Second labour nerves

[November20202]

Currently 35 weeks pregnant with second baby, first labour was 4 days, my daughter was back to back and this resulted in a forceps delivery & episiotomy. I really struggled mentally after this, lockdown with a newborn didn't really help! Anyway fast forward a year, baby number 2 was a bit of a shock! But now I'm over the shock and excited I can't shift being absolutely petrified of giving birth again, I've tried talking to my midwife and she just says 'second births are much quicker' please can I hear some positive second birth stories after traumatic first labours? Thank you x

Hello, didn't want to read and run. My first birth was awful, vaginal delivery 27 hours, back to back, only had gas and air, 2 hours pushing ended up with episiotomy and a 2nd degree tear.

Second birth was amazing!!!

Waters broke at half 10 in the morning 8 days late, by two in the afternoon my waters had turned brown, was told to go in for monitoring. Half four I was checked and was still only two cm 😩 was told if I was the same at half 8 at night I'll be induced. Quarter past 6 I felt " contractions" I was told this was braxton hicks 😳 clearly not as he was born at 6.59, just gas and air again ( begged for pain relief) but was to late! No tears or stitches needed!

I refused to go to the toilet as I thought it would be as painful as my first, came prepared with witch hazel gel and all sorts, I finally went 5 hours after birth and didn't feel a thing, honestly was amazing!! Not every birth will be great but in my case the second definitely was!

Good luck ☺️☺️