Straight forward labour...recovery from birth 2nd time round

[Dozeyland]

How do you feel you recovered 2nd time round? from a straight-forward birth.

I recovered very well with my first (born in oct 10) and am due in 9 weeks!

absolutely fine, much better than first time round, but had a long drawn out labour with ds1, only 7hrs with ds2 and was home and back to normal asap, out to toddler groups etc within a week, just put baby in sling and off we went :)

So much better in every way really. In fact it surprised me.

Better. But I'm fairly certain that has something to do with the baby that sleeps in her cot in 4-5 hour slots throughout the night, waking around 8, sleeps during the day as opposed to being first time mum, not knowing what I was doing and having a baby who would only settle on me and spent most of his days screaming, being carried around in a sling and woke without fail at 5 each morning...
Plus which, have no choice this time! (I have a toddler to run around after and DH got only 4 days paternity leave...)

Much, much better second time around. First time I had an epi, prolonged pushing stage (as I couldn't feel anything) and a ventouse delivery. I also had to have an episiotomy. I was addicted to Ponstan for about 10 days afterwards.

Second time around (3.9 yrs later), I was 10cm when I got to hospital (after only 3 hrs of contractions on and off at home), had G&A and pushed DD out in about 10 mins. I had stitches as my old episiotomy scar tore (still on G&A), a cuppa, some lunch, a shower and felt human again. Left hospital 12 hrs after I had arrived and felt fine. The bleeding only lasted a few days as well, whereas with DS (DC1), I think it lasted a few weeks.

Hope it's the same for you :)

Physically better - no episiotomy so much more comfortable. Mentally, much worse because I expected too much given that it was physically easier. Take care x