2nd labour & birth experiences - how long? When?

[beaniesunrise]

Hi guys! I’m looking for 2nd baby labour and birth experiences as I’ve got a month left! How long was your labour, when did you go into labour was it earlier than your first? Did you have a natural or c section or induction?

Would love to hear everyone’s experiences for 2nd births!

My first was vaginal delivery and baby came at 38+5 naturally! Wondering if this baby might come early too

My first was similar gestation to yours (38+2) and my second was 39+2. It's weird but I was so sure he would be the same as baby one that even at 39 weeks I felt overdue, ridiculous thinking back now.

Second Labour was 1/3 of the time of the first Labour, only an hour first twinge to baby (planned home birth luckily).

First 39+3 - spontaneous labour and forceps delivery. 26 hours from start to finish.
Second 40+2 - spontaneous labour with episiotomy. Less than 4 hours from start to finish.

My first was at 36 weeks and an induction due to waters breaking, I was in labour around 5hrs and it was hard as contracts were constant.

2nd was a natural labour 38+2 so much easier than 1st time round got my first twinge early morning and went into labour that night went to hospital at 12.30am at 6cm and she was born at 4.30am. Would've been a lot easier if they'd let me have pain relief though!!

First was 8 days overdue and very long 36 hour labour and at least 2-3 hours pushing stage. Excruciatingly slow and painful getting from 2-3cms to the point where they will admit you into labour ward instead of sending you home.

Second labour contractions started a week before due date after a sweep. Much more comfortable getting from 0-5cms dilated to the point where the midwife was surprised she was able to admit me! For some reason though both my labours slowed down and I needed my waters broken both times which sped it up again. With my second she came about 45mins after they broke my waters and she was out in a couple of pushes rather than 2-3 hours! More intense but much preferred!

First came at 39 weeks naturally, very fast 20 mins after arriving at hospital. Second was an induction at 39+1, 40 mins from the drip going up

First baby: Induction due to pre-eclampsia at 37 weeks. Gels, then ARM a few hours later at 1cm. Drip as no contractions started. 11.5 hours later baby born vaginally at 37+1.

Second: Induction due to pre-eclampsia at 37+1. Gel, then ARM 4 days later (no beds, too busy) at 2cm. Drip as no contractions started. 16 hours (mostly on the drip), 1 epidural and a diagnosis of failure to progress (only got to 5cm) later, baby born via C-section at 37+6. Still mildly jealous of all these faster, easier births I was told I would have.

First baby vaginally 36 weeks, 30 hours after waters breaking and about 8 hours after the oxytocin drip to speed things along. Second time just 4-5 hours from when I accepted they were constractions and not evening cramping I'd been having for a couple of weeks. Also, my waters had broken by the time I was examined but I don't know when. 2nd birth was nicer, but very quick. Went from cramping to contractions I couldn't stand or talk through a couple of minutes apart very quickly. I would recommend a tens machine as I could use that straight away and on the way to hospital and I found it pretty effective pain relief

1st baby - pre eclampsia, induction, forceps delivery 40+2 in hospital for 4 days

2nd baby - reduced growth from 30 weeks, induced 38 weeks, got stuck during delivery (morphine drip stopped working too so didn't have any pain relief) managed to push him out 38+2 but home by lunchtime 10hrs later

Second was worst than my first tbh 🙈

My second was my favourite birth experience. Came a day later than my first (40+5) laboured for longer (22 hours) but was less painful and very straightforward - vaginal home waterbirth x

Thank you all for your experiences! Really helps reading these through. I’m now 36w so it’s starting to feel very real!

Good luck @beaniesunrise. Is the baby "bringing" older sibling a present?

@GrandDesignsShame Thank you! Ah that’s a good idea, I’ll have a think of what baby will bring 👍 DS has been asking when is baby sister coming and how he will take care of her 🥹

Ohhh that's adorable 😍 do come back to the thread and let us know how you get on 🥰

(I think DS1 received a book and a toy and when it was cluster feeding we used to cuddle up and read the book together)

2nd baby was 4 years after first baby, 11 days overdue, 4 hour labour start to finish, born 15 mins after parking the car.

Took his time to arrive and then was in a rush to get out 😂

Still early. Polar opposite deliveries. Second went from mild back pain no dilation to baby lying on my chest in 45 minutes. 45 minutes of hell because it was too quick for any pain relief to really help me. I felt like I was being ripped in two!

DC2 was born 3 days overdue.Total labour time was just over 2 hours .No pain relief at my request as I'd no pain relief with DC1( too late to give anything as I was fully dilated when I got to hospital) and knew I could get through labour without it.

Dc1 induction, 29 hours, forceps, traumatised. Horrific recovery.

DC2, active labour 2 hours, early labour 2.5 hours, pleasant experience, I got late a epidural and do not regret it. Excellent recovery.

Interesting to see mix timings for each person, feel relieved seeing the shorter and earlier labours! I’ve requested to get the epidural straight away this time as last time I had to wait 40mins