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?

My first was 18 hours and got gradually more painful until eventually DS1 was born. They were starting to worry about how long I'd been pushing when out he came! I had g+a and pethidine that time. 12 years later I had DS2. First stage was fast ("not in labour" to 9cm dilated in 40 minutes) then it stalled. There was a bit of cervix stuck round his head and they gave me a drip to strengthen the contractions. There was no time for anything other than g+a for the pain. DS2 ended up stuck and I had to have ventouse to pull his oddly presenting head round the corner. If you've never had a pudendal block you've missed a treat . The labour was timed at 5hrs 22mins. It was odd because I did it with more intervention but in a less drugged state and was with it quickly after. I seem to be the exception though, most people's secind DC seems to just pop out. I wonder if it was the 12 year gap.

secind? second!

All three labours completely different, first one definitely the hardest and longest.

The second, very stop-start before finally being fast and furious. If I hadn't actually been in hospital I would not have made it there, my dh nearly missed the birth as it was!

Third, I did not even realise I was in labour for the first half hour!!!! having been through it twice before, it was so different that it fooled me, but quickly made it clear and I could not move. Less than an hour later baby had arrived, fastest but not as furious, just amazing and unplanned homebirth.

I think the general rule is that second and subsquent births are easier than the first, but no two births the same and that rule does not apply to all. Best thing is to just try to go with the flow! But considering your fast first birth, it might be best to have a homebirth pack at your home, just in case (or even consider a homebirth?).

1st and 2nd labours and births were very different but I still felt similar, I didn't want anyone touching me when I was in pain, was most comfortable leaning over a Swiss ball/side of the bed and definitely couldn't hear the midwife unless she was very very direct. I've been the same straight after all 3 births too, completely overwhelmed and shook so much I couldn't hold the DCs on my own without fear of dropping them.

My attitude was different after the 1st, with DC 2&3 as soon as labour came I was like, right, we're off to work now, this is it. I was offered a wheel chair to take me up to the labour ward with my second, with my 1st I would have taken it but with DC2 I marched on and told the kind person offering that 'no thank you, walking is good, it brings the labour on!'.

Afterwards was much more relaxed than with DC1 because of course you know what to expect and what the drill is so to speak (especially if you are birthing at the same hospital or at home).

First = 48 hours from waters breaking, epidural, ventouse
Second = 1 hour 20 mins from first contraction, had DD 4 mins after getting to hospital, had her standing up just got trousers off in time

IME, get childcare and bag ready to go swiftly

All the best

First labour I felt like I was being electrocuted up my spine - mortal agony yet I managed to soldier on with G&A in the pool until they made me get out as my contractions were slowing. Had a 3 hour long second stage that ended in a spinal block and forceps. Oh, and a retained placenta! 11 hours in labour in total, felt like I'd been hit by a bus from the off.

Second labour was completely different - I was in complete denial about being in labour as it quite frankly wasn't anywhere near sore enough in my mind. Thought I just had a "bit of a stomach bug" and only went into get checked as I'd thought my waters were leaking and I was only 32 weeks.

It only really ramped up in the last 20 minutes and my second stage was officially recorded as being one minute long(!) as DC2 came surfing out in a few big pushes. Makes me realise I deserve a bloody medal for DC1! I would never have believed two labours experienced by the same person would be so different.

(Though my placenta stuck again - and the theatre staff were the same ones this time round!)

First labour - 25 hours active labour, no progress after about 6 cm with contractions every 90 seconds, got epidural in which was great but then DD had foetal distress at the pushing stage so ended up with a ventouse, followed by a nice PPH and loads of stitches.

Second labour 3 1/2 hours active labour, gas and air after mad rush to hospital, pain really bad only for last half hour or so, pushed for 8 minutes (felt like 30 seconds) - walk in the park. Still loads of stitches though because DD2 decided to come out at bullet speed - oh well.

First: waters broke, contractions started half an hour later, got to hospital, baby out an hour after that.

Second: woke up, strong contractions straight away, baby out exactly an hour after waking! My waters went in the hospital carpark and 3min later, after waddling into the nearest delivery room, DS2 shot out onto the floor

So yes, mine were similar but the second was faster; get your plan sorted!

Very very different. My first was an induction in hospital, ending with forceps - my second at home with no interventions. There was no comparison. I almost enjoyed the second one!

Mine were almost identical but for DC1 established was 10.5 hours because the pain was so great I wanted someone to check me and went in just as I was 3cm. For DC2 established labour was about 1.5hrs but that's because I knew the level of pain to expect and I stayed at home for ages, arriving 8.5cm dilated.

I vomited more and more violently with DC1, but still vomited with both. From first contraction to pushing, both were about 16 hours. Both second stages were very quick; about 20-30 minutes. The second time I was more scared (I remember saying 'Oh damn I'm getting a contraction. I've got to push haven't I?') as I'd torn with DC1, but DD was smaller and I didn't get any stiches. I also didn't have so many of the really uncontrollable urges to push with DD as I had with DS. That was probably head size though. Both waters went about a minute before the baby emerged.

Hi ladies, did anyone try something different the second time around? I wanted a water birth with DC1 but the pool at the hospital was busy so I had G&A and TENS instead and it all went ok.

I'd like to try the pool again but don't want "jinx" it (if you know what I mean!). My friend said that the pool slowed down her contractions and added at least an hour to her labour. Not sure what to do really.

Second time, I felt more confident to say that I wanted to water birth early on when I rang the ward and I kept saying - is the pool free (it was)

I got to hosptital, they checked me and I was 6cm. The midwife then ran the pool and I got in. I had one contraction, my waters went pop and my baby girl was born 10 minutes after I got in! I think the idea is that you don't get in to early.

However the lady opposite me said her water birth was relaxing. I would describe mine as explosive!

first labour started with waters breaking, second was a gradual buils up with about 2-3 days of half-hourly contractions
other than that they were pretty similar - VBs after about 12hrs established labour. i coped loads better with dd2 though, which i attribute wholly to a lovely big shot of diamorphine when i was about 5cm (with dd1 i just had gas and air). with dd2 i felt more relaxed, less tired, and therefore somehow more in control.

No time to think.
First contraction to after birth was 40mins :0

I was so much more confident the second time around. You know what to expect and how it feels so I felt much more in control. I had blood pressure probs the first time so had to be continually monitored but the second time I was fine.
When it came to pushing the second time it was great (and bloody painful!) I just knew what to do. The first time I pushed for an hour and the second time 5 mins and my second DS was 2lb heavier!

You will be fine and good luck!

My second labour was a fair bit quicker. Main difference for me though was that the first time involved a lot of exhortations from the midwife to push as hard as I could, and consequently a lot of tearing. By the second time I had learnt that - all being well - there was a good chance that the baby was going to come out whether I pushed or not, and I was able to just let it happen. Lovely midwife too. Amazing difference, and much much quicker recovery afterwards.

Good luck, I'm sure it will be wonderful.

I felt a lot different. With my first labour I was induced with a pessary in hospital at 39 weeks and DD1 had monitoring throughout the labour. I pushed for an hour and she wasn't budging. I finally managed to get her out vaginally but I tore right around and required heavy duty stitching.

With DD2 I didn't know I was in labour until I was pushing and my waters were bulging right out on the toilet. I gave birth within the hour on the living room floor and the midwives broke my waters at the last minute before DD2 came. I had a retained placenta and needed a manual removal in theatre with a spinal block but the second labour couldn't have been more than two hours in duration compared with DD1's 12 hours from first contraction to birth.

I felt a lot better after too. I didn't tear with DD2 and I spent a few hours in hospital (in theatre at 10pm and out by 5pm the following day with her) and the day after I was buzzing around our flat cleaning while breastfeeding in a sling. With DD1 I was sat on a rubber ring and walking like John Wayne for two weeks.

DC1 - 14 hours / DC2 - about an hour! It was much quicker and easier, I'd do it again now! I also recovered much more quickly, possibly because I was less worn out from the labour. The afterpains were a shock though....

DC1 came early but was induced with every means going as my waters had broken 48 hours previously and they discovered I was GB+ the syntocinon was cranked up to the absolute max and I went from mile period pains at 3cm to horrific, unbearable pains that were constant in a matter of minutes until DC1 came 6 hours of hell later. My DC2 I was adamant that I wasn't going to be induced and I was going to do it naturally as possible and whilst it was painful, of course, I even remember saying to the midwife, I can't be nearly there yet as it's not nearly as painful - I was 8.5cm at the time and it never reached the same level of pain. So either 2nd births are easier anyway, OR it was better for lack of contraction inducing drip?!

Oh and one more thing that made a difference was the midwives. The first time round they were really not nice and probably thought I was being a wimp - the second time round they were so supportive and fab and everything about the experience was wonderful. I think knowing what to expect is scary but also give you a lot more control.

Annie, congratulations. Doesn't seem more than a month since you were posting about a bfp. Brill news.

I had two very similar experiences. Both times I had a premature rupture of membranes and long labours (1st 31hrs, 2nd 38hrs). DD got stuck in deep transverse arrest, ds in mid transverse arrest. Both ended in emcs but with dd I went for trial of ventouse and attempted manual rotation first. I pushed for 8hrs first time round, no pushing at all 2nd time round as we could see where it was headed already.

I have 3 children. 2 girls and a little boy. All were completely different labours. I have to say that the second was the best though. Good luck x

2nd labour was a whirlwind compared to a perfectly nice but longer 1st labour

1st labour 30 hours, ended in epidural and ventouse
2nd labour 6 hours

I never understand why a 3rd labour is often 'worse' than the second?