Second baby.. childbirth experiences?

[selee]

I have a 12 and a half month old son and am expecting our second child in 2 weeks. What experiences have those of you had with the differences between the two labours and births? My first child was quite a long labour ( was back to back) but went pretty smoothly if I can say that!
I just would like to know if anyone found it easier/ harder, longer/shorter etc and any other info would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks. x

I had 1 1/2 year gap between my girls. Labour 1 was about 8 hours and venteuse assisted. Labour 2 was less than an hour (the drive from home to hospital was 1/2 hour) and she just popped out before I could even say 'gas & air'. The main difference for me was for the first baby, I was mainly on my back, but for the second I got up on all fours. I wish I had done that with DD1, as I am convinced it made all the difference. Good luck.

Labour with dd1 was classed as 4 hrs 30 minutes,started with heavy bleeding day before,rushed to hospital,was already 4 cms,prodded and poked a lot ,next day waters were broken,1 hr 30 later 1st pain then lots of pushing,too late for pain relief.

Labour with dd2 was surreal,she arrived so fast that i had to throw myself on the floor to prevent her going down the loo and dp delivered her before any help could arrive.

Both labours quite strange and eventful.

ds1 - 53 hours, ending with episiotomy and ventouse.
ds2 - 30 minutes, unplanned home delivery!

Gosh it looks as if there isn't much time to dillydally !!! I don't know if I am pleased that it appears second babies are quicker, or more worried about getting to hospital in time! It's very exciting anyhow.
Thanks for the messages. x

Went sooooo much better!

First time, 24 hour labour, 2 hours of pushing, forceps delivery.

Second time, 2.5 years later, 4 hours of labour. I had no idea how far along I was because I'd had an epidural the first time, so got to hospital almost too late!

Gave birth with no pain relief (G&A made me sick) half an hour after arrival (arrived at 9cm dilated) with only a graze.

My dd took 4 hours from start of first contraction til when she popped out. Lovely water birth, but loads of stitches! She weighed 8lbs 11oz.

Ds took 1hour 45mins from first contraction til the end. No stitches and he weighed 10lb 8oz!

1st birth - 13 hours from first contraction. 4 hours of pushing, ended in failed ventouse then successful forceps delivery. Baby back to back. Had episiotomy and tore internally. Extremely painful. Horrific.

2nd birth - 4 hours from first contraction. 1 hour of pushing. Baby back to back again. Natural delivery. Small internal tear and small external tear. Slightly less painful than first time. Planned home birth, but had to transfer to hospital after my blood pressure dropped. Despite this I was pleased that it went well, was much easier.

Good luck!

DS- 1st labour - 49 hours ending in up in theatre for an episiotomy and forceps delivery.

DD - 2nd labour - 3.5 hours, arrived 55 minutes after arriving at hospital!

Good luck

All in all sounds very positive, thanks for all the messages. Keeping my fingers crossed!x

24 hrs first and ventouse..second ..only just got through hospital doors and onto bed...!!

DD1 PROM. contractions stop and start. Syntocinon drip 30hrs after waters breaking, epidural, 9hours after syntocinon started dd1 flew accross the room ( and then I started haemorraging (sp).

DD2 PROM (notice a trend here!) 8 hours later labour started (woo hoo )17 hours later dd2 eased her way out

Both over night labours (well dd1 was over 2)

So dd2 faster and no induction but they both still took their time.

Dd#1 14hrs and ventouse delivery
Dd#2 13hrs normal delivery. So much for a much quicker second time, but still not so bad as things go.

ds 13 hours
dd 45 minutes got to the hospital but not up the stairs!

oh ladies, this thread so worrying,
im overdue with no2, having contraction pains right now.
dd took 6hours with no pain relief, with loads tear inside, 8lbs11oz
i better bring my hospital bag down and kepp checking timing now
wish me good luck

Good luck Divamumplusbump. Have just been looking at this thread 2 as 2nd baby due in 3 weeks and DD1 was very overdue and long labour. I think I better get that hospital bag packed... Do you have far to go to the hospital?

dd natural labour - 10hrs 15 mins gas and air and morphine

ds induced labour - 1hr 20 mins just gas and air.(was too quick for anything else)

If I'd had a delivery like DS the first time then I wouldn't have had anymore children. Second one was quicker but too quick for adequate pain relief.

mine were almost identical in timing (both just before midnight coming upto 37 weeks) and waters going before contractions started. Once contractions started ds1 was 2 hrs and ds2 15 minutes. Both easy although ds1 didn't feel like it at the time.

DS was 11hours total and finally came along after ventouse and epidural.
DD was in a rush and a half! 1 and 3/4 hours from start to finish after waters broken. No pain relief (no time) and I am a big wuss. To be honest the second WAS more painful, but fabulous because it was shorter and I could FEEL what my body needed to do, if that makes sense. Makes me smile thinking about it all again! So pleased for you xxx

first baby 4and 1/2 hrs ,second baby 3 and 3/4 hrs.the only thing with the second baby i had terrible after pains.but other than was great.Oh and there was exactly 24 months between them

No 1- 12 days late- long hard slog then vontouse but No 2 -also 12 days late-fab delivery - home after 2 hours!
Good luck X

My 2 labours were physically similar (about 8 hours of contractions but failed to dilate, leading to emergency cs). However, no.2 was psychologically more positive, because I felt that I knew what I was doing, I was at home most of the time and managed to move around a lot more. The actual moment of birth was completely different: with dd1 I was so scared and spaced out that I felt as if she was someone else's baby, but with dd2 I was much more confident and bonded with her from the moment she emerged.

So even if you have difficulties during the second labour/birth, the fact that you have given birth before has equipped you with resources to help you cope.