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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Second labour experiences

11 replies

LolaBumble · 03/10/2025 20:53

Hello!

Due my second baby and interested in any experiences you guys may have on your second labours…

I only had gas and air with my daughter, and after giving birth I was adamant that I would have an epidural next time. But idk, something about being pregnant is making me what to experience it all… Any maybe second time round it will be easier?

OP posts:

Ciderapplevinegar · 03/10/2025 23:50

I found it the same pain wise, but faster. I only had gas and air with both, but with my second only had it for half an hour as went from 2cm to holding her in 40 mins. So I'd say it depends how fast you labour.

imcountingtothree123 · 03/10/2025 23:56

My second was a more intense pain but over very quickly. Just gas and air with both of them, had an epidural with the third and wished I’d had it with all three. All three induced.

QuinoafromKew · 04/10/2025 00:19

DD1 - 27 hours from first pain to delivery.
DD2 - Felt a pain and woke DH to say I was getting in a warm bath ( 4.15 am) and to set an alarm for 6 as I wanted DD1 to be fed and organised in case things were progressing and we needed to head off. Really calmed down after 45 minutes in the bath so got out, got dressed and put on an Enron documentary to amuse me while I waited.
5.47 - had a really big contraction and though OMG I remember this!!
6.30 DH and DD1 were having breakfast and our childcare was on its way.
7.05 i was at a neighbours door who had children DD1 loved spending time with and when they looked at me - they said leave her with us and go!
8.55 DD2 was in my arms.
It was honestly the best and most amazing labour.
And after having difficulty breastfeeding DD1 and her having colic, DD2 latched herself at 3 minutes old and was the easiest and best baby. ( DD1 adored her too and from about 4 months DD2 also loved her so life was easy).
21 years later they are still equally devoted.
Just gas and air both times too.

GingerPaste · 04/10/2025 00:27

Mine was very fast. I was probably in labour all day but didn’t really realise as the contractions were only 30 seconds long, not particularly painful, and not very close together. I knew for sure though when my waters suddenly went at 5pm on the dot. I was in hospital by 5.10pm and baby was out at 5.20pm (so no pain relief - I was screaming with the pain and they told me to be quiet 😂). I found my labour notes recently and they said I was in labour for just under 4 minutes!

My third labour was so easy and relaxed I was actually embarrassed… if you’re thinking that far ahead lols

aintnospringchicken · 04/10/2025 10:59

With DC2 I was booked in for an induction because my waters had broken 2days earlier,but because I wasn’t having contractions they examined me and said I wasn’t in labour so got sent home. I turned up for my induction at the time given and they hummed and hawed and said they would scan me and if there was enough fluid left they’d send me home to go into labour naturally. They examined me and said “Mrs Chicken you’re 4 cm dilated” I still hadn’t felt any pain/contractions.I was taken to the labour ward shortly afterwards and after another check they said I was 8cm dilated-still felt nothing.Around 15 minutes later I felt contractions coming and the need to push.Midwife didn’t believe I needed to push but as soon as she checked she just said start pushing now.DC2 was born less than 2.5 hrs after my appointment time.I didn’t have any pain relief and coped well without it.

Mammyloveswine · 04/10/2025 11:25

I had a water birth with my second it was lovely! I don’t think I’ve ever felt so empowered, I am aware that makes me sound like a prick 😂 but honestly it was like my body just knew what to do and I was so relaxed I didn’t have any pain relief! I did tear which was very painful but over so quickly! I was on a high for weeks after having him!

BunnyRuddington · 04/10/2025 11:27

I had G&A with my first. Second labour was less than 4 hours and had G&A for some of that time.

The main thing is though that they both arrived safely.

One thing I did do was to read up on each form of pain relief and its likelihood of ending up with intervention. I figured that the best way to stop the pain was to get the baby out, so I went for pain relief that wouldn’t slow the labour down.

Superscientist · 04/10/2025 15:51

First labour was an idyllic water birth at 38+6 after my waters had gone the evening before. I laboured at home until 10 cm with 2 paracetamol. Ready to push as soon as I got into the hospital and in the pool. Baby was born about half an hour later with some gas and air for the pushing stage. Labour was 2h and it was 12h from my waters going to baby being born.

Second labour was an induction at 37 weeks as I was becoming acutely unwell in pregnancy. I had a sweep the day before at 36+6 which turned the sporadic contractions I had been having for the past 3-4 weeks to regular contractions. I was 1-2 cm when they started the induction they held off for a little bit to see if I would progress on my own. Due to my health they were wanting to avoid a long labour as it would be unlikely I would have the energy so they didn't want to leave me too long. In the end they did go with a pessetry but I only needed it for 4 hours to go into labour. I had 2 doses of paracetamol whilst on the induction ward and gas and air for labour. I laboured quickly whilst stood up but I had to lie down frequently to sleep as I was struggling to be awake for more than 2h due to my health. I was 6cm with bulging membranes at one exam when on my feet by the next exam 4h later I was now unable to stand and this had stalled the labour. I was 5 cm now without bulging membranes so they broke my waters. Things progressed quickly from then but baby went into distress and they struggled to keep his heart beat on the monitors during contractions. They did another exam to determine if they needed to intervene, this was about 40 minutes later. I was now 8 cm and the midwife was optimistic that I would get to 10 cm and would be ready to push in soon so they stuck with vaginal delivery. I was and baby was born about half an hour later. Active labour was 6 and a half hours and 20h from the start of the induction

I was not allowed an epidural with the second labour as I had low platelets and was also a risk of heavy bleeding from a episiotomy so if this limited some of the options in labour. Labour took all the energy I had and they would have been looking at doing a c section had it gone on much longer.

Original poster

LolaBumble · 05/10/2025 12:07

Thank you for all your comments!! Very interesting to hear your experiences 🫶

OP posts:

CoodleMoodle · 05/10/2025 12:21

First labour was awful and long, had an epidural which was great but ended up with an episiotomy and ventouse delivery as both DD and I were exhausted. They had to press the emergency button, etc. It was about 12hrs I think.

Second labour... DS was nearly born in the car! He wasn't hanging around. Only had time for gas and air, so in a way it was a lot more painful but it was over far quicker. Approx 20mins of active pushing. I needed a few stitches along the episiotomy scar but that was it.

BunnyRuddington · 05/10/2025 18:01

LolaBumble · 05/10/2025 12:07

Thank you for all your comments!! Very interesting to hear your experiences 🫶

It should be absolutely fine

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