckoned if I had anymore I would be likely to have another forceps delivery - something to do with my pelvis.

DD1 - epidural, long second stage (on my back - midwife apparently couldn't get a reliable trace on the baby's heart in any other position) and ventouse to turn DD (nearly forceps/C-section), followed by a PPH.

DD2 - active birth, delivered on my knees, 2 minute second stage and two pushes. No pain relief. Minor tear.

I can't understand why ante-natal classes don't give more advice/encouragement re good positions for contractions and delivery, and breathing techniques. The ones I went to first time round were very half-hearted about it and I felt very physically unprepared.

Second time around I went to a couple of Janet Balaskas active birth classes which gave me the knowledge and confidence to have the kind of labour I'd hoped for first time.

I wonder if a lot of us are just better prepared second time, and can avoid getting into a situation in which ventouse/forceps become necessary?

Thanks for starting this Pupuce - I'm generally convinced that 2nd labours are better, and its very heartening. However, I note that a couple of people who had OP babies first time around experienced the same thing second time around....Oh noooooooo!

I had ventouse delivery with ds1 and had to have an episiotomy. The labour had gone on much longer than they had anticipated. They kept telling me it was nearly done and to keep pushing but I was shattered and it just kept going on and on. Every half an hour they'd say "only another 10 minutes". Eventually they realised he was stuck and that's when they cut.

Ds2 was a breeze in comparison. Just tore a little so had a couple of stiches, but nothing like the first one.

Handlemecarefully.... well OP babies... the big fear !

1. If you ahd an OP baby first time around (as I did for example) does NOT mean you'll have an OP baby second time around
2. If you still end up with an OP baby 2nd time around, first of all your contractions will be more efficient at turning baby before the birth and 2nd of all fundamentally ot will be a shorter labour.

JJ and Kaziegirl had 2 OP.... well Kaziegirl says her OB says it's down to pelvis shape but that is not common (and she still had a much faster labour). And JJ said that it was managed well so she did have an easier time.

I also know women who started 2nd labour OP and had a very easy time of it anyway.

Handlemecarefully - just to reassure you, as Pupuce said 2nd time was shorter for me and was much easier - I managed with just a tens machine - it's just the final bit I have trouble with and therefore require the forceps and dreaded episiotomy. Out of a big group of friends who had required assisted delivery first time I was the only one who required help second time.

lisac, our antenatal classes were good about positions, but once in labour, midwife couldn't manage any position other than flat on back. Mears, why do you think this is? I realise they have to have monitoring, but if this is restricting the progression of labour then surely it's contributing to the likelihood of interventions and all the disadvantages and dangers they bring?

and pupuce too!

transverse op baby 1st time round - high forceps (which I wouldnt wish on worst enemy) and ventouse - horrible. Second time round had perfectly placed baby and 2 hour labour from start to finish, no drugs and small tear

First baby - quite a traumatic experience - two weeks overdue and induced, epidural, very big baby (9lb 9), got stuck, was prepared for an emergency caesarean (DP had the gown and wellies on and everything), but ds delivered by ventouse ("let's have one last try....." lots of stitches.
Second baby - five days overdue, but went into labour naturally, 4 hours from waters breaking to delivery of DD, had her up on all fours with jst gas and air, no tear at all, even tho she was bigger (9lb 13oz). A totally different experience and very quick recovery. Both babies v happy and contented little souls tho, their different ways of arriving seemed not to affect them at all.

Lisac & Droile - I too was forced to lie on my back as heartbeat apparently needed monitoring, at the time I didn't think to question why I had to lie down... but I'm sure it contributed to more pain, losing control, epidural and ventouse. Hoping for a natural/active birth just like you Lisac in march!

Not me but SIL was induced with her first and had forceps delivery after long tiring labour with an epidural. Her second was natural onset of labour, no instruments, gas and air only in about four hours.

Oh and her second baby weighed a pound and a half more than the first one.