second labour

[Mog]

I had a very long first labour. I was having contractions for five days and nights so got no sleep. The contractions were coming every five minutes for a lot of the time but the first time I went to hopital I wasn't dilated at all and the second time only 1 cm. Totally demoralising! Eventually I had my daughter after the wonderful relief of an epidural. I'm recently pregnant again and am really hoping the second time will be quicker. Has any one had a similar experience of first labour and had a better (or worse!) experience second time.

Motherofone, Good luck with your baby and I hope you have the home birth you wish for. I am a huge home birth fan: my 1st and 3rd babies were born at home, with no pain relief and I can honestly say it was a wonderful experience! For the record, my first labour lasted about 8 hours (only 4 hrs strong labour), 2nd labour about 1hr15 mins from 1st contraction and 3rd labour under 1 hr, so IME it is definitely quicker the next time around. Fingers crossed for you

Really hope you get a homebirth. And a lovely baby. Look forward to hearing how it goes. I'm 37 weeks tomorrow and my homebirth midwives are happy to come out anytime now (in the contract it said not before 38 weeks, so I'vre really swung the system!).

Bon courage.

Thanks for the good wishes. We're filling the birthing pool for a 'practice run' as I type and I intend to spend most of this evening in it since I really am feeling rather uncomfortable! DS is all excited 'cos we've got a 'paddling pool' in the dining room... and ironically this is the same room as the computer, so if he (or I!) get bored my dh has threatened to keep you all updated with live updates!!
Crikey if my labour is as short as some of your experiences the pool will only have about 2 inches of water in it!!

I had a home birth for my 2nd and it was definitely one of the best experiences I've ever had. It couldn't have gone better, as I was contracting all day, called midwife at 6, 4cm dilated, she came back at 9pm, had gas and air, 2 pushes (not kidding!) and she was born at 2am. Dd1 slept through it all, I was able to put her to bed and say hopefuly she'd see the baby in the morning. There was no stress,mess or fuss. Idylic really. My first labour in hospital was "text book"so I've been told. But although I have no bad feelings about the birth I was v. manipulated into doing it their way.
Anyway,thinking of you and sending lots of luck, and a fast filling pool!

Motherofone (will that soon be changed to Motheroftwo I wonder?), I'm so jealous of you. I know that I have got my rose tinted specs on now, but it all sounds so exciting. I remember being so excited when I went into labour with No 3, I couldn't wait for the arrival. I do tend to block out memories of the pain etc but I would do it all again - if only they didn't have to grow up beyond 2 - I think they should leave home as soon as they can feed themselves like animals do!

Thought I'd give an update as I've now had my second baby. Was terrified when I started this thread at the thought of giving birth again (very long first labour with 5 days of contractions and no sleep). All your replies went a long way to easing that worry. However, knowing that second time is easier is still hard to get your head round e.g if it was going to be half as bad it would still be awful.

Happy to say that the second birth was as wonderful as these things can be. Official labour time was three and a half hours and I managed with TENS machine, a bit of gas and air at the end and a wonderful midwife. Any of you expecting for the second time please be reassured that there is a good chance it will be better than the first - although if you're like me you won't quite believe it until it happens.

Hi Mog,
Thanks for your encouraging words! I am also terrified of labour after a grim first one. What did you have by the way?

Great to hear MOG..... Yes 2nd timers are VERY VERY often much faster, better and easier experience.

Congratulations. And like Jessi, I'm really relieved on my own account!

Mog - Congratulations! Second time around is definitely so much easier isn't it. Your experience sounds very much like mine and I too had been worried about it after a difficult first birth.

Brilliant news Mog - although in the early stages of my second pregnancy (in week 15 now) I am also terrified of a repeat long labour resulting in unwanted but "necessary" medical intervention. Glad to hear that my dream of a quicker and more natural birth might not be just a pipe dream but something positive to aim for. I have got a brilliant team of midwives this time who are all geared up for home births (moved house last year) and so fingers crossed for straight forward pregnancy and a labour similiar to your would be fantastic! Really pleased for you.