1st vs 2nd labour?

[dudley56]

I know no'one can tell me forsure, but I am curious as to others experiences.

My 1st labour was 7.5hours from waters breaking, contractions to baby in arms. Dip in LO heartrate and therefore use of ventuce with small episiotomy Only gas and air. Felt quick as I arrived at hospital 9cm dilated. LO was 9lbs 2oz when born. Unfortunately, my placenta retained and I had to go to theatre for spinal & removal. - However, I had a very positive experience.

I am now 15weeks preg with 2nd babe. I have been told I will have serial growth scans as first baby was 97th centile. I was wondering what people's experiences were 2nd time round......

-Was your labour quicker 2nd time? By how much?
-Was baby bigger 2nd time? By how much?
-If you had a retained placenta 1st time, did this happen 2nd time too?

Thanks in advance for sharing :) x

1st was ten and a half hours, contractions, back to back baby, ventouse delivery, epidural, episiotomy, large number of stitches, 8lb 12oz. 5 days late
2nd baby no contractions small bit of pressure, went to get checked as query about UTI. 18 mins after going through hospital doors DD arrived 8lb 11oz, 5 days early. Took everyone by surprise

First one, needed to be induced about 24 hours after waters breaking, which was my first sign, 3 weeks early. Took about 6 hours from there. So I had contractions for around 24 hours too I'd say. Like you had a dip in the heartrate and needed an episiotomy. Second time 4.5 hours from when I felt first contractions. No intervention needed. 2nd baby was very slightly heavier but 3 and a half weeks later. I'd been having scans for slowed growth.

First was 5 hours from the first contraction, straight forward birth, 5 - 10cm in 90 mins, small tear, good experience, 7lbs 6 born at 40+5. Second was 5 hours from waters being broken and hormone drip placed, 3-10cm in 5 minutes, no tears, issues throughout with heart rate, thankfully managed to deliver without intervention, 7lbs 10, born at 39+5.

1st. 8lb 11.5, 1 day late. 15 hour contractions before emergency spinal and the head graber to pull him out! We were both fine although I lost a bit of blood.

2nd 6lb 7, 2 weeks early, 12 hours contractions and natural labour with gas and air although it was making me feel sick so it was pretty much pain relief free!! 🥴😩

1st one was two weeks late, 2nd was two weeks early.

Both different types of inductions so can't make a proper comparison but second was faster.

Second labour was roughly half as long as the first which I was told at the time was pretty normal. First MW said I needed to go to the Hospital straight away when I started with the second "or you'll be having the next one in the carpark"!

First one was 6lb 8oz, second was 8lb 3oz.

Didn't have a retained placenta so can't say about that x

I’m not sure how long my labours were either time, I was just told that they were extremely quick and as first had been quick, second would be too so they kept me in with dc2 before I had even started dialating. I was cut with both babies and also had epidural with both. Dc2 I ended up being induced due to multiple episodes of reduced movement.
dc1 was 7 lbs 6 at birth- dc2 they told me was going to be a huge baby and that I was at a high risk of diabetes, she was a diddy 6lbs 7.

dc3 (pending) - iv been told is fairly small too so we shall see when she’s born

didn’t have retained placenta so can’t comment xxx

Your first labour sounds really like mine including the big baby and retained placenta.

I've had two. Went into spontaneous labour on same gestation with both.

My second labour was quicker than first. First about 18 hours total, spontaneous, had episiotomy and ventouse. Second also spontaneous, more like 10 hours total but only about 4 from when the contractions really got going. Gas and air with both. Second one, pushed baby out with no episiotomy or assistance.

Retained placenta, had this both times, couldn't deliver placenta and had to go to theatre. The consultant had previously told me this was very unlikely. The only thing I would suggest is I had the injection on the advice of the consultant , but have since read some info to suggest this increases risk of not delivering placenta in some cases.

Both babies nearly 10lb, no significant issues in delivery. I saw the consultant the second time because of the size of my first and had an extra growth scan second time but she was happy for me to be midwife led. Second baby was a few ounces smaller, potentially as I tried to eat more healthily. Didn't have GD but my reading was borderline.

First labour took 10 hours to get to 3-4cm then my waters broke and got to fully dilated in 40 mins, pushed for another 45 mins. Had an epis.

Second labour I had a sweep and niggled overnight. I was 6cm at about 1:30pm then baby born in membranes at 4ish. Only pushed for 5 mins though. Nasty tear caused me to lose about a litre of blood.

Oh first baby 8lb and something, second baby only 7lb!

Second time round I had a MUCH bigger baby (9 lb 12 compared to 6 lb 9) and longer labour (~36h compared to 5h from first twinges to delivered). Sounds rougher on paper but not at all - labour with the 2nd was a dream. Was able to stay mobile, in control, no intervention, was on a huge high afterwards.

First labour was 8.5 hours, natural birth.

Second, I was probably in labour all day but not really aware of it: had been to the hospital in the morning - they said you're not in labour. Had my usual day with a GP appt in the afternoon (can remember having a contraction/BH there). Got home. Water's suddenly went at 5pm. Got to hospital at 5.10pm and baby born 10 minutes later (no pain relief and contractions very strong and painful - just awful)!

Second baby bigger by 5lbs, much easier labour ad my first one was back to back and quite traumatic.
Second one was normal more relaxed labour. Laboured around the same time as first so not any faster but just a much more relaxed positive birth!

Second labour was much faster and so much less painful. The pushing stage was also much much shorter second time around. My second child was 9.5oz heavier, however was much skinnier than my first (was v noticeable based on how nappies fit).