Induction with first, natural with second?

[coffeeandtoffee1]

I am pregnant with my second baby. I was induced a couple of weeks early with my first baby.

There are no plans for induction this time around, I am a little nervous at the thought of just waiting for it to happen!

I kind of like the security that came with the induction, and I was already in the hospital when everything got up and running.

Anyone had natural Labour the second time round? How did it go?

Yes - it was great. Honestly! I hated the induction, ended up needing epidural and felt really powerless during the whole process.

Second (and third) waters broke in the middle of the night, managed at home for a couple of hours before going in. Had a fab playlist on and kept moving around just with gas and air - both DC2 and 3 out within 3 hours. Back home within 5 hours after birth I felt really empowered and like I’d achieved something absolutely huge, it made up for a not great first experience. What are you nervous about?

@OnASwankyMarleyPond glad to hear you had a positive experience!

I think I am most nervous about the pain. It got really bad all of a sudden during the induction and I just couldn't cope with it at all, but thankfully I was already at the hospital.

I can't imagine being in that pain at home and then trying travel to the hospital!
I know some people say induction pain can be different but of course I have nothing to compare it to!

I had an induction with my first son and got an epidural and it was still painful. I went into labor naturally with my second. Usually you will have time to get to hospital before it’s too bad so hopefully that won’t be an issue. I had just gas and air with my second and it was fine. Apparently inductions usually hurt more than natural labor

I feel adamant that I want an epidural this time! I didn't have time the first time around. Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit too much and need to try and relax and see how it all goes...

I was induced with first and spontaneous with second. The pain with the induction was so much more than the spontaneous. The induction was really intense and went from nothing at all to full on agonising contractions 90 minutes after the pessary. Had pethidine which knocked me out a bit.

2nd time was all totally bearable at home for a while. Had about 7 hours of gentle contractions that were totally manageable with TENS. Even dozed a bit on and off. DC was born less than 3 hours after I got to hospital with gas and air and all pretty calm.

Totally agree @DappledThings - I think that’s why I think of it in terms of being empowered and not. In the first one, the pain went from 0-10 very quickly, giving me no chance to catch up or try and process it. Spontaneous births seemed to go at a pace that I was more comfortable with.

@coffeeandtoffee1have you tried any hypnobirthing? I’m the least woo person ever, but I listened to a podcast every night which really got my head in the right space and I put one on whilst in labour as well. I really recommend it to help you feel more in control.

Induction and augmented labours are well recorded to be more painful than natural labour. This is because in natural labour the oxytocin allows a break between contractions that are pain free. Induced and augmented labour uses artificial oxytocin, called pitocin, and it’s not a perfect match being synthetic. It creates contractions followed immediately by another contraction type pattern so the mother has no pain free break at all since she never technically is between contractions.
So don’t worry about the pain.