Feeling more scared 2nd time round

[SassyPants87]

Is it just me or is the idea of labour second time round even more daunting than the first! My first labour was over fairly quickly but all of the sudden I just remember the PAIN! It’s freaking me out. I was way more chill 1st time round, probably because I didn’t really know what to expect.

Anyone else feeling the same!?

Yes! Exactly the same. And I'm due to be induced this time aswell, which is supposed to be even more painful. Every little niggle now I'm wondering if it's the start and how I'll cope. I much preferred being naive first time round haha! Good Luck!

Yes! There's a little bit of ignorance is bliss first time, I remember hitting transition and crying on my 2nd saying I'd changed my mind and wanted to go home 🤣 but I'm pregnant for a 3rd time, so babies must be worth it right?!?! x

Glad I’m not the only one! I guess good luck to us hey! 😂

How about an epidural?

If you have the pessary or balloon or even just your waters broken then labour will be no different to not being induced. If you end up needing the drip though then I’d recommend having an epidural.

@Winceybincey i don’t like the idea of epidural and have heard so many horror stories of bad tears and assisted delivery with epidural. But would consider if I’m put on the hormonal drip as I know the labour can be long and painful. I was really lucky with my first it was over so quick so I’m hoping the same again. I’m just being a wuss! Need to put my big girl pants on and just deal with it! 😂

A midwife once told me that first time round it’s the fear of the unknown… second time round is dear of knowing what is coming!

I was induced second time round with the gel and then having my waters broken. It was a much better labour than my first so inductions aren't always bad - I was absolutely terrified before it.

If it's any comfort to you, my second one was an absolute doddle compared to the first. I do remember thinking oh God yes, I remember this and then it was all over so much more quickly and easily.

Yes I was the exactly same!
However generally second labours are a bit quicker. And once labour kicks in you just get on with it.

You’ll more than likely go into labour with the pessary/balloon - which ever one your trust uses. I went into labour very quickly after having the pessary and it was all over within two hours. I had the drip with my second as in an awkward position so the pessary, although started my labour off, wasn’t strong enough and I wasn’t progressing.

There’s no let up with the contractions they are just constant and excruciating from the get go rather than a build up. No breaks between them. I had the epidural and was lucky that the ward wasn’t busy and I had already had blood tests earlier on so I got it very quickly. My birth was smooth and I only had a graze. When you’ve already given birth your body knows what it’s doing so it is easier, plus you get to control the epidural with a little button. If you want less of it in your system when you give birth you just hold off pressing the button and let it wear off a bit.

hopefully you won’t need the drip though but if you do, you don’t need to suffer.

@SassyPants87
I was induced and had an epidural and it was a good experience. Very small second degree tear and zero interventions. I know this is just my story and others will have very different ones, but there you go! Although my labour was fast and intense as a result of being induced, I think I'd be ok with having to be induced second time round. All the best to you

I had a chat with my obstetrician a few days ago, I had induction/epidural/forceps last time and will be induced slightly early again in this pregnancy. She said I’ve got a 95% chance of a straightforward VB with no instruments, whatever pain relief I choose. I like those odds!

Yes natural labour is nothing like the induction drip. The drip will basically make the contractions come thick and fast with only a few seconds in between, no build up. I really would recommend an epidural as it gets harder to advocate for yourself the more pain you are in.

Admittedly I haven't had a natural labour to compare to, but I've had the drip twice now and it's been nothing like that either time. I've had build up where the drip is started low, then cranked up every half hour until the contractions are 3-4 in 10 and last about a minute. But then that only ever came for me at the penultimate level of the drip with my first, and the maximum for my second. I think my body is just spectacularly shit at going into labour.

As for the strength of contractions, in both I did ok on gas and air until 5cm, then needed something stronger. First labour, 5cm was reached ~6 hours after the drip was started. Second was ~10 hours. But I'll never know if I would have needed any pain relief in a natural labour.

Hopefully your second will come quickly and easily OP. I went into my second undaunted and unafraid. But I think that's because I was high as a kite on diamorphine from 5-10cm with my first, and don't remember much of the pain!

@SassyPants87 I felt like this too! However I had my second on Sunday and I felt WAY more in Control this time, I was induced via sweep, ARM and drip and I only needed gas and air for an hour and she was born. I used the in for 4 out for 8 technique with my breathing which my mum told me about the day before 😂. Seemed to work!

I had the pessary. The whole process was horrible and it took 31h. Next time I’d ask for epidural as soon as I can. Think I waited about 2h before I did.