What to expect...

[Mummybear8]

My first birth, although fairly quick, (6 hours of established labour), was a traumatic experience with two hours of pushing, heart rate dropping dramatically, an episiotomy, fair few stitches and ventouse. Baby was 7lb12oz. Recovered fairly quickly though, which was a blessing.

This time around I am frightened I will have the same difficulties, so was just curious; if you had to have a ventouse/forceps delivery, or an episiotomy, did you have to go through it again?

(I am expecting a larger baby this time as have measured 2 weeks ahead the whole time and babies father was 9lb14oz when born, so feel like we were lucky to get a 7lb12oz one the first time round!)

Grateful for all experiences, good and bad

My first was forceps and therefore also episiotomy.

My second was straightforward water birth. Gave birth kneeling up. The only problem was, having had problems getting DD1 out (I had been flat on my back with an epidural after the drip) I pushed like buggery and she shot out in one go and I had another second degree tear along the scar tissue. It was stitched and healed fine.

By DS I had worked out that you needed to go gentle and only had a graze.

I was told that having had an instrumental delivery with the first doesn't put you at any statistically greater risk of having one for your second. First babies are just trickier to get out. After the first vaginal delivery things have stretched once and can do it again !!

With my first his heart rate dipped dramatically so he needed to get out quickly. I had episiotomy, ventouse and stitches afterwards.

My second just popped out with no intervention, no stitches or anything, as did my third. Baby number 4 also had dangerously slow heart rate with each contraction but I managed to push her out quickly myself with no stitches needed, just a small graze.

Difficult birth with DC1 who was back to back cumulating in dipping heart rate, episiotomy, rotational forceps to get baby out quickly was stuck with cord round neck and in distress. Labour took best part of 2 days. Baby was 8lb 7

Dc2 shot out in less than 6 hours with no intervention bar a couple of stitches. Also back to back and weighed in at 9lb4. Totally different ball game. The midwife had told me that second and subsequent babies often come quicker and easier as your body "knows what to do". I wasn't convinced but now wonder if there might be something in it!

Growth scans are notoriously unreliable. DC2 was estimated at 7lb 2 at 39 weeks and popped out almost 2lb heavier shortly afterwards! Good luck!