Tell me about your 2nd births

[Johnson10]

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?

DC1 - no complications but long - 27 hours from first contraction to birth.
DC2 - 3.5 hours from first contraction to birth. Much easier!

First was late by 6 days. Laboured at home and arrived in hospital at about 7am, DD1 born at half 12 with only gas and air.

Went into hospital to be induced with DD2 as I'm old. Had pessary inserted at 11pm, told midwives I was ready to push at around 4am. They told me I really wasn't. Long story short waters broke in the ward and was wheelchaired down to labour suite, phoned DH on the way down, he was only 15 minutes away. DD2 born as he arrived in the door. I fucking told them I was ready to push! Didn't get gas and air until I was being stitched up.

Wait... they let you have a pool birth after a previous 3rd degree tear?? I was told that wouldn't be possible. Definitely going to ask about that now 😂

First birth was awful, 12+ hrs, ending in ventouse and episiotomy. DD was stressed, I was stressed, and I had the beginnings of preeclampsia. Had an epidural and G&A. All fine afterwards though, but they made us stay for days and days despite us begging to go home. That was sheer hell.

Second birth was so quick. Started with pains at about 07:30, arrived at hospital at 12:45, DS born at 13:05. Just gas and air, no time for anything else. I tore slightly along the scar from the previous episiotomy and then had some problems with the placenta (leading to a small PPH), but that wasn't due to him being the second! We stayed for 1 night and I insisted I wanted to go home ASAP, and they let us. That was a different hospital, though.

You'll be fine OP! Good luck

First was induced at 42 weeks and I ended up in theatre afterwards repairing an internal tear that wouldn’t stop bleeding. Had to stay in for 3 nights.

2nd, waters broke in the early hours of edd. Got checked over and tile to go back the next morning if nothing had happened. Contractions stated early afternoon and dc2 was born by 5pm, 2 contractions after getting to the hospital!

good luck op

DS1 - induced at 40+4 for reduced movements, awful labour, emcs under GA

DS2 - elcs at 39+4 after discovered to be unstable lie at 39+2.

1st -exactly like yours, except the epidural worked. Very medicalised, lasted days. It was tough

2nd -went overdue, had a couple of sweeps. We triggered labour the old-fashioned way at home - I had a shower then shook my partner awake to take me to hospital. Very fast and intense labour but I made it into the birthing pool. Just had gas and air, no time for anything else. A few stitches after which healed really quickly. It was lovely. We were home in time for lunch 🙂

I'm going to go against the grain a little - my second birth was slower and muuuuch more frustrating.

DD1 was manageable, 10 days late, 30hrs, g&a only, 2nd degree tear - painful, but fine in the grand scheme of things.

DD2 was also 11 days late and 30hrs, ending in a C-section due to failure to progress - she was too high (10lb 7!) and just wasn't in the right position to come out naturally.

So, not traumatic and awful, by any stretch - but I'm adding this as I'd also heard no end of "second babies are so much quicker and easier!", including by the midwives on shift, that no matter how I tried to manage my expectations I cannot tell you how upsetting and frustrating the whole thing was. It took me a long time mentally to get over feeling like I'd "failed".

I realise that sounds a bit ridiculous written down, but hormonal me just felt devastated and confused that my second birth hadn't flown by like everyone else's!

First was horrible (but worth every second!) waters broke, nothing happened, induced, episiotomy, failed ventouse, forceps, 3rd degree tear

Second labour was longer but so much better - just gas & air & got the water birth I'd so been hoping for

First I had a sweep at 40 + 1... contractions started straight away..every 5 minutes for 24 hours so hospital wouldn't admit me..eventually went in and was 4cm dilated so they kept me in..over 9 hours and diamorphine later I had an episiotomy after 2 hours of pushing.. I was just exhausted! 36 hours in total my labour!

Baby number 2.. slow labour started around 7pm.. i relaxed and rested as knew what to expect this time..6am things started getting more intense..9am was in the birthing pool and 11:25am he was born in his sac, in the pool, on his birthdate with no pain relief. Was lovely!

Good luck op!

First was pretty awful (42 weeks exactly but avoided induction) and they were prepping me for a crash CS when the Dr managed to haul DS1 out with forceps. DH traumatised. I was remarkably sanguine about it all…though I do remember a conversation that went ‘we’ll top up her epidural and…’ ‘err, she hasn’t had one!’ ‘Shit! Page the anaesthetist.’ And they were collectively astonished that we were both fit for home next day.

Second was a dream (41 weeks, I seem to overcook babies) (apart from the bit where our hospital was full and we were sent elsewhere…DH refrained from telling me that the final instructions as they started ringing round to see where could take us were ‘if she starts to push call 999!’). All done in about five hours from first twinge, in a pool until the last minute, just DH, a lovely midwife and me.

I just wanted to add to mine, I wasn't meaning to be negative, just balance things out a little for realism!!

I really hope your second birth is smooth and much better than your first

1st was an EMCS so my consultant recommended an ELCS for the 2nd.
I waddled down to the theatre, threw myself on to the operating table and enjoyed a lovely sleep courtesy of a GA.

@TheBirdintheCave yep. No one ever said to me that I needed to have a c section or couldn't have the birth centre or anything.

I'm not sure if that is because I had no other complications. My first was 9lb1 but I'm 6ft so having a big baby was ok for me.

With my first it was 27 hours from waters breaking to his birth. He was born on his due date. I had an episiotomy, it didn't heal well either so like you I was questioning my second birth.

I had my second 8 days late. Waters broke in the morning. I had to go in to be monitors as he had been pooing inside so waters were green. My contractions started at 6.15 and he was born at 6.59, no time for any pain relief. No stitches, no tears or anything. I was so worried about my second but it was amazing! Good luck x

Thank you so much everyone.
All of the positive stories have made me feel slightly better & more hopefully.

First birth was absolutely textbook. Waters broke, labour progressed normally, baby was born 8 hours later. No pain relief or gas and air, no interventions. Baby was 2 weeks early.

Second birth was technically quicker but less "linear". I woke up with cramping at 3am and went to hospital about 6am. They nearly sent me home but let me stay for an hour and by then I had dilated to 7cm so they said I could stay. Waters broke very near the end of the labour. Baby came out with his arm over his head so I had some tearing and it was pretty painful. Again, no pain relief or interventions but I did have gas and air. He was born about 3pm. Baby was two weeks late!!

In conclusion, they were completely different labours but both fine and relatively uncomplicated. Each time I said "never again" straight afterwards

My first birth sounds similar to yours OP. It took 13 years for me to have another child! Second birth was amazing. I was much fitter and stronger and managed to birth 9.5lb DS with nothing more than gas and air. I also managed to avoid vaginal injury this time as I remained upright. It was a much better experience for me.

This time last week I was having my second 🥰. After my traumatic first birth (all due to pain rather than interventions), I had almost 3 break downs in labour as I was terrified of what was coming. 3rd break down I was talking to the midwife telling her I can't do this again and let's get an epidural, she smiled and said let's wait a few minutes.. little did I know baby was crowning and 3 pushes later he was here. I won't sugar coat it and say it didn't burn when pushing but that's because I tore and it was so quick it was over before I knew it.

My first was 22 hours, was stuck in active labour with unbearable back contractions for about 16 hours. The first 6 I could breathe through with gas and air. Since it was a home birth and I was in too much pain to transfer I put up with it. Turns out I was stuck at an 8 but baby couldn't get down. He finally did after 2 hours of pushing, 2nd degree tears and when he was handed I don't even remember feeling anything from sheer exhaustion and pain. I don't remember the pushing stage at all, I've blanked everything out.

Second baby contractions started 7:45am, totally bearable and walking around till 3pm, then requested gas and air. 5pm checked and no progression again from 7cm but this time requested waters be broken, baby here 45 mins later. So all in all 10 hours. Pool home birth second time and felt better walking around and active so didn't use till the end for delivery but still tore as wasn't expecting baby so fast and was in a bad position 🤦🏽‍♀️. All in all my second healed the wounds of my first although postpartum I'm feeling more pain from one 'graze' than all my second degree tears. The midwives (and everyone else) couldn't believe I'd just given birth when I was walking around warming food in my kitchen 2 hours later. Oh and when I was examined and the midwife thought she'd been called too early so was getting ready to leave, she was shocked I was already at 6cm at 12pm and felt fit as a fiddle. Best birth I could have asked for.

Both came around the same time (39+6 with no.1 and 40wks with no.2).

First one a day and a half second one 4 hours.
My daughter had a very similar first birth to you and her second one was a couple of hours no painkillers no stiches. Fingers crossed for you.

First - ELCS. Birth itself was fine but tough recovery.

Second - VBAC, baby born 6 hours after first contraction. Born in the pool, so no drugs and no tears - I couldn't have been luckier. It was beautiful and I'd honestly do it again if I could.

Fingers crossed for you x

DC1: 42 weeks. Labour 24 hours from start to finish, hypnobirthing, tens machine, birth pool and gas and air. As unmedicated as possible. Ventouse delivery and episiotomy in the end.

DC2: 39 weeks and an ELCS!

I was fully prepared for another “natural” birth but little (or not so little DC2) had other ideas! He was a big boy and I was advised to have an ELCS and very glad I did! Two totally different experiences but I look back on both of them so fondly. Both were special and I feel kind of lucky to have had the chance to experience both.

My second birth was the most exhilarating experience of my whole life. From when I realised I was in labour he was here less than 3 hours later. I've always been sceptical when people say your body takes over, mine did this time. I would do it again in a heartbeat (just not the pregnancy or the baby at the end ).

A lot quicker and used less pain relief. Generally easier but the speed made it more intense. Needed episiotomy and ventouse for the first but neither with the 2nd and just small tears. Recovered physically quicker with 2nd.