Positive second labour after a mare in the first?

[BalsamicDip]

Due my second baby any day and honestly shitting it about the birth.

First one dragged on a couple of days, back to back and didn't move from 3cm for about 10 hours so ended up having an epidural which then meant I was on my back and things slowed down. Baby eventually forcepped out and third degree tear / 1.2l blood loss.

This time round I've been watching the positive birth videos and trying to plan to move around as much as possible, keep everything crossed the baby isn't back to back and avoid an epidural to hopefully stop the slowing down of everything and need for intervention.

Did anyone have a mare first time round but magically everything was fine second time? So scared 😬

Your first birth sounds like mine. 48 hrs start to finish, 28 hrs established labour. Dragged out with forceps and ventouse in theatre.

My second birth - official established labour of 11 minutes. Only about an hour of actual pain. I was in the hospital (luckily) as my waters had broken and were tinged green.

I felt on top of the world afterwards!

Hope that helps, good luck x

Another with an awful back to back first labour that ended up with failed forceps and an emergency section and almost a hysterectomy, was awful! Second birth baby in a better position, stayed at home as long as I could in little discomfort, had second baby 20min after arriving at the hospital! I did a lot of positive thinking and hypnobirthing for both, so I do believe it was down to my second being in the better position, it was far less intense and painful. Good luck with your second 💖

All back to back.

first birth: contractions started Monday. Drip by Friday evening (meconium), and v close to getting the forceps out by the time he was born Saturday lunchtime.

Second birth: about 24 hours start to finish. no interventions. Born back to back, no tear.

third: less than 24 hours. 2 minute pushing stage.

it can definitely be better second time round! Good luck xxx

Thank you, the difference between first and seconds are crazy in some cases!! 🩷

First was EXACTLY like yours.

Second last one hour and it felt amazing, just gas and air; I'd actually like to experience it again if I could.

Following as in similar position. First was extremely traumatic and ended in emergency c-section. Would love to hear positive stories! Sending love your way

You've just described my first birth, all 76 hours of it. My second, 13 years later, was absolutely brilliant and he was a huge baby. No stitches, a very minor graze but I had a fabulous midwife and she really was instrumental to that much more positive birth. Good luck!

1st induced at 14 days over. Epidural failed and I felt it all and needed another epidural whilst having full contractions 1 minute apart.
I was cup open and baby pulled out at oxygen levels too low after 12 hours on drip.
I haemorrhaged and lost loads of blood.

Was a terrible ordeal and I struggled with depression afterwards.

2nd labour saved me. I woke with lower back pain 3 days after due date. It felt like it was coming in waves so we drove to hospital about 2 hours after waking. 4 hours later baby was born. No tear, no painkillers other than paracetamol.
The wind was howling and the windows were open the whole time and it was glorious.

With the second I did a hypnobirthing class. I didn't use all the info (she said you don't need to push - thats absolutely rubbish) but the breathing and focusing really helped.

Yes, first was a hellish 4 day induction followed by nearly 14hr labour, ended with an episiotomy and PPH.

Second, zero intervention, 1hr of contractions at home, arrived at hospital to find I was 8cm dilated and gave birth an hour later with just gas & air (admittedly had asked for something stronger but it arrived after DS did!).

My first had on/off contractions for 5 days with very little to no sleep. By the time my waters went I was exhausted. It was back to back birth and ended up with ventouse, episiotomy and 3rd degree tear. Horrible recovery too and needed a surgery months later.
I had my second a year ago. It couldn’t have been more different. Contractions started at night, waters went and baby was born without any interventions. I had a second degree tear but it healed quickly.

Thank you everyone it's so lovely to hear how different the second time can be. Crazy actually!!!