Was your second birth easier than your first???

[sjcmum]

I'm 39+2 weeks with no2. With a toddler to run round after, I've hardly been thinking about the birth - just know it is something that I have to get through. Am I likely to have a similar experience again, or can I hope that it will be easier? A couple of friends here with 2 have had really mixed and different experiences - some easier and faster, some worse - would be interested to know what people have experienced?

You'll be fine no matter what happens!

I was convinced 2nd baby was going to come quicker and easier than my first. Every story I heard was of 2nd babies being born in cars on the way to the hospital or at home when a home birth wasn't planned. I was really nervous second time round, but.....

DD1 waters broke midnight, I gave birth 11.30pm the next night. Easy labour, epidural, all was good.

DD2 - was completely stuck. After hours of active labour ended up in theatre with a ventouse then forceps delivery. Was traumatic for me because I had convinced myself of how quicker and easier number 2 should be when in fact every baby and every birth different.

Just go with it is what I say!

well, when i was pregnant with ds(pg2) everyone said "oh second one is easy it will pop out" it used to annoy me. i was convinced its gonna be the worst birth story. but after almost 2 weeks over due. i had ds in 15min labour. we literally just made hospital. dh was so excited it was quick labour.
i think all child birth is differ. i had loads of raspberry leaf tea, i believe it worked and i pushedbaby out in no matter of time.
good luck, hope you will have easy quick labor.

No I had the large baby we all knew I was expecting but he got stuck and it got messy.

No, a couple of pounds heavier, occipital posterior (OP) again, but unlike DD, my DS didn't turn completely during labour so came out on the diagonal, not so easy to push, very long. Epidural made it bearable.

Second one - "was that it"....I literally did say those very words to DH!!!

Definately worst was the second one. If I had had the second labour first, no way would I have had another.

1st- 50 hour labour with 2 failed attempts at ventouse, then dragged out with forceps.

2nd- 5 1/2 labour from first contraction to delivery. Totally natural with just a little gas and air.

not easier, but faster. 18 hrs for first, less than 2 for second.

1st -- 6h total with 3h active, 15m pushing, no tearing, gas and air, 6lb9

2nd -- 3h total with 90min active, no gas, 1st degree tear that didnt need sutures, 6lb 12oz

2nd was more intense but more productive contractions ... was more that i was feeling tired going into it as running around with toddler means you dont have the luxury of time to prepare!

big question is -- how you cope with the workload of 1 to 2 ... someone;s always crying/needing you ... always someone to feel guilty about letting down!

oh -- meant to say no2 = 5min pushing

bellowed like a demented cow each time tho

DS1 - 7 hour labour - with a 2 hour 2nd stage I hated hated pushing just couldn't get it, the gas and air made me sick so the only pain relief was 2 paracetemol!

DS2 - 45 min labour - very very intense but like others on here he just popped out! I just panted him out, he was born in the caul all lovely and clean - it was magic.

DD1 waters broke in hosp for overnight - stuck on drip and1hr 30 mins intense labour, 2nd deg tear and lots of stitches.Infection afterwards - not nice !
dd2 waters broke slowly from 13.30 ish. Contractions started at 18.30 - 38 mins labour. 6 small stitches.Had a bit of retained placenta .
SO glad I went to hosp just to have the slowly leaking waters checked or I would have had one of those births in a waterbus/ taxi!!!

No DD induced for blood pressure took 2 days fpr labour to start only used pethidine and gas and air ended up with 3rd degree tear and in theatre with spinal for repair.
DS spontaneous labour after sweep 9 hours 45 minutes only gas and air but another 3rd degree and cut so ended up in theatre again. So scared of pushing 2nd time round as remembered it vividly from 1st time they literally had to pull head out when his heart beat dropped rapidly.
Then it got worse as 2 days after birth he has bowel obstruction so ended up transferred to hospital hour and a half away for treatment. Only positive I did loose weight quicker due to stress.

#1 induced 8 hours, horrific pain, no pain relief, delirious with pain, ventouse and very stressed baby who wouldn't BF. 3 days in hospital and only allowed out because baby took formula

#2 2.5 hours start to finish absolutely perfect , short second stage, no pain relief, managed the pain myself with no problems, felt the urge to push, baby popped out, delivered onto me, the midwives didn't touch baby for over an hour and left us alone for bonding time. Latched on brilliantly and we were home within 10 hours fully breastfeeding. Without a doubt the highlight of my life.

Thanks for all the stories - been very encouraging. Still no sign of baby here... now 40+4 - had really expected this one to be on time as first was.... so feels like it is massively overdue, even though it isn't.....

Christmas just seems to put a whole load more pressure into it all - if it wasn't for that and trying to make plans with family etc, I wouldn't be in the least bit bothered when it turned up!!! I know it doesn't really matter, as the most important thing is a healthy baby, but I'm not particularly relishing the prospect of spending Christmas day in hospital, away from my dd1...... hey ho not a lot I can do except wait...

DD1 4 hour labour (from 1st sign to 10cm) head stuck- forcepts 3rd degree tears and transfusion

DD2 45 minute labour (from 1st sign to birth) unaided at home. small tear.

So YES!!!!!

No.1 15hrs of induction, epidural, forceps etc. Ugh.

No2. Pain-free hypnobirth at home in about 2.5hrs , lovely.

yes. and it was twins

i nearly died 1st time round

i dont really think anyones reading any of these pmsl!

I'm sure no one is interested... but just in case, thought I would say, having started this thread, that dd2 finally turned up 10 days late on boxing day. Despite all the wonderful encouragement and good stories of second births, I ended up with 3 hours of pushing in the second stage, trying every position under the sun, and despite her head being in the right place and apparently pushing in the right place she refused to come out until yanked out with forceps... so really second birth was no better than first!!!! I think I'm recovering quicker at least!