2nd (or 3rd, 4th etc) labour... how did it start, and is it more full-on from the beginning with subsequent births?

[HelloMama]

Hi im due baby no2 in 10 days and was wondering what to expect second time around when labour starts. Most people say the second labour is much quicker and more intense, so I wondered if it also starts off like that? My 1st labour started with strong braxton hicks that got stronger and stronger, until I eventually was in established labour. I didn't have a 'show' and my waters didn't break until moments before DS1 was born.

How did your second or (subsequent) labour start? Did you just start having proper full-on contractions right from the beginning, or did it start with milder ones which gave you the clue that labour was imminent? Or did you have a show or waters break, and that was how it all kicked off?

I'd be interested to know peoples' experiences! TIA!

bump?

Hi, my 2nd labour was shorter but only by about an hour!
Both my labours started with my waters breaking. DD (1st) was born 12.5 hours later. DS (2nd) was born 11.5 hours later.
After the waters breaking, I had weak contraction with both, and the pushing stage was 'short' for both - about and hour or so each.
I think the difference for me was knowing what was going to happen: With 1st labour waters broke at 3am and then I was too excited to sleep, and was then absolutely knackered by the birth itself.
With 2nd labour waters broke at 11pm. After phoning midwife, I then slept most of the night (waking up to breathe through -still quite mild- contractions) so had a lot more energy for the birth bit.

I guess at the end of the day everyone's body is different, so I'm not sure how much my experience can help you, but HTH nevertheless, and good luck!

I had a very long 1st stage with ds1 but ended up being induced with dd so not sure if things would have been different but my first contraction sent me to my knees, I had to breathe through it and had a 3 hour labour. My waters were broken for me with ds1 and dd.

With DS2 I went into labour naturally (aided by a bit of nipple stimulation). I had a few strong twinges while I was doing the stimulation, then went to bed. 10 mins later I had another strong twinge, 5 mins later another one. I think I had 3 at 5 mins apart that got increasingly painful, then they went to every 2 mins and I was pacing and breathing through them. My waters broke about about an hour and three quarters after the first twinge and ds2 arrived 13 mins later.

So 2nd and 3rd were pretty full on immediately with no show or anything to give me prior warning.

The only clue I had with ds2 was that I really couldn't wake up the morning of the day I went into labour. I kept waking up, then dozing off again until I finally dragged myself out of bed at about lunchtime. I didn't realise until after that it was my body getting ready.