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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Tell me about your 2nd births

49 replies

Johnson10 · 04/12/2022 17:19

Tell me about your 2nd births….

Currently 38 weeks pregnant with 2nd baby. First baby was 8 days late, induced, drip, felt quite out of control at times. Epidural failed 3 times, ventouse, episiotomy that didn’t heal well, haemorrhage as well.
It wasn’t the most horrendous birth but the thought of going through it all again, it’s making me very anxious.
Obviously I’d love a nice spontaneous labour that’s not too long but I’m aware that it isn’t always possible. Trying to stay positive!

Any positive 2nd birth stories out there?

OP posts:
Getabloominmoveon · 04/12/2022 17:26

Like yours, my first went on forever, with a ‘failure to progress’, ending in a ventouse delivery and horrible after-effects.

The second was also late, and a larger baby (just under 10lbs). I arrived at the hospital having had manageable contractions for a few hours, was told I was ready to push - and out she came. No episiotomy, felt pretty good, had a cup of tea and went home a few hours later.

Afterwards was more painful as she turned out to be colicky….

Roselilly36 · 04/12/2022 17:31

Second birth 2.5hrs from waters breaking, easy labour, no pain relief or gas and air, just like my first birth but other than, that took 10hrs and I did have a bad tear, that required surgery.

JoanThursday · 04/12/2022 17:41

With my first, I had an EMCS. With my second, I chose to have an ELCS for various reasons. However, little miss had other ideas and came a week before the op. Ultra fast and 1.5 hrs from start to finish. Didn't tear, really quick recovery. It was all a bit of a surprise, but a good experience.

(A month later, I received a hefty bill for a private C section that I didn't even have - and wasn't even meant for me as I wasn't a private patient - that was more complicated to sort out than the birth!)

HooverIsAlwaysBroken · 04/12/2022 17:46

First birth: about 36 hours, left alone in maternity room overnight, refused epidural by midwife, gas and air made me vomit, heart rate dropped and needed to be cut and ventouse delivery. Horrible.

second birth, contractions started, mucked about, had a shower, then realised that contractions were 3 per minute, went to hospital and pushed with gas and air. About 3.5 hours from first contraction to born…

Huffle · 04/12/2022 17:50

My first was similar to yours, drip, epidural, haemorrhage,. Second was spontaneous, 3 days late, 35 min start to finish, no complications. Currently 12 weeks with no 3 so we shall see what this time brings!! Home birth probably 😂

101dalmatians · 04/12/2022 17:53

First was also a long Labour, 24 hours, ending with a forceps delivery. Also in the peak of the first lockdown, so I was alone until the last few hours.

second baby was a few weeks ago. 90 minutes from waters breaking, to baby arriving. Gave birth on the bedroom floor, baby delivered by the paramedics who had arrived 1 minute before! All in all, a very very positive experience, and lovely to be at home.

Dontsparethehorses · 04/12/2022 17:57

First was pretty awful - induced as waters broke but no progress, epidural meant I couldn’t feel when to push, ventouse and episiotomy etc. I had to have debrief after as was terrified when pregnant!

second was totally different! Dd came 6 weeks early and my body just knew what to do. No epidural, no interventions required. Gave birth naturally and recovery was much smoother!

cptartapp · 04/12/2022 17:57

First 24 hours back to back labour. 2.5 hours of pushing, an epidural and an episiotomy. He's 20 today!

Second, two paracetamol and a sleeping tablet, several pushes and DH racing back to hospital as he'd been sent home.

LemonDrizzles · 04/12/2022 18:05

Second was so so quick. By the time I asked for epidural, she was crowning!!

notangelinajolie · 04/12/2022 18:15

1st birth, gruesome. You name it - it happened/went wrong. I had flashbacks and nightmares about it afterwards right up until 2nd baby was born. I was terrified when I found out I was pregnant again, I was refused an elective c section and seriously considered not going through with the pregnancy.

2nd birth, easy. I was in complete denial that I was in labour. Nothing was going to get me back in the labour room of hell - not even labour. When my DH finally persuaded me to go in, my waters broke in the car park. Baby was born 60 seconds after getting on the bed. I didn’t even push.

I think it was my way of rewriting history. I wanted the control and I wasn’t letting anyone take that from me. My nightmares vanished after that.

Orangesare · 04/12/2022 18:19

First birth very long, had the drip to try and speed things up ended up with an emcs.

Second birth was an unplanned VBAC as I’d booked an elcs. Much quicker labour just over 13 hours ! Had to have an episiotomy but it healed fine.

AlwaysLatte · 04/12/2022 18:20

Oh you poor thing, what an ordeal. I can see why you're worried about this one. My first was 2 weeks late so I was induced and they ramped it up too quickly so although it wasn't a long labour it was very painful (I had chosen to have no pain relief until the last minute but by the time they examined me due to thinking I needed the toilet I was fully dilated, so I couldn't have any). I really didn't feel in control. But the second baby was 3 days early, possibly because I was crawling around in the soft play with my toddler as I went into labour there. It was pretty quick, a bit painful with only gas and air but manageable, and I was home with the baby by 2am after having had the first twinge at about 4pm.

SummerHouse · 04/12/2022 18:22

Number two - easy as pie. Couple of hours of contractions, midwife didn't even get the taps on for the water birth that wasn't. One day late and drug free birth. Just didn't need them!

Number one - lordy! Eight days late, ventose, third degree tear, 17 hour labour.

ThePumpking · 04/12/2022 18:56

First was a 3 day ordeal with every drug they'd give me, ended in an epidural, episiotomy and almost a failed ventouse (when they told me if it didn't work it'd be forceps something came over me and his head finally got past the bit he was stuck on).

Second I was in labour for 2 days without really even noticing other than a slight niggle that I though was braxton hicks. Wasn't until at a friends wedding the day before I gave birth I realised they were every 5 mins. Went to the hospital at 10pm and she was here by 5am. Beautiful water birth with just gas and air. Every midwife who saw me after said they'd never have known I'd just given birth.

AliceMcK · 04/12/2022 19:21

First like you was induced, eventually needed forceps, all very draining I couldn’t even hold baby.

number 2 so fast and easy, no time for drugs, she shot out so fast.

Dinneronmybfpillow · 04/12/2022 19:49

First was planned homebirth but ended up a BBA as she came so fast. Amazing experience. Incredible care from midwives (who arrived 10mins after delivery).

Second was hospital (DTs). The most dehumanising experience I have ever had. Forced onto my back against my will, consent breached, barely looked in the eye by medical staff whilst in my most vulnerable state. Still angry about it 7 months later and I had one of the best twin deliveries you could have.

Anonymouslyposting · 04/12/2022 20:26

This thread is lovely - 33 weeks pregnant with my second after a difficult 4.5 day first birth and you are all making me much more optimistic!

Dinneronmybfpillow · 04/12/2022 20:36

Sorry! Probably not the best addition to the thread. The bare bones of it was fine though. Waters broken and delivered four hours later. No need for any drugs/instruments. Went home from delivery suite. On paper it was perfect, and I'm sure the team on shift thought they'd done a sterling job.

lady725516 · 04/12/2022 20:38

1st son was 3 days early, 7 hour delivery and 2nd free tear.
2nd son 9 days late, waters went but labour didn't start so had a pessary and delivered 3 hours later with another 2nd degree tear.
paracetamol and gas and air with both.

Good luck op!

Twizbe · 04/12/2022 20:46

My second birth was beautiful.

Baby was 2 days late and I had a cold BUT

Went into labour at 3am got to the hospital at 4am. Welcomed onto the birth centre by the excellent midwife who delivered my first baby.

Got into the pool and felt amazing. Had a bit of gas and air but the water helped most with the pain.

Waters broke in the pool just as I started pushing.

Baby came out a few mins later at 5:30am.

She was 9lb3. Id had a third degree tear with my eldest, not a scratch with her so no stitches or anything.

First feed at 45 mins old and she fed like a pro.

It was a beautiful birth it really was.

biscuitcat · 04/12/2022 20:51

These are so reassuring to read! I'm 18 weeks with number 2 now and had a horrid time of it with my first birth. Planning an ELCS after an EMCS last time, so the stories about positive unintentional VBACs as well as ELCSs are lovely to see

ChristmasCakeAndStilton · 04/12/2022 21:00

Err, DS2 was an accidental home birth.
2.5 hours total labour. Totally drug free. Paramedic support for last 2 minutes.
Not recommended! I blacked out afterwards, and ended up with ecg monitoring, and quite a lot of concern from the paramedics as I was in shock due to the speed.

Baby 3 was off the cards, but the midwife and paramedics left requesting any future pregnancies had a planned home birth.

RoachPussy · 04/12/2022 21:00

Went into hospital was given gas and air as the contractions got stronger. Midwife broke my waters, pushed twice, knew I wasn’t pushing correctly. Push three, felt right, push four and DS was born.

All the best Flowers

Fiddledeedeeee · 04/12/2022 22:03

These stories are really reassuring! I’m also 38wks with no 2.
Like you OP, my first birth was also a slightly overdue (6 days) drip induction that ended in episiotomy and ventouse delivery!
im really hoping for a spontaneous, intervention free birth this time, although the speed some of them seem to happen at is a bit nerve wracking!

mdh2020 · 04/12/2022 22:32

2nd birth was even easier than the first. I wasnt in a lot of pain and went into hospital at 3.00pm and baby was born at 5.30. No anaesthetic. I could have got up and gone home but they insisted I stayed in. My mother gave birth to me in a wheelchair and my younger sister on her own as no one answered the bell. We are obviously made for childbearing.