Anyone with two or more children how have your labours compared time and pain wise?

[cookiesandcream]

Is it true subsequent labours are easier and quicker than the first or is this just an urban myth?

My first labour was 12.5 hours long, but I had a very effective epidural, so it wasn't too painful all in all.

My second labour was 5 hours long, so quicker, but far more painful as the epidural didn't work & he did a complete turn near the end. The pushing stage was also quicker, but hurt more!

DS1 - waters broke at 36 1/2 weeks, but labour didn't start. Taken to hospital and kept in, but consultant suggested no induction (as long as no infection) until 38 weeks, to allow the lungs to complete their development.

Labour started naturally a week later. Started at around 10.30 pm with back ache/mild period pains. DS1 born at 2.15 am weighing 6lbs 2.

Used a tens machine and gas and air. Pain not too bad, some tearing and stitching needed.

DS2 - waters broke at 36 weeks, but this time labour started immediately. Woke up at 6.30, got to hospital around 7, DS2 born at 9.15 am. Once ready to push, took 2 pushes and he was born, weighing 6lbs 2. Gas and air - didn't have a tens machine and no time - and pain not too difficult to deal with because it was so quick. No tearing/stitching needed this time.

So pretty much the same experience, except ds2 was obviously coming earlier and was a bigger baby - at least in the sense that he weighed the same as ds1 but born 2 weeks earlier.

I was always worried that if I had a third, it would be even quicker and even more premature. DS2 needed a couple of days in the neonatal unit (although he was fine) and I didn't want to risk a more premature birth.

ds1 waters startrted to trickle away and so they refused to let me out of hospital and induced me 3 times. In my ignorance I went along with it and suffered horribly with a 27 hour labour and a boy who did not want to come out. He spent 8 hours spinning in my cervix or something. Anyway, epidural, episiotimy and a vow to Never Have Any More! Ever! And a narsty re-sticthing operation a year later. Don't ask!
Three years later, a nice normal, relaxed 7 hours with gas and air (though obv painful) and speedy recovery.

1st labour 12hours (4 hours pushing [shock), very painful with no pain relief (as i stated in my birth plan)

2nd labour 14 hours, very easy painless labour up to the last hour where i opted for an epidural, a great birth, 2 pushes and all over but very painful after birth (could'nt walk for a week)

2nd birth was the better of the 2.

1st labour 39+4wks was 5 and half hours, was started off as my waters were leeking, I had a drip and was suppose to have an epi under there advisement (but never got it due to emergencies) I had gas and air and pethadin but was completely out of it, as was in so much pain nearly ended up with c section.
2nd 12 hour labour 40+10wks only gas and air, lol felt like heaven compared to my first (well almost)
3rd 39+5wks my waters went 6.30 in the morning, was told if I didn't start by nxt morning I would be started ofF, about 8.30 that night I started, DS was born 5 and half hours later, gas and air and pethadin but only half a dose

1st labour - I was induced as I was late and the pain was mostly an aching in my back. The pessarys took all day to work but once they got going labour lasted about 3 hours. I had gas an air and spent most of the time on a chair with a hole in it as it was so much more comfortable than the bed!

2nd labour - I was induced again as I was late and this time had my waters broken which really bought things on. I had to be monitered so had to stay on the bed and again had gas and air. I think it was more painful but it was also most recent so I am probably just remembering it more clearly. Labour again was about 3 hours.

Ds1--12 hour induction with 6 hours of labor no pain relief

ds2--5 hour natural labor with no pain relief.

Both were equally painful.

dd1 epidural episiotomy and an all day "active" labour

dd2 epidural 5 hour active labour

ds1 3 hour active labour no pain relief woohoo

ds1, induced after a nightmare with spd, first induction failed, almost ended with emergeancy c section as baby was distressed. however i then went back two weeks later to be induced again, used syntocin and i had an epidural, it still took three days and had to push for three hours and then had an episiotomy for him to be delivered.

ds2, refused to be induced, he was 15days late, 7hr labour, which included pushing for an hour, just gas and air, he was 9lb 3oz.

ds3, refused induction, he was 17days late, 3hr labour, bit of gas and air, 2 pushed and he was out, 9lb 5oz.

preg again and booked for a home birth

DD1 37+5weeks, 4h 20 mins after waters went, G&A only loads of stitches due to her hand at her face, 6lb 3ozs

DD2 41+5 weeks, 2h 30 mins from first twinge to delivery G&A only homebirth 9lbs 3ozs, only a graze

Both hurt like hell but with DD2 knew that it would be faster so that helped.

DD 24 hours long, epidural that didn't work agony, 4 pints of blood transfused. Very ill for a long time afterwards. 9lb 6
DS 4 hours - painful, but bliss even went shopping the day after having him. 9lb 10

dd1 - 19 hrs from show to baby, gas & air - felt it was a really good labour, had to have stitches
dd2 - 7 hrs from show, pain definitely more intense and had epidural, no stitches
ds - 5 hrs froms how , pain was REALLY intense, gas and air, no stitches.

For me, its no urban myth....

dd 30 hours start to finish but only 5 hours of strong pain and definately not a bad experience.
ds 10 hours start to finish, 2.5 hours of strong pain actual birth hurt a bit more but then he was much bigger.
No stitches either time but much more tender after the second. I would say that second was slightly better as I was at home and until the last few hours was actually quite enjoying it. Also it was in the daytime which just felt much more civilised. Still felt completely knackered afterwards though.

ds 9 hours, no pain relief not out of choice, labelled 'traumatic' delivery in my medical notes

dd 5 hours, epidural topped up throughout by anaethestist, honestly a pleasure!

Ist was 5 hours long, painful, gas and air (which I found useless) and I had pethedine (which I enjoyed!)

2nd was 2.5 hours longer, only had gas and air (which I got the hang off this time and enjoyed!) and was extremely painful

I think the speed increased the pain though.

2.5 hours long not longer

1st - 1 hr 10 mins - very easy delivery very little pain
2nd 45 mins - super quick dead easy no pain
3rd 22 hrs stop start, homebirth transfer, once in hospital was just like last two.
But am convinced I was so tired it hurt more
Still easy delivery though IMO

dd1 - 6 hrs homebirth no pain relief
dd2 - 3 hrs homebirth no pain relief
? - ? homebirth.
Bad after pains after 2nd, and anticipated after 3rd.

ds1- induced early- average pain I guess, not too long 12 hours or so

ds2- very little pain, 44 hours, p[osterior labour but well managed in MW unit with alternative therapies etc

ds3- 4 hour labour, bloody painful

Therefore: the quicker the more painful ime

First labour: 19 hours gradual pain ended up having an epidural around 17 hours in.
second labour: 40 mins no time for any pain relief hurt like hell.

1st and 2nd very similar both under 4.5 hours
2nd - more pains within the first 24 hours after the birth.

1st labour - 12 hours active labour (26 hours from first contraction felt to birth), epidural when only 3cm dilated

2nd labour - 6 hours from first contraction to birth, nothing until 9cm dilated, then gas & air, physiological 3rd stage

I don't know if it was less painful or I was just better at dealing with it, but yes, it did seem much easier and was certainly much quicker

1st labour 10hrs 15mins(Morphine and Gas and Air) 8 days late. Spontanoeus Labour

2nd Labour 1hr 20mins (Gas and Air- too quick for anything else) 13 days late. Induced Labour.

1st: 5 days late, 33 hours from 1st contraction, G&A, got stuck at 9cm, pethidine, epidural, 2 hours pushing, no baby, ds1 eventually delivered by ventouse.

2nd: 12 days late so induced, 3.5 hours from first contraction, G&A, had waters broken for me, midwife went off shift at 8pm when I was 7cm & screaming foor epidural, dd arrived 26 mins later.

3rd: 1 day late, 2 hours from 1st contraction, G&A only, waters broke naturally & had ds2 13 mins later.

Ds2's was the most manageable pain because the mw just left me to follow my body's lead. I had no examinations, she checked him occasionally with her doppler but really just left me to it which was amazing.

Ds1's was the worst because I was just so tired. I'd gone into labour at 1:30am, after not going to bed until midnight so had really been up since 9am that morning. By the time he was finally born i'd been awake for over 48hrs.