How did your first labour compare with your second?

[beholdthecreation]

My first was 25 hours, pethadine and gas and air, ended with ventouse.
I'm 23 weeks and literally having sleepless nights thinking about having to go through it again. I'm terrified. I'm vomit phobic which I managed to avoid in my first labour but I'm worried I won't be so lucky this time.
How was your second labour? Was it better?

My second labour was similar- both 24 hours, BUT my second was an induction. And although it was a similar length, and both ended up needing an epidural, the first was far worse (pethidine and they were wheeling the forceps in after his poor little head had been hanging out of me for close to an hour). The second Labour wasn't as had and once I started pushing she was straight out. Think it's common for the first to be the worst.
Third, suprise home birth with only gas and air.

First was about 7 hours but would have been quicker had she not got stuck. She was born in her caul.

Ds - waters broke at 37 weeks, no contractions. Midwife insisted I came in to be checked. I was furious as I told her it was a waste of time as I wasn't having contractions. I moaned the whole way in then got out the car in the car park, made it to the front door and had 2 contractions and he was born

Try not to worry @beholdthecreation . You know the best thing about subsequent births is that you know so much more so you do feel more in control, if that's possible, and I felt the midwives/doctors listened a bit more as you'd done it before!! (But I gave birth a long time ago so I'm sure things are even better!)

much better.
it kinda healed me from the trauma of the first one

First: 28 hours, started naturally but sooo slow. Epidural, baby hooked up to monitor all the way through, and 20 hours later ended up with a ventouse birth.

Second: few contractions over a few days but nothing serious. Then from nothing to born in 4 hours, no pain relief, almost didn’t make it to hospital, no interventions. Such a relief that it was different.

So much better the second time, despite an 8 year gap! Both inductions. First labour was 36 hours, exhausting, epidural to help me cope, baby was nearly EMCS as heart rate dropped but I managed to deliver whilst they were discussing it.

I was dreading another induction, so the Second time I prepared. I practised some relaxation/hypnobirthing stuff and after the induction was started i left the hospital and walked to the nearby department store for a look round. From start of induction to delivery was only about 18 hours, did it all on paracetomol and G&A. Felt much more under control overall, despite a bit of panic when the pain really ramped up, I just knew I could do it.

Try not to let the fear take over, plan something practical to help you feel you are going to get through it. Hypnobirthing i found absolutely wonderful, for example

First labour: Quite fast. Waters broke, born 3 hours later. No meds of any kind.

Second: Very fast. Waters broke, born 1 hour later. No meds.

First: waters broke out of the blue, 31hrs of back to back contractions, pushed for 4hrs, baby didn't descend a millimetre, attempted ventouse, attempted forceps, attempted manual rotation, emcs, haemorrhage.

Second: waters broke out of the blue, 38hrs of labour, baby hadn't engaged let alone descended, emcs.

Second one was a really positive experience.

My 1st was 11 hrs between waters breaking (1st sign of labour) and birth and I felt like I was in huge pain almost all of the time and DD was a little under 7lbs. My 3rd (2nd was breech C-section) was induced because he was late and just under 10lbs and with me hooked up to a monitor because it was a vbac. It was 9hrs between Dr breaking my waters (all that was needed to induce) and birth. I honestly enjoyed it except the last half hour when he tried coming out hand first and I needed a big epistemology. For that half hour I mainly wondered why the f* I hadn't asked for an epidural. Most people I know had a much easier time 2nd time round.

First 17-18 hours back to back. V painful and spectacularly hard to push out. A sniff away from a c section.

Second was up pottering and labouring on my own whilst everyone was asleep early hours. Made my sons breakfast and got dressed and packed bag. Left for hospital 8.30and she was born by 10. Much more intense and the urge to push was insane. Much easier.

I would have had more if life hadn't got in the way. You will be fine.

First was ten hours and I cried afterwards as I had hated it so much my new dc was destined to be an only child. I obviously relented on this (but only after a few years) and second was 2.5 hours and about 20 minutes afterwards I turned to DH and said I could do that again if I had to. It was way better the second time.

First: 6 hours
Second: 2 hours

Both were actually fine and I enjoyed it, but due to spee, my desire to have my body back in shape and my love of sleep there won’t be a third !

Came too early(9pm),dilated at 3cm but labour pains started properly next day at 2pm,DS born at 5pm.
Was too scared to refuse anything so had pethidine,unwanted episiotomy and Dr used Kristeller maneuver which probably contributed to my DS being born in poor condition (he was born abroad so different approach than UK).Struggled for first 3 days with BF.My episiotomy never healed properly.
2nd time, I promised myself that I'm going to hide in a birthing pool and no one will force me out to touch me ,until my baby is born.It worked well,a bit more intense as strong contractions lasted a bit longer than first one(not in a water though,it was bliss)
At least 2nd DS wasn't born ''drunk'' and we were not separated as with 1st baby.

Mine were almost identical.

First one was 3 hours from first contraction to the birth (water birth), so I was expecting the second to be like 30 mins or something mad and panicked about making it to the hospital. In the end it was 2.5 hours from
first contraction to the birth so only very slightly shorter! And I had a second degree tear both times despite everyone saying I probs wouldn’t tear again. Both babies big as well.

Glad I’m reading this thread; 26 weeks with no.2 and shitting myself for what’s ahead.

Both started with waters breaking, both had meconium in, first didn't progress well by myself and I had to have the bromine drip and an epidural. Second much faster and no help required, went from 4cm to born in 20 minutes, no time for pain relief 😥.

About one million times better second time. First I had a bad tear and quite a bit of trauma... the second birth healed that trauma and was absolutely fine! I could do it again tomorrow.

Hypnobirthing helped ENORMOUSLY. Keeping calm was the absolute key. Good luck OP.

Not a bromine drip 🤦‍♀️ hormone drip 😂🤦‍♀️

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba

much better. it kinda healed me from the trauma of the first one

I felt like this too, definitely traumatised after the first one.

Also pregnant with number two and veering between ‘it can’t surely be as bad as number one birth’ and ‘what if it’s worse’!!! You’re not alone. I have mostly only heard positives from people about their second births so I am really hoping everything will run more smoothly!

First: induction, very painful, much harder than I expected, pretty quick. I was terrified the second time. It was a great experience in comparison, I felt like O could have literally danced out of the labour room a few hours later. Third was the same. Sorry for those of you who have had difficult births.

First was traumatic and second was a piece of piss. First he got stuck, pushing for hours, he got stuck again. Second labour was couple of hours and pushing room 15 mins. Don’t worry, second time round is normally much easier. Just breathe, relax your shoulders when you have a contraction and you’ll be fine

Glad I am reading this, 39 weeks with 2nd and first was not fun so is good to read these positive 2nd experiences.

1st 28 hours, all the drugs inc epidural, nearly had a Caesarian. Failed ventous and forceps. Lots of stitches.
Second… woke around 6ish, waters went in bath around 8, born by 11. Gas n air. Really strong urge to push. It hurt because I hadn’t felt a thing with first one but was fine. All good

My first was a trauma, took 5 days to induce me through various methods. Pushing from about 7pm to 3am and ended up with episiotomy and ventouse. It was horrific.

Second was a piece of cake. I was determined not to have another epidural and made sure I stayed standing or leaning for as long as I possibly could. I started pushing at 23.52 and she was born at 23.55.

My advice is to take control of your labour, have a plan in mind, stay active as much as possible whether it's walking around or sat on a birthing ball. And trust your body. I fought it too much the first time but the second I just went with what my body knew how to do.