How differently did you feel in second labour?

[Rollerbaby]

Im a few weeks off number 2 and wondering how I will feel in labour. I was very pro tens machine, didn't want to eat or anyone touching me. Is it likely to be the same or are labours different as well as pregnancies each time? I'm told it's likely to be much faster (first active labour 4 hours) so am slightly panicking about the fact I may not have much time to get to hosp or get into the zone as it were. Any thoughts?

Hi! I had the same kind of concern and both my labours were completely different in the end!

I was induced 3 times the first time after being 2 weeks late. 2nd time, waters broke a week early but didn't go into labour for 4 hours and baby born 4 hours later after panicking I'd be delivering at the side of the road!!

In answer to your question I felt more in control the 2nd time as I had some knowledge and I felt more confident about how I felt. I phoned into the unit and was told I sounded like I was coping fine and not to come in but I decided I needed to go - thankfully! But I'm not sure I'd have done that first time.

You'll get into the zone just trust yourself and go with it. It's just as amazing 2nd time!

Lots of love to you at this very special time. xx

First labour was 41/2 hours from waking up and asking dh to get me a hot water bottle to holding the baby. It was very, very intense and I spent pretty much all of it on my side in shock/spaced out.

Second labour was 5 hours from waking with cramps to baby. It had a much slower build up with contractions getting stronger and closer together gradually and was so much nicer!

I have mine at home which means I don't have to worry about getting anywhere! But I suppose if you are worried about speed you will just have to ring the unit as soon as you have any signs, they can always send you home again if nothing is happening.

First was about 40 from pains to pushing, and was bloody traumatic. Had every drug going which conked me out and was totally exhausted by the time pushing came. Took ages to push her out, she ended up with a pointy head. Then 5 hours after she was born ended up with gastroenteritis.

Second was so different. Lasted 14 hours from first pain to pushing. I knew what to expect so was much more relaxed. It was in my notes not to give me an epidural or pethidine, so only had diamorphine and gas and air. I wasn't exhausted when it came to pushing so she had a nice round head.

I know it's what everyone says, but do try and relax. You know what is coming so should be more in control because you know what to expect. Good luck. xx

40 hours

no different - still hurts like fuck!

My second was my easiest. My first was a bit hard, just because I didn't know what to expect and DC was back-to-back. My third was a bit stoppy-and-starty, but my second was fast but manageable.

My midwife told me that the 2nd labours are usually the easiest, no matter how many children you go on to have (sorry to any 3rd timers reading this...)

1st labour had contractions that started in my back and radiated round the sides. 2nd labour had contractions that were all in the bump and felt like increased period pain. Progressed up to 8cm very quickly, so beware! Felt much more in control as knew exactly what has happening, could even feel the head descend so had the urge to push, never had that urge with the first labour. 2 pushes and a babe was born. All over much more quickly and was actually a little sad that I will never experience childbirth again.....amazing when you first lay eyes of your babe after waiting so long!

First was 15 hours, (not long compared with others!)waters went in a gush with the first contraction, had epidural, and a ventouse delivery and episiotomy after 2 hours of pushing. I was exhausted afterwards and could barely hold DD

The second delivery was very different, I was 41+9 and had a date set for induction after a failed sweep. The day before my induction my waters broke, constant leaking rather than a gush.

I went into hospital about 5 hours after waters breaking, but didn't go into labour until 12 hrs after. Labour only lasted 11/2 hours altogether so it was pretty intense, only had time for gas and air but felt great afterwards - I could nearly have gone another round!

I'm just glad I was already in hospital - we live an hours drive away and wouldn't have made it if I had waited till the first contraction!

As with janie2, I felt a lot more in control,confident and relaxed the 2nd time. You know what is coming, and have a better idea of your ability to cope. Good luck!

First one I didnt know what I was doing and felt completly out of control. Second one I definitly had no control as my body just seemed to do it and I was just along for the ride, which was actually nice! I didn't do any pushing as the baby just seemed to be pushed out by the very very strong contractions. Def preferred the second labour, much easier!

Like pregnancy, each labour is different but the first one can sometimes be an indicator of how the second is likely to be. So I think you'll probably (but not certainly) feel the same re tens machine / eating / people touching you. Mine were different because the second and third ones were so much quicker than the first (3 and a half hours from the first contraction rather than 27), which had a knock on effect on the drugs I had, the effort required for the pushing stage, the amount of food I ate etc - but as your first labour was quick you may not notice so much of a difference.

Make sure you have good childcare arrangements in place for DC1! Most women do make it to the hospital though!

First one: waters broke Sat lunchtime, went to hospital Sun morning with mild contractions but high bp, had an epidural and eventually forceps and she was born at 9.20pm. I had a severe tear due to a cack-handed obstetrician and lost 2pts of blood so needed a transfusion. Couldn't tell you much about how labour felt, as I didn't feel much of it.

Second one: waters broke about 4am Sunday, nothing else happened although I went into hospital about 4pm with plans to be induced on Monday morning. Labour started about 6pm, really got going by 7.30 and I went into 'the zone', just gas and air and a birthing pool. I delivered at 9.24pm on the Sunday with no pain relief for last hour and more.

mine was great. as mad as it seams i'd do it again like a shot tomorrow

my second labour was faster, I was better prepped, knew what to expect and returned home with DH and DD2 in six hours!
On a lighter note, I was better with the gas and air contraption, putting it to good use

My second labour was faster. I think the contractions were more painful as I think they were more effective. The pushing stage was about 2-3 pushes as opposed to 2 hours.

I stayed at home for longer and went in when I felt a very vague bearing down feeling.

I was happy with how it went and really happy I gave birth in the pool this time.

Labour for eldest DD was about 10 hours, youngest DD (born last month) was less than 90 minutes. Very glad we planned a homebirth!!

Hugely different in my case. First labour - 30 hours, the last 9 of which felt like being torn in half from the inside. I had a lot of gas and air and pethidine, still to this day don't know why they didn't give me an epidural. Stupid natural birth midwife crap. I had post traumatic stress symptoms for months afterwards.

Second - started having mild contractions about 9 pm, midwife came at 12, raced to hospital, nearly had baby in the car, baby born at 1am. Mind boggling pain only lasted about 2 hours.

I think I was dreading it, because of my first experience but the truth is that it really was a lot better. My body did that thing I had read in books and failed to experience the first time, when it feels like it knows what to do and instinct takes over.

I hope you have a really positive experience, however it goes.
Best of luck. x

My second was pretty different in some ways but similar in others...

First time round was 8 hours total, no pain relief bar water - I found it really hard work but bearable - but I swore so much I had to be given a different midwife as I was offending the first one!!

Second time was 4 hours, first twinge to baby, progressed very quickly especially at first. Was in the pool the whole time and DD was born in there. Major difference was that this time I was very quiet, felt very internal. Felt very calm and in control until I got to pushing - which was very quick, SO intense, more painful than I could've imagined!! For a few minutes I thought I couldn't actually do it (If an epidural had been instantly available I might well have had it!)... but brilliant midwifes coaxed me on. Mercifully she was out in just a few pushes!

Afterwards I felt shocked by the speed of it and almost a little cheated - DD turned up so quickly I felt I hadn't quite had time to prepare myself psychologically!

Number 3 due in August and if this one is any quicker I'm not sure I'll get to the hospital in time....

2nd labour was easiest contractions, but hardest to push out (took an hour) because she was brow presentation. 4hrs active labour (1st was 7hrs, pushing for 40mins)

3rd, contractions in between 1st and 2nd in difficulty, but she was very easy to push out. Active labour was the same length as 2nd time, but pushing stage was recorded as 4mins!

First labour took forever- well according to my notes it took 7 hours which isn't that bad for first labour but actually this is a lie as it took 7 hours of active labour and 3 days of pre-labour at home/occasional visit to hosptal which was exhausting and painful. Ended with ventouse and second degree tear (but not too bad really) after having no clue how to push out- couldn't really feel what I was supposed to be doing.

Second labour ended up giving birth in hospital car park. Ho ho! Was determined not to go to hospital too early (ho ho again). Think I was having contractions all day, but only really noticed them at 7.30pm, had baby at 9.40pm. Only pain relief was tens machine and I still don't have a clue what pushing is as pp said my body just seemed to do it and the baby arrived in rather a hurry. Second degree tear again (but not too bad really). Second labour kind of scarier than first but kind of funny too and in some ways preferable. Was advised to have home birth if have any more (I'm not).

When was your first pregnancy? I think if the pregnancies are quite close together (well mine were 2 years apart) then it's generally quicker and easier second time.

Mine were very different for practical reasons - first one was an induction following waters breaking then epidural, eventually leading to a section when it all ground to a halt; second one was a vaginal birth with gas and air plus a bit of help with the forceps.

But putting the practical stuff aside, the difference from me was that I felt more in control second time. I had a better idea of what to expect in terms of pain and, having chosen a VBAC (after loads of research) when the consultant had been strongly steering me towards another section, I started off more in control. I was really keen to avoid an epidural (as felt the lack of progress first time was partly related to that) and that determination made me much more able to put up with the pain than first time around. And when DS finally arrived, I felt like it proved I could achieve anything. (Sadly not true, but was a great feeling!)