First birth vs second birth

[winningeasy]

How was it different?

Quicker? Was it better to know what to expect? Did anyone go without pain relief?

I had a birth pool but no other pain relief for both. Second birth much quicker and easier, knowing what to expect helps a lot e.g. you don't panic so much at transition

First took 19 hours. Waters broke 2 hrs before baby was born, but only a small amount came. Most gushed out after baby.
Had pethidine followed by gas and air. Placenta didn't come, an hour after baby was born I was taken for emergency surgery.

Recovery was quite tough. 2 nights in hospital. Blood thinner injections for 2 weeks.

Second. First contraction at 4pm. Went to the hospital at 6pm. Admitted by 7pm. Baby born at 7:50pm. Waters broke sometime after 7:30, I think, I'm a huge dramatic movie way. Baby came quickly after this. Placenta came at 8pm.

Felt amazing. Wasn't tired. Hadn't missed any sleep, Was home by 11pm. Easy recovery.

First birth was 13 hours from first contraction to birth, with just last 2 hours in hospital. My waters broke about half way through. I had a tear and it took a week or two till feel comfortable again when sitting.

Second birth was 36 hours from first contraction to birth. However I strongly believe that it was only so long because I was trying to delay it so that my husband could make it to the birth (he did). Again just the last 2 hours at hospital. My waters didn’t break at all.

Both were water births with just gas and air. The second was much easier though because she has a much smaller head and was a few lb lighter than her sister! I could have happily driven myself home from hospital after having her, it was so easy.

1st induction at 37 weeks. 2 pessarys and ARM, 2 hour active labour, episiotomy and 5lb 3oz baby - retained placenta very traumatic removal ended up in theatre.

2nd induction at 37 weeks. ARM and the drip, 1 hour active labour, small 2nd degree tear and 5lb 3oz baby - retained placenta not traumatic as I refused to be manhandled and went straight to theatre. Recovered great!

Very similar for me!

First birth was easier, quicker and without pain relief.

Second birth was longer (Approx 12 hours in total) and I had pethadene.

Third birth was much much longer (days!) and I had an epidural in the end - baby was transverse which wasnt picked up til midway through labour.

I was told labours got quicker and easier but the reverse was the case for me.

No pain relief for either.

The pushing stage was much quicker (just under an hour with DD1, 5 mins with DD2). And knowing what to expect definitely helped me.

With DD2 my waters broke at 34 weeks so I was induced with the gel at 37 weeks. Thankfully I didn't need any other induction method as the gel worked straight away. Overall the labour was shorter but I don't know how much of that was due to the induction. With DD1 it was pretty much bang on 24 hours from first contraction to birth. DD2 was 11 hours from gel being applied to birth.

First birth was easy - only gas and air, 7 hours labour. Second was a doddle - only had pain in the last hour and no pain relief. Baby was born an hour after I went into hospital. My mother says I was born in a wheelchair (in hospital) and she gave birth to her third baby on her own as the midwife had left the room. Not all birth stories have to be horror stories.

My second was definitely easier than my first, but 3rd was harder than all.

every birth is different and every woman is different too.

I think the support of the midwife always plays a big part too.

I had a few problems during my 3rd labour, if all had gone smoothly I’m sure it would have been fine.

good luck no need to worry, women are amazing ❤️

Much quicker for me!

First birth - 28 hours from first contraction. Pain relief - lots of gas and air followed by an epidural.
Second birth - 3.5 hours from first contraction. Effectively no pain relief - I asked for gas and air but had only had time for about 3 breaths of it when she arrived.

Good luck OP.

First was very, very long (days long) and I had an epidural when I was allowed as I was totally exhausted. Second was around 12 hours and had gas and air and water birth. Much easier!

1st baby - 30hr labour. Pushing for hours. Baby stuck, ended up with episiotomy and ventuse.

2nd baby - 3hrs and pushing for 10mins.

1st - hard work
2nd - so easy and quick
3rd - horrific

I'd heard third babies can go either way. Super easy or super tricky.

For my two, both 37 week inductions. Didn't have a single contraction until the drip went up.

1# 11.5 hours on the drip. Gas + air and diamorphine injection. 20 minutes pushing. Amazing 10/10 would do it again.

2# 5 long days after the solitary gel needed, finally made it to delivery suite. 12 hours of drip on gas + air and only 5cm. One epidural and another 2-3 hours of drip later, still only 5cm and baby is beginning to show signs of distress. C-section was ok. 5/10 would only do again if I had to. The labour part of it was great for the most part though. Managed much better. If it hadn't been for a back to back baby trying to look where he was going, and got stuck as a result, probably would have followed the adage of being quicker and easier.

First was induction, epidural and episiotomy - about 12 hours from waters breaking to baby arriving.

Second was also induced but utterly different, nothing for hours and then waters broke (on their own), gas & air and baby arrived 2 hours later.

genuinely enjoyed second labour, would do it again in a heartbeat.

If you’re waiting for you second, good luck! Hopefully it’s easy and you have a lovely story to tell other expectant second time mums

I'm a little different
1st birth positive induction 5 hour Labour easy vaginal birth minor tear
2nd birth went into Labour failed to progress then failed induction 3 days later was finally born via Emergancy section turns out very poorly positioned so never dilated past 2cm
3rd baby due now and we have planned elective cs this time