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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Pain during second labour

28 replies

NurseMama · 30/06/2017 17:49

I'm pregnant with baby #2 at the moment and have heard lots of stories about how the second labour is often quicker than the first. But I'm wondering how the contractions differ. Were they more or less painful for you the second time around? Or were they the same? My first labour was back to back, so agonising for me!

OP posts:
Sierra259 · 30/06/2017 17:53

Much less painful and much quicker labour with DC2 (my DC1 was also back to back). I was only at the very uncomfortable stage with my second for about 2 hours and only pushed for 20 mins. Rather than begging for an epidural - which never materialised -for DC1!

Hairhorror1 · 30/06/2017 17:55

The same pain level but I found it much easier to deal with as it wasn't such a shock

I knew that when I was at the peak of pain it would go down. I knew to really and truly rest in between contractions. I knew that each contraction was bringing me closer to meeting my baby.
All those things made the whole process so much easier.

DramaAlpaca · 30/06/2017 17:57

Much less painful & much quicker.

aftersomeadvice1 · 30/06/2017 17:57

I found second labour much quicker, but also so much more painful. 1st was a girl and was longer labour but not as painful, second was a boy. Both with no pain relief

ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual · 30/06/2017 17:58

I'm afraid it was just as painful, but much quicker at least! Most importantly, for me anyway, my recovery was SO much less painful and much quicker with dc2 - even though I had stitches and forceps delivery etc. And he was 10lb Shock

CaptainWarbeck · 01/07/2017 01:59

First labour induced, more painful. Epidural.

Second labour started on its own, back to back baby, less painful, gas and air.

I think mentally I was more prepared for it second time round, like a pp said knowing that contractions would end, and to rest in between. Counting through them with a timer really helped to stay in control too.

SamoanSamosa · 01/07/2017 02:03

Exactly what hair horror said. I had more confidence and knew that everything was so much stretchier down there. I believed it would be easier and it was!

taraer · 01/07/2017 02:12

First labour.... didn't even know I was in labour waters where leaking so was told to go back the next morning to be induced anyway my waters broke and I had him that evening he was back to back but turned when I was pushing!!!! I wasn't allowed any pain relief except gas and air as it was too late....
Awaiting second labour and I'm hoping I see the signs of this labour so I can have something stronger
Good luck though we're in the same boat :)
Xx

AreWeThereYet000 · 02/07/2017 14:25

My first labour was 3.5 days long, my second was 4 hours 27 minutes. It hurt the same but I was so much more confident and less scared so I believe that helped with the speed as I was told when you are stressed that can actually prevent the cervix
From dilating (not sure if that's true though)
Recovery was so much quicker too as I knew what I could and couldn't do and to relax and not push myself to be out and about which I did with my first.

Good luck! Xx

needsomesunshineandwine · 02/07/2017 21:30

2nd was back to back so pain was different. I found it a bit more intense 2nd time round and pushing was a bit more of a struggle, although baby no.2 was bigger.

Very nervous about labour no.3 🙈

Ginlinessisnexttogodliness · 03/07/2017 04:01

More painful but was on drip and they'd turned it up too high.
Wave after wave of constant excruciating contractions for an hour and a half with about a minute in between. I was throwing up in between them it was so bad.
But I pushed a 9lbs 8oz baby out in two pushes with no tearing and minimal bleeding.

What nobody told me about were the after pains. Jesus.

Looking forward to this lanout in late oct / early November 🤔🤔🤔

Ginlinessisnexttogodliness · 03/07/2017 04:01

More painful but was on drip and they'd turned it up too high.
Wave after wave of constant excruciating contractions for an hour and a half with about a minute in between. I was throwing up in between them it was so bad.
But I pushed a 9lbs 8oz baby out in two pushes with no tearing and minimal bleeding.

What nobody told me about were the after pains. Jesus.

Looking forward to third labour in late oct / early November 🤔🤔🤔

Ginlinessisnexttogodliness · 03/07/2017 04:02

More painful but was on drip and they'd turned it up too high.
Wave after wave of constant excruciating contractions for an hour and a half with about a minute in between. I was throwing up in between them it was so bad.
But I pushed a 9lbs 8oz baby out in two pushes with no tearing and minimal bleeding.

What nobody told me about were the after pains. Jesus.

Looking forward to third labour in late oct / early November 🤔🤔🤔

Ginlinessisnexttogodliness · 03/07/2017 06:20

I'm so sorry I posted this three times. That's what you get for juggling a teething toddler and an iPad

CocoLoco87 · 03/07/2017 08:09

Both mine were b2b so both painful but I coped better second time round because I knew how to deal with it better. First labour I had b2b contractions for around 20 hours and I thought I was going to die! I was screaming for help because the pain was just horrific. second labour was 8 hours of pain so a lot easier. No screaming involved Smile...till the pushing... good luck! Cake

Justhadmyhaircut · 03/07/2017 08:11

First labour 17 hours.
Second less than 3 hours. No comparison at all. . Gas and air.

peaceloveandbiscuits · 03/07/2017 08:14

Second labour was back to back, so the contractions were as painful at the beginning of labour as they were at the end. First labour they built up gradually. I think if you've had a b2b labour already, you'll sail through an ordinary labour Grin

peaceloveandbiscuits · 03/07/2017 08:17

Oh yes, recovery was so quick. I'm 4 weeks PP now and haven't felt as though I've even had a baby for about two-three weeks. I realise that is down to luck though - I didn't tear nearly as badly the second time.
The after pains are hideous, though.

Cakescakescakes · 03/07/2017 08:25

I had a back to back labour then a normal one. Both were inductions. Second one was a walk in the park compared to first time.

emesis · 03/07/2017 08:26

My 2nd was a walk in the park. I really don't remember it being that painful, just uncomfortable. First was hard but not horrendous and third was long and tiring.

needsomesunshineandwine · 03/07/2017 08:41

Aw no @emesis, I am very nervous about 3rd.

MrsJayy · 03/07/2017 08:48

I was induced with no2 so it was a bit more intense but a hell of a lot easier to manage i still had all the drugs mind you but i felt more in control 2nd time was 5 hours from the drip going in to delivery compared to 20ish with no1

emesis · 03/07/2017 10:29

Oh sorry ineedsomesunshine! Don't want to scare you! I wouldn't say it was agonising, I was just sick of it by the end. Maybe it'll pleasantly surprise you Grin

needsomesunshineandwine · 03/07/2017 11:14

Here's hoping, other labours weren't too bad so have no idea why I'm petrified his time round 🙈

Original poster
NurseMama · 05/07/2017 11:17

My after pains were NOTHING compared to my b2b contractions! My labour must have been excruciating.

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