Tell me about your second birth?

[ComeOnBridgett]

Had a horrible first birth and want to know how the second birth went for you all.

Scared to TTC again!

First was awful, very traumatic, EMCS, I nearly died afterwards, had to go under general and have another op and a blood transfusion.

Second was a beautiful home birth, no pain relief, long labour but all fine.

First one was fairly long - about 38 hours from waters breaking to delivery although pain started 15 hours after waters broke. Not too much intervention just an episiotomy.

Second was fast. Waters broke at 11pm, pain started at 2am and he was born at 4.30am. It was at home with no intervention (or midwife!).

First - 25 hours absolutely awful pain, on my back for established labour and pushed for an hour.

Second (15 years later!) Arrived at hospital at 8pm, had DS in the pool at 9.40 with 2 pushes. Absolute dream of a labour and home by 1am. 6 weeks old now oh and didn't lay on my back once!

I was convinced with the 15 year gap it'd be like having a first all over again but it was amazing, midwives let me lead the whole thing and at my own pace.

Good luck OP

1st birth - 28 hours established labour (48 hrs start to finish), ventouse and forceps in theatre

2nd birth - 11 minutes

Second birth was lovely. I tore badly with the first, and the midwife was aware of this and promised she wouldn't "let" me tear again. I was in for about 4 hours total, no stitches, lovely tea and toast, home again.

My second birth was loads better than my first traumatic birth.
My first was an induction and 36 hours of labour in the hospital.. i nearly had to have a section then they got the forceps out but luckily managed with just an episiotomy in the end... which all the stitches fell out if and got infected meaning I couldn't even sit up for about a month and could only walk short distances gor several months... there were loads of other ways it was awful too
My second I was induced again but then gave birth within three hours with no epidural and was out of the hospital that sane day.. was walking around in town the next day slightly sore but basically completely fine... i couldnt believe it!

Both of mine were straightforward and quick. The second was quicker though, with just 45 minutes between me arriving at hospital and giving birth. A couple of hours before that I had been standing in Poundland buying toothbrushes! Only anecdotal, but everyone I know had an easier second birth.

I wish you all the very best.

First was horrific, due to hospital errors, baby in distress, birth after a horrific labour, etc etc.
Second was a long induction which didn’t work so in the end was a section. Which was bloody great. Even the recovery.

Wow! This has made me feel a 100x better. Thank you so much for all your replies.

@Thneedville Wow, 11 mins? 11 mins even with contractions? Or just pushing?

I sympathise. My first was long and difficult. Had to have a ventouse in theatre. Dc1 went to special care. Cause was my tiny pelvis. Recovery was difficult due to having had massive episiotomy and lots of stitches.

Was scared second time around. I was offered an elective section but I decided to try for vaginal delivery because I didn’t fancy the difficult recovery with lively toddler, mostly absent dh and no local family support.

I’d be lying if I said the second labour was easy. It was just as long and absolutely exhausting, BUT dc2 was eventually born with no intervention, and we were allowed home later that day. Recovery much quicker as well - I had a bad tear but it didn’t need as many stitches As the episiotomy had, and I was much less uncomfortable as they healed.

If I had my time again though, I would go for the section that was offered.

First birth was a 3 day one full of hideousness, all the drugs etc. 2nd I didn’t actually realise I was in labour when in hindsight I must have been. It was quick, and I even managed to read a bedtime story to no.1 during a contraction. While it was painful near the end, it was a completely different experience. I would never have believed the pain of the first one if I’d only had births like the second one. I didn’t have a nice birth because I did any better, breathed any deeper etc but because of luck. I can see how some people might get a bit evangelical about their marvellous hypobirthing if they only had births like my second.

I'm absolutely terrified of surgery @howells