Second births

[LadyPug]

Hey everyone,

I had a really awful first birth experience - induction, epidural, 18 hour labour, emergency c section etc. Chances of a second one being this bad are slim, right?

Those who have had second birth experiences, were they better (and shorter) than your first?

That’s ok girlandboy good to have a balanced view. My first was so bad that I just don’t think it could get much worse!

I’m so glad legolady what was the second birth like?

Thanks chocolate that’s good to know! Could you move with the monitor eg would I be able to stand up? I don’t want to be stuck on my back again. Yes they have offered me Elc or c section at any point I want (and no induction) but I really really want to get a vbac if I can!

No once the monitor was on I wasn't allowed to walk around or stand up. Had a cannula as well. Fingers crossed for you the baby comes naturally. A lot of people said to me your body knows what it's doing more the 2nd time.

My first birth wasn't nice, ended in forceps after a failed ventouse and an episotomy.

Second birth one hour long start to finish, 3 big pushes and barley a puff of gas and air. I was quite young so when I turned up at hospital saying I needed pain relief and needed to push the midwife told me I had only been in labour 40 minutes and was being ridiculous. She finally looked 10 mins later and DD was practically waving at her.

My second was very different to my first. Labour started more efficiently if that makes sense, braxton hicks contractions when quickly to proper contractions that increased in frequency and intensity over a couple hours. Felt like my body knew what it was doing more this time. Same with breastfeeding, milk just came in much more quickly and there seem to be a lot more of it. Baby still had to learn to latch effectively, but nothing to get excited about.

Horrible first birth. Didn't risk it second time around and went for elcs. Best decision I've ever made because turns out dc2 was in the same akward back to back position as dc1 was.

Second dc was a dream compared to dc1!
Dc1 was induced, 3 day labour, epidural,episiotomy, forceps and awful healing.

Dc2 (prem and breech) was super easy! Around 5 hour labour, no pain relief, felt perfectly fine afterwards!

Dc3 (prem,breech and smallest) hurt the most out of the 3! More relaxed labour, had and air but pushing hurt a lot. This labour was shorter though at 4 hours start to finish.

Each labour is different, barely anyone I know says that the second is near as bad as the first.

Mine were both dreadful, and much the same, 2nd was marginally shorter.

Both were back to back, Long pushing stage. 1st time, had to be transferred by ambulance to different hospital. 2nd time baby was distressed, I was prepped for CS, then had ventouse delivery. 3rd degree tear with each. Wish I had gone for CS on no 2.

Interesting to hear all of the stories thank you. Ah chocolate that concerns me. My labour went well last time until they made me lie down for cannula. I got to 6cm in 2 hours with nobody even believing I was in labour (I was induced so they should have believed me) and all was well. After that they kept me on the bed and all went downhill. I believe I need an active labour and want to be able to move. They have said I have to be on this monitor as previous cs but they said I can get up and move around. Sad to hear this might not be the case.

I think if you tell the midwife it's something you are really worried about and feel like you need to be up and moving they should accommodate you. As long as they can get a good reading from the baby I can't see why they wouldn't let you try to be active. It might be something you need to push for though.
I found because the first time was so horrible and i was terrified of the same thing happening again, they was extra nice to me. They made everything available and was really reassuring that I could do it.
Just make sure you tell the midwife about your first experience and how you found things took a turn when you was made to lie down as I found they don't always go that far back in your notes.

With monitoring, It's worth asking your hospital if they have wireless monitors which you can then walk around with. Mine does and they are waterproof so you can use the pool with them as well

Thanks chocolatebutton this helps lots!

Thank you library I will ask about the monitors. I know I can’t use them in pool or be near pool as they’ve already made that clear :-(

First birth was a naice birth centre job, 9 hours labour, 40 minutes pushing, one little graze. 41+1.

Second? Induced at 38 weeks for reduced foetal movements, 7 hours drip to birth but active labour is only 3 hours, second stage... 4 minutes including the time to free a shoulder dystocia. Minor PPH but in proof that my ladybird are steel not a single tear.

My first labour was 1.5 hours, my 2nd got to 35 minutes and 8cm dilated, that was the time it took to go from 0cm on arrival and 8cm in the operating theatre for an emergency c section as he was a bit prem and breech.

Needless to say I'm not having anymore as I imagine I'd sneeze and fire out a baby when I was least expecting it.

Both my labours were inductions for medical reasons.

First was pretty bad (epidural, forceps, pph...).

Second was great. Slow to get going as only 35w, but after waters broke it was only 4.5h, gas and air, done. DD2 came out shouting and didn't need special care, so all good.

First was pretty horrible (induced, 14 hour labour, over 2 hours of pushing, drip, epidural, forceps, episiotomy, then didn't get to see him for 1 hour as I was in recovery)
Second was a walk in the park compared to the first (induced, 3.5 hour labour, a little bit of gas, 5 pushes and she was out, skin to skin straight away, it was perfect)