Is a second pregnancy Labour worse??

[rebeccaw123]

I know every Labour is different... I am very scared of delivering again after having such a horrific delivery with my first...
I was in slow Labour for a week... with full contractions bur hardly any dilation untill on the 5th day they finally started to induce me at this point I had got to 5cm on my own... the pushing wasn't too bad, he was a big boy 8lbs14. My placenta then got stuck, I was then haemorrhaging and had sever hematoma. My baby was not breathing for 4 minutes so had reasus with him. I tore and had grazes! I feel pretty traumatised by it all and I'm very anxious to go through it again!!

I really hope not! DS birth was traumatic I was forced to push with no urge to whatsoever. Finally realise he's stuck forceps in theatre episiotomy PPH he was 9lb9oz.

That's horrible your poor boy wasnt breathing. I'm due in 3 weeks and my anxiety has been terrible recently. At 29 weeks consultant referred me for Birth Choices appointment with consultant midwife which is next week 37+6 which I think is disgraceful. Given the stress this is causing. I must be grinding my teeth in my sleep my jaw is so sore. I was basically told if I had the appointment earlier 'her reassurance would have worn off'.

If you go off anecdotal evidence - the loads of threads I've read second labours are generally quicker and easier to handle. Even those who had same length of labour state it's more manageable as you know what to expect and your body's been through it. 5 close family members had tougher 2nd time which isn't reassuring me BUT their first births were good.

I feel I've 3 options - wait for spontaneous labour again and consider actually accepting painrelief this time. Induction - have pain relief in place before it all kicks off to painfully (although I cant request induction if no medical reason). Or maternal request for ELCS purely for mental health reasons - which for some reason I feel guilty or selfish for the babys sake if not medically needed. Apparently baby's in optimal position so far.

I purchased the positive birth company online digital pack which is fantastic at informing you and giving you confidence to advocate for yourself. Plus you get positive affirmations and meditations on mp3 which I'm listening to daily (They help me sleep) however I wouldn't say it has removed my anxieties completely.

Hope there are positive responses to your thread! Good luck.

Mine certainly wasn't worse, in fact it was much quicker and easier. Really hope you have a much nicer experience this time round.

My second was much quicker and easier, had no pain relief at all and got home the same day. Good luck.

Second labour much easier. In fact managed it all at home, got to hospital just in time to push with a little gas and air. Much easier recovery too and that was with a newborn and 2,5yo. It sounds like you had a horrendous time the first time, but that’s what happened last time not what’s going to happen (if that makes sense), maybe speak to your midwife or consultant
For some reassurance? My friend had a face presentation on her first birth with various complications and was terrified the 2nd time, my mum was a midwife and told her that 2nd labours were easier, and by 3rd or subsequent it was like shelling peas... Said friend got to 9cm at hole and delivered a 9lber with just gas and air.

Literally gave birth for the second time about 4 hours ago.
Was a little harder than I remembered. More intense, but when it came to actually pushing I found it easier because I knew what I was doing and understood my body more.
Shorter too, including pre labour and early labour.
Barely used gas and air and could advocate better for myself
Fingers crossed for you the second isn't as traumatic

Congratulations @Echomama 😊

Hi @rebeccaw123

Sorry to hear about the stress of your first labour. Baby not breathing must have been absolutely awful.

With my DD, my placenta got stuck and I had a massive haemorrhage too. Labour was the easy part for me and DD was fine so being whisked off for a general anaesthetic was such a shock.

She's now two and we're excited to try again but I can't deny that I'm so worried that I will have the same complications.

I had a debrief with a consultant when DD was about six months, it was really useful. He said that overall there is about a 2% chance of anyones placenta getting stuck and the fact that it happened to me the first time only increased my chances of it happening again to about 3% and that everything was very controlled.

From family and friends experience, their second labours all seem to have been much shorter and more straightforward.

My second was a lot more painful, but definitely not worse.

The first time I had an epidural and it lasted 21 hours. I was on a bed and baby had a heart monitor on so I couldn't move around.

Second time I had a 3 hour labour in a birthing pool with zero pain relief.... it hurt and I definitely felt it more that the first time but the shorter length and the fact I was more in control made it by far my preferred of the twoZ

My second was so much quicker and easier!

DC1 was 27 hours ending in forceps, 2 second degree tears and PPH.

Had DC2 10 days ago - laboured at home, arrived at hospital fully dilated and she was born 4 pushes later. Tiny graze and we were home 6 hours later! I’d say I’m fully recovered now, and frankly have been for a few days...

Had dc2 on Friday- echoing other posters in that it was way more manageable.

I had a long first birth similar to OP- 4 days latent labour. This time, my waters broke at 10:30 on Thursday morning, contractions started at 16:30, got some cocodemol from the MW and got a night’s sleep before heading to the hospital at 10 on Fri morning, 4-5cm dilated. DS born at 5pm.

I had forgotten how much it hurt, but I was much more confident in advocating for myself, telling the attending MW what did and didn’t work for me and I knew what pain relief I wanted from experience!

It wasn’t that bad- I was discharged from the hospital yesterday and I said to the MW that I’d see her in 18 months for number 3 🙈