Was your second birth easier ?

[lovecloud]

Did you use pain relief the first time like pethidine/epidural and manage to cope without the second time?

I really want to have a natural second birth and I actually looking forward to it. I dont know if my brain has totally forgotten the pain and I am dreading that there is chance when it all starts that i scream "oh god, now i remember GET THAT EPIDURAL!!!!!!!!!"

I know the labours are usually shorter so I think the tiredness the first time got to me and a two hour second stage.

Shorter, but not easier!
My first labour was 12 hours, but I had an excellent epidural.
Second labour - I requested another epidural (I am a wimp!), but it didn't work & I was in absolute agony!
It was only a 5 hour labour, but the pains were coming thick & fast.

Oh second time was far far better, more pain but alot quicker!

First labour was 16hrs with all pain relief, stitches the lot, relaxed but long & the after recovery was alot worse.

Second labour bout 7 hrs only went into hospital for the last 1hr 45 mins, was 4 cm when arrived & 9.5cm after 1hr 30 mins, only had ags & air & had no stitches. This labour was very painful (due to no epidural) but the after recovery was fantastic felt much better within 1 day.

I said i was going to have all pain relief but by the time i was asking for the epidural i was far to late i was 9.5cm & was not allowed it, as much as i was screaming for it! Felt so much more proud of myself for doing it without though.

Goodluck you will be fine x

First was 4 hours gas and air only, hurt like hell, loads of stitches due to DD1 having her hand by her head. DD1 was 15 days early 6lbs 3ozs

Second 2 1/2 hours at home gas and air again, very painful but easier in terms of pushing no tears or stitches. DD2 12 days late 9lbs 3ozs. MW said my labour was slowed down as her head was high due to waters not going I shudder to think how quick it would have been if they had gone!

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! but then it was twins, dt1 vaginal delivery & dt2 emergency C section.

Yes, but I htink it was because I had no pain relief with the first but wiht the second I made sure I had it!

Yup!

My consultant told me that however many babies you have your second will be the easiest birth. Certainly I would say this has been the case for most people i know.
I had diamorphine for my first, and demanded it for the second but was told it was too late so had nothing. I actually looked and felt human at the end of it!!

Hi lovecloud, yes it was.
1st birth I had pethidine + gas & air, 2nd time round a faster natural labour. I, like you, looked forward to it and thought I would just hold out as long as possible without anything but have everything if I wanted. I felt having an open mind like that really helped, as I knew I could do whatever I chose and not have any expectations.. just take it as it came. I was so pleased afterwards to have had no pain relief and found I felt great afterwards too....natural endorpins I think. I would say that going in and knowing what you want but with an open mind is a good approach.
HTH and good luck!

Have to amilt I was like you I even wanted a home birth on my 2nd. But, I was 12 days overdue and my blood pressure went sky high, had to be induced again and I was glad I was in hospital as I did need an epidural. I had 18 and half hours labour with first and 18 hours 25 minutes with 2nd. 1st weighed 7lb 1 oz did have a tear and she had cord wrapped round her neck, 2nd was 9lb 3ozs no tears or ripes had ventouse delievery as cord was wrapped round neck and shoulders. As you know with your 1st once your holding them who cares about the pain. I'm going to wait a few years but I'm looking forward to a 3rd!

Best of luck.

oh yes!

1st time 5h induced labour

2nd timew 4h natural, 3 really painful contraction labour

Yes

ds1 - induced, epidural, ventouse, about 9.5 hours

ds2 - spontaneous labour, no pain relief, no intervention, total about 4 hours but only realised I was in labour about 40 mins before he was born

yes

dd - agony, gas, air and pethidene, episiotomy, forceps
ds1 - induced, epidural, episiotomy, keillands rotation PAIN FREE
ds2 - epidural, episiotomy PAIN FREE

Londoner - are you me!!! ( well obviously not as you are in London and I'm in Yorkshire) Was going to post a reply but you have said exactly the same as I was going to !
The feeling afterwards was unbelievable the second time - like I wanted to run around shouting I've done it I've done it and only a teeny bit of gas and air and it was fine!!! Was very lucky to have a fantastic midwife second time round which I really believe made all the difference.
Good luck Lovecloud and just go with what you feel is best for you x

1st time 25 hours long, with pethidine and gas and air, normal delivery, few stitches

2nd time (induced) 7 hours, pethidine and gas and air again, normal delivery, no stitches

have to say 2nd time was much easier, it was easier to cope with and I listened to my body more and read the signs. By the time I got back to post-natal ward was begging dh for another

Good Luck

1st 47 hours and epidural
2nd 12 hours - was on my side and just about to have epidural when it suddenly felt like someone was pulling my insides out. dd was born within 6 minutes and I am never having another baby.

I want to come and say that second births are not always faster....

Start to finish, my first was 15 1/2 hours, second was 25 hours. Ok, it took a long time to get started, but when you're having contractions every 10 mins for the best part of 20 hours, you are worn out, regardless of how far dilated etc you are :(

BUT - I felt I handled it better than with the first, and the second and third stages were much quicker. With the first there was no prizing the gas & air out of my hands, with the second I actually co-operated with the midwife when she tried to convince me to use it for every other contraction because I was using lots early on and it "wouldn't be as effective later" (she didn't realise that I go very fast once I get to 3cms, and I was cuddling my baby within 45 mins of that comment!!!).

By the second you understand what will be happening more, so can work with your body.

First time 19 hours (est. labour) diamorphine and epidural, Although it was long I only had both drugs 2 hours before dd was born and enjoyed the hours leading up to it I think it was the gradual build up. I got a second degree tear and was very anaemic so recovery was worse than labour itself.

Second Time, established Labour was 40 mins , no time for pain relief, hurt like hell said never again. However recovery was much quicker still tore but not in such an awkward place as the first time.

Think second time would have been easier if it hadn't been quite so short as the pain was so intense and I was not expecting such a short one after the first time. Looking back second one was better because it was over faster but I wouldn't have said that during it iyswim!

my second was easier from the point of view that first labour, dd was a face presentation.
second labour was quick, 3.5 hours, but agony! i managed with gas and air.
ds2 was quick again, 3 hours but 1.5 hours pusahing and i tpre badly, thank goodness for the epidural!
dd2 was 1.5 hours start to finish, 20 mins pushing, no pain relief, and no stitches

I wouldn't know - DD1 was an awful 46 hour labour resulting in 3rd degree tear - ow ow ow ow!! DD2 was induced 4 weeks early due to Pre-Term Rupture of Membranes - 1hr 46mins from start to finish, but induced on drip so not a "natural" birth. Interested to see what happens next time!!

I had only G&A with both btw. All the best lovecloud!!

DS1 27 hours, 2 hour second stage very hard work
DS1 12 hours, soooo much easier, born in about 7 pushes

Gas and air for both, hope you second time is easier too.