Fishing for positive second birth stories!...

[Nomorethongs]

I've read lots of wonderful posts about how second births have been quicker and easier. I'm aware that not all are but with labour starting anytime now I'd really appreciate any other positive stories. I'm not great at coping with pain and my first birth wasn't too pleasant with induction, epidural, episiotomy and manual removal of retained placenta. We're aiming for a water birth this time.
We thought labour started on Sunday and much to my embarrassment it was a false start. Bit gutted baby not here yet but it also freaked me out a bit, I'm such a wimp so any positivity would be greatly appreciated.

Half as long as first birth, excellent postnatal care. Epidural within 20 min of hitting hospital which wasn't quite what I hoped in advance but excellent in the circs.
Felt amazing as soon as birth done, and so much easier to cope after.

Long horrible 1st labour. 2.5 hours from 1st twinge to delivery with number 2. I was dreading it, turned out all right in the end in fact I had a 3rd.

Wonderful second time around.

First labour was 24 hours of early back to back labour which had me in agony just to get past 4cm but of course no one would acknowledge I was in labour. Was in utter agony for about 12 hours with no pain relief and then 2.5 hours pushing to get dd out while hooked up to monitor as had meconium in waters.
Also was 4 days over due date.

Second time was 7 weeks ago.
She was in a much better position and I was much less sore towards the end.
I had reflexology on the Tuesday night and by Thursday morning I knew I was going into labour (39+5). I felt 'off'. Had a crampy tummy and felt like I had to run to the loo but I couldn't. I wasn't hungry and felt really tired and weepy. By 1pm I staryed having a blood tinged show and knew it wAs imminent. Mild contractions started around 7pm but came and went and I knrw I needed a sleep before anything would kick off.
I woke at 1.30am with stronger contractions but still nothing major. I dozed on and off til 4am when they started getting closer and had much more show so called my mum to pick up dd1. As soon as she did things tailed off again - typical.
By 6am they were down to maybe 1 every 10 mins and they continued that way til about 12pm. Hubby and I lay on couch chilling and watching movies and I nibbled on oatcakes and kept up the lucozade isotonic drinks.
I was booked for a home birth and things started getting closer together and I started having to breathe through contractions so phoned the assessment unit around 3pm to say I wiuld likely need a mw within the next 12 hours so to give them a heads up. The woman on the phone decided I had too many contractions while on the phone to be in early labohr so was sending someone out. I explained this was normal for me and I was only 2-3 cm by that point (I could tell from the pain and frequency).
Nevertheless a mw arrived around 3.40 and did an exam and sweep which confirmed I was indeed 2-3 but she could stretch me to 4. She said she didn't want to sit and wTch me but she thought it would be quick now so she wouldn't go far. She left around 4pm but my ckntractions had ramped up a gear by then from her exam and my waters went around 4.20pm.
Then it got very intense very quickly. By 5.15 I lnew I was in transition as I was crying and saying j couldn't do it. I only had my tens machine and hypno breathing and I was struggling. Mw phoned back to see how things were and hubby asked her to come straight back and started filling the pool.
I managed to get in the pool around 6pm vyt the MWs got stuck in traffic and didn't arrive til 6.25pm. I could feel myself starting to push her down just before they arrived although I didn't start properly pushing until about 6.50 when my body just took over completrly and pushed of its own accord. I had a few massive contractions and pushes and then I could feel her head - I delivered her head with the next one, then shoulders and just eased the rest of her out and hubby caught her then passed her through my knees (I was kneeling over side of pool) and I brought her out of the water.

It was an incredible experience. Sorry it was so long a story but basically from first contraction to birth Id say it was 24 hours exactly but I would say I only found the pain bad for about 2 hours and I only got gas and air 20 mins before she was born as the MWs didn't Arrive til about half an hour before the birth so it was defo manageable.
Such a different experience to my first and so calm and lovely. It felt like hubby and I did it all together almost on our own.

Good luck with yours. Xx

First - days long, drip, awful epidural with fountains of blood, forceps.

Second - at home, in water. still tore a bit but stitched fine at home

Third - piece of cake.

Mine was great. To be fair, I had an uncomplicated first labour, and not long (7 hours start to finish, 'active' labour was about 3 hours) but the second one was even better: I had a waterbirth at home and it was about 4 hours start to finish.

For me, the biggest difference was the fear factor. I felt terrified during my first labour; very out of control and panicky. The second time was a wonderful experience- I just had much more faith in the whole process and my body's ability to do it. I enjoyed it. (Well, most of it ;))

Hope it goes well for you. All the best.

My second labour was so much quicker and less painful (I kept wondering when the agony was going to start!) Am not saying it didn't hurt but it was a different kind of pain, more efficient iyswim.

My feeling when it was over and I had my baby in my arms was that I could have done it all again. I did tear a bit which stung, (had an episiotomy in 1st labour) but found the whole experience exhilarating and enjoyable.

first labour was induction and eventually (30 hours later) a forceps delivery.
Second one was 2 hours and 3 pushes

My second was a quarter of the time (first - over a few days; second - 16 hours start to finish). It was still painful but it was easier to cope.

Good luck.

DC1 induced, 49 hours back to back labour, forceps.

DC2 induced, 3 hours, just gas and air. Actually LOVED every minute, would do it again tomorrow if I could. Honest!

First birth - horror story
Second birth - really lovely experience. I enjoyed it.

Don't waste time worrying. Second births are rarely a patch on first births. Your first baby has to rip through you leaving a path for the second.

First birth I was also induced and ended up with vontuse (spelling?!?), second birth was quick and easy, got to hospital 20 mins before delivery so just gas and air. No drama was great, try not to worry

First baby - long and painful. Second baby went into labour at 730am she was born at 935 am so fast!!

First birth: extremely painful induction that took 36 hours, ended by forceps and an episiotomy. I couldn't walk or sit comfortably for weeks.

Second birth: Waters broke and contractions slowly built up. Got an epidural and two hours later had a baby. From waters breaking to birth was 12 hours and I was barely tired at the end. Was back to normal in a few days.

First - 26 hours. Hellish experience for everyone concerned. High cavity forceps delivery, masses of stitches. Couldn't walk for a couple of days afterwards.

Second - waters broke during the night. Told I had to come to hospital within next 12 hours or sooner if contractions started. Decided to go in early so DH could get at least a morning at work. Arrived hospital 7.20 and had first contraction in the lift up to labour ward. Baby born 7.43. DH at work for 9am. Could have skipped home I felt that good afterwards!

Best of luck!

First- 9 days overdue, 40hrs from first contraction. Got to 10cm on gas on air and pool, baby was distressed, had to get a drip put in, epidural (at 10cm!), which then ended in spinal in prep for emcs, was in theatre and eventually DD was dragged out by forceps.

Second- 2 weeks early, waters went at 4:30pm, didn't get a contraction until 10:30. Got into birthing centre at 11:45, she was out by 1:47 with just G&A and being in the birthing pool. So from first contraction only took just over 3hrs. I then had to go all dramatic by having major pph and loosing 2.2litres of blood but the labour itself was absolutely amazing.

First: long induction, which ended in theatre, spinal, episiotomy, forceps and PPH. Long recovery afterwards.

Second: natural labour, 5 hours from first contraction to birth. Only pain relief was gas & air and no stitches required. Wonderful experience!

Birth One:- laboured 24 hours. Failure to progress after 4cms. Syntocin. Diamorphene. Prepped for surgery, epidural given in theatre. Forceps deliver. Episiotemy. Catheterised. Truly awful

Birth Two:- had braxton hicks for weeks prior. Cxns started 6am, into hospital for 8.30am. 2cms. Given sweep. Intesified cxns. Rushed to delivery at 10am, 7cms. Laboured up and over back of the bed (amazing!!) With G&A. Waters had to be popped. Two real pushes (body did the rest itself), baby arrived at 10.22am. Literally a perfect birth. I wanted a waterbirth but there was no time. I didnt even remove my top, just yanked my leggings off as I got to delivery room. Didnt even break a sweat.

Oh god im so glad i found this thread. I had a horrendous time with dc1 and am very nervous about my next one (due july), but you have all somewhat reassured me ??

Had DD2 10 days ago. Contractions started at 2:30am and she was in my arms at 4:25am

Also agree with what a PP said, my contractions were different. Not less painful as such but more manageable mentally. And I was much more nervous of this labour than DD1.

My first labour was induced and scary and ended up with epidural, epesiotomy and forceps.

For the second one I read up what was actually going to happen to my body, read good natural birth stories and practiced my deep breathing for months. Even though it was a much longer labour it was a great experience. I stayed calm with my breathing, understood what my body was doing and it was life-affirming. I only needed gas and air for the (hour long) pushing stage and although I was very tired afterwards, it was good.

My second was nothing compared to the first.

First was days of back to back exhausting hellish pain! Hours of pushing, 3rd degree tear. Basically horrible!

Second, 3 hours of intensity, one push and there she was .

The difference between them was incredible. Both 9lb health babies.

Oh and I was home in 6 hours after 2nd. 1st I was kept in for days and hated it.

I had a positive birth experience with my first, except that the pushing stage took a long time (she was back to back) and before I reached that stage I tired myself out by pushing when in fact some of my cervix was still in the way.

Second time around I had a much quicker labour (4 1/2 hours after they broke my waters), which took my by surprise, and again my cervix didn't dilate evenly, but I'd told the midwives about this beforehand so they were able to examine me and shove it out the way a lot quicker. Ultimately I felt much more in control throughout the whole labour and understood my body better during the second labour. During the former the midwives got me into a position to push which I didn't feel fully comfortable in, whereas during the latter labour I went on my knees and was so much more comfortable.

waters went at 40+1, decided to stay at home til the spin cycle ended(!) and put the washing out between contractions.
In hospital for two hours before DD popped out easily. Home by teatime
Good luck!!

My second birth was a piece of cake. No painkillers because I thought it hadn't really started yet. You'll be fine!