Was your second labour a more positive experience

[Lizbiz89]

Due to have my second baby in just over 2 months and I'm trying to get myself prepared for labour. My first labour wasn't the best. It started out quite well. I didn't even realise I was in labour and only realised I was when I went for a routine midwife appointment and found out I was 4cm dilated. Anyway as my blood pressure was slightly high I was told to go to labour ward. When I got there they decided to break my waters and get labour properly going. Then they decided to give me the induction drip to hurry things along which is where my labour went very downhill. I was strapped to the bed and my contractions went from just about manageable to excruciating. Needless to say I ended up with an epidural which later led to a quite nasty forcep and episiotomy delivery.

Anyway I really don't want a repeat of my last labour as I felt a lot of it was unnecessarily traumatic.

Has anyone had a first labour like mine and gone to have a more positive experience the second time around?

Would love to hear your experiences.

hi op

yes definetly my second labour was so much better and easier than my first

my first labour was 16 hours they used vontouse etc
was very hard

second labour was much easier it lastest 8 hours much easier

Yes definately even though I had IV induction I felt more in controlof everything don't get me wrong it still hurts and intense but 2nd time around you half know what the feck is happening to you.

Definitely - with my first my waters broke and I had to be induced. DS got stuck after over 12 hours of labour (I had an epidural) resulting in an EMCS!

Second - first painful contraction at 5.30am, in hospital at 7am. DD arrived an hour and a half later, with minimal midwife intervention and G&A only as pain relief.

Thanks for the replies! Fingers crossed it'll be a better experience this time around!

In a word...no 😭😭not helpful I know but just go in with an open mind and look at your options.

Yes, definitely. Mine went very smoothly, but more importantly I think I felt more in control. I knew what to expect and I felt more assertive and able to take charge of my care in a way that I couldn't with my first.

Sorry, but no not really in the face of it, I had 2 inductions. Painful contractions, monitor strapped on etc both times. But at least I knew what to expect 2nd time around and it was a lot quicker. I pushed both out too, no need for forceps although I did tear. You just never know how it will go. I'd planned a HB but my waters broke and there was meconium in it so that was that, straight in and strapped to the monitor! But yours could be completely different so don't get too hung up on how it might go. I still used all my breathing and Hypnobirthing stuff which kept me calm despite it not going the way I wanted it.

Yes. First labour was 16+ hours, a year, stitches.
Second labour was 30 minutes and shot out like a torpedo. I was rather in shock by the end, but as labours go I certainly couldn’t complain.

I had a similar birth as your first with my first.
Second couldn't have been more different. No interventions no drugs and 13 hours start to finish.