Second births

[vallinnapod]

Just looking for some anecdotal experience. Due with #2 at the moment. Straightforward, quick (6 hours start to finish) first birth. A friend has just had DC #2 and mentioned a couple of things that MW's have since said are common but that I was unaware of. Just wondered if there is anything else to add to the list? Or if anyone can dispel some of the more unfavourable ones

• The birth is likely to be (much) quicker.
• The baby is likely to be larger
• The afterpains are considerable worse, both generally and during BF (due to the uterus having been stretched previously therefore harder to spring back)

Interested in other people's stories

1. Second birth quicker but reasonably short labours both times (7½hrs followed by 3hrs)
2. Second baby smaller than first by 7ozs though he was a week early and DD had been 5 days late.
3. Afterpains slightly worse after second baby but i was on a 6hr discharge and cooking dinner for my parents the same evening so with hindsight, maybe i overdid it a little and should have rested more.

I've had three babies and about to have a fourth.

A. Labour was faster with 2 and 3 than with my first - but first was so long, 3 days or so from the first contractions. 2 and 3 were still over 24 hours from start to finish.

B. My second was bigger than my first but my third smaller - it doesn't necessarily follow that subsequent babies are bigger.

C. Yes, after pains worse with 2 and 3 - regular paracetamol, especially before breastfeeding, made it more manageable.

This is all very interesting. I am not even pregnant wit number 2 yet, but number one was almost 4 days in early labour, then waters went (it was only at this point i actually knew for sure it was labour) at MLU within an hour where i was 6cm and baby born 50 mins later.
I really wonder if i will realise sooner next time and how much faster the early and active stages will be as if i dont realise and active stage is faster then I will possibly have a lot less than 2 hours

yes to faster and bigger
didn't really experience afterpains in both cases, so can't tell

Hey

1. Much quicker, dc1 9 hours dc2 4 hours
2. DC1 8lb11oz. Dc2 10lb1
3. No after pains BUT generally felt more knackered than with dc1

First birth was 17 hours from inducement to delivery. Needed 2 lots of stitches.

Second birth took 5 days and his head was painful. No stitches.

Both were about the same for after birth and after pains and bleeding.

Yes, quicker. No, both exactly the same weight. Yes, after pains were dreadful for 48 hours or so. My uterus shrank far more quickly though.

1st birth was at 37 weeks and medical birth baby was 5lb 4oz

2nd birth was 39+5 and was more mobile and 6lb 10oz

Second labour was MUCH quicker for me.

DC2 was over a pound lighter than DC1!

Don't remember feeling afterpains with DC1 but they were quite bad after DC2.