How did your first labour compare to your second?

[totallyfedup88]

Due in 8 weeks and I'm terrified, worse than last time! How did your first labour differ from your second?

First: awful
Second: a breeze

1st - induced at 7am, light contractions at 3pm, felt like pushing & waters went about midnight and felt like pushing but was only 3cm, baby born at 1:55am after I went from 3-10 very quickly. First bad contraction to birth about 7 hours but earlier contractions felt more painful.

2nd - waters went in the middle of the night. Contractions on and off throughout that day, nothing intense until 9-10pm. Went in at 10:30pm as felt like pushing but was only 1cm. Taken to theatre as baby distressed at 2am at 3cm and then was suddenly 10cm so pushed baby out at 02:51. First bad contraction to birth about 6 hours.

Both of mine have been relatively quick, too quick for an epidural and therefore quite intense. I felt more like I knew what was happening the second time and could trust my instincts more despite baby getting quite distressed, I felt like he would be quick and he was. Good luck!

First was 18 hours with 12 at home using a TENS machine. I got in the pool on arrival at MW unit. No real pain just pressure. I never felt stronger than in the moment I lifted DD1 from the water. Hear me roar, indeed!

Second was much quicker but more painful. I needed gas and air on arrival at MW unit. The birth pool was still filling when she arrived. Crowning is DEFINITELY much easier under water! I had PGP with DD2 and was on crutches for the second & third trimesters so my physical birth preparation was heavily curtailed.