how much better /quicker was your second vaginal birth to your first ?

[mousemole]

DS1 was a crash c section and very traumatic.DS 2, 22 months later was a VBAC - (against all the odds and advice) so I was thrilled with myself. However, I had an episiotomy and third degree tearing - took an hour to be stitched up and three weeks to be able to sit down.5 months to have sex.
I am now contemplating number 3 but am tempted to have an elective c section as the recovery from the 'natural' birth was awful. Both of my boys were 9lbs in weight.
Please can you tell me about your experiences of your second v birth being easier and quicker than your first ? My mum keeps saying that the next one 'will be like shelling peas' ! I am not convinced.

I had a tough second birth which sounds similar to yours; it was short at just over 3 hours, but incredibly painful and I ended up with a third degree tear, PPH and spent several hours in theatre being stitched afterwards. If I were to have a third (which I won't because I can't face it), I'd definitely have an elective section. I'd be terrified of damaging myself any more than I am and ending up incontinent.

I'm sorry- I don't want to put you off- but if I were you I'd want a realistic opinion from the consultant about the state of my nether region and the risks of a further pregnancy/natural labour. A planned section might well be your best option. You may be fine and have no further risks than a first time mum, but on the other hand you might have scar tissue which won't stretch well.

Gah, I don't know if I just sound like I'm trying to frighten you and I'm not. It's just a real issue for me and I'd want to know the risks myself.

Fayrazzled - I think you talk a lot of sense and am saying what I am feeling ! For ages I felt I had been 'sewn up too tight' and sex was really painful.I dread what another large baby might do to my poor nether regions. But then I feel a total wimp for contemplating an elective c-section.

Both my labours were approx 4 hours but I found the second one easier (despite it being twins) as I knew not to scream during contractions and to concentrate on sucking down the gas and air!

I tore with both labours and the actual crowning was more painful with DD (first twin out and smallest baby) than with DS1 (single baby) or DS2 (second twin out). Also took ages being stitched up both times (first time could not find the tear apparently as bleeding too much) but am very glad I did it (I had contemplated elective c-section as it was twins but glad it worked out naturally in end).

Recovery seemed easier second time, but neither time was bad. Only had second degree tears both times though.

2nd much much better

ds1:17 hours from when they broke my waters, on drip, epidural, tore but not really bad, felt rough for 3 weeks after

ds2: induced, less than 4 hours from waters being broken, no tear or cut, felt ok straight away, like nothing had happened by morning!

I think 'shelling peas' is taking it a bit far.... but my 2nd time was much better than 1st.

First time: took three and a half days, bad tearing, haemorrhage, ventouse, dreadful mess of stitches etc etc etc.

Second time: took 5 hours (only 50 mins from 5cm dilated though), only needed a couple of stitches, delivered in water.

First baby weighed 8lb 9oz, second 8lb 6oz.

My body definitely dealt better with it second time around. Though I don't know that it was to do with the vaginal part of it, iyswim. I think I laboured more effectively, and so there was less tearing and swelling because it hadn't been going on so long and the pushing contractions were more meaningful.

DS1 was 12 hours from waters breaking (naturally). Epidural didn't work at all, and i was pushing him out for 2 hours, on my back. Episiotomy and mega stitching - not a nice experience all in all.

DS2 was a water birth, gas and air only. Got in pool when 8cm dilated after using a TENS machine. Pushed out in 2 pushes, not really that painful as in the water, Whole thing 1.5 hours from first contraction to birth. Natural delivery of placenta in water also. However i tore pretty bad and was borderline 2nd/3rd degree tear. But I was so elated with the way at all went that i barely noticed the stitches in the next few days and am still blissed out whn i think of the 2nd birth compared to the 1st.

first birth: induced with syntocin drip. took 7 hours. 40 mins of pushing. episiotomy.

second: 2 hours in total. 10 SECONDS of pushing and second degree tears. was sitting comfortably after a week.

i think you can slow labour down with an epidural. if i have another i'm going to demand one! obviously i'll have to scream for one, because the shouting the last time didn't give them any clue that perhaps they should give me one

I had two vaginal births and the second was much, much harder than the first. It was all down to the way the baby was lying and how quickly things proceeded etc IIRC - unusually had an early very full-on epidural with first baby (pre-eclampsia) and it was a fast, pain-free and reasonably easy delivery except for last 30 mins of pushing. Second baby was much more painful and it all took a lot longer - did have an epidural but only a very light one. Lots more stitches with second baby too. Don't want to scare you but i guess I'm just trying to explain that other factors come into it.

My first birth went into labour naturally, everything was going fine until dd got stuck, ended up having a episiostomy and ventouse birth. Labour was about 8hrs start to finish (6hrs of this was pushing!!). dd 8lb 4oz.

Second birth, was induced at 40+14 had a 1hr 50min labour (1hr pushing) and a small tear which didn't need stitching. Ds was 10lb 6oz and was so much easier to give birth to than dd, did it all on tens and G&A. I was home 4hrs later

Fingers crossed number three will be just as good, but hoping she won't be bigger than ds!!

Good luck

DD1 - 4 day induction, syntocinon, epidurals up to my eyeballs still in pain though, 2 1/2 hours pushing, baby out on 3rd pull of ventouse. Womb stopped contracting down (went into shock and was all floppy) and started to bleed out. Stopped by internal uterine massage (think James Herriott ).

DD2 - 25 hour labour at home (only about 30mins of that 'established'), took 6 paracetamols for mild back ache. Baby born in 4 mins with about 3 mins of g&a.

Still had haemorrage but that was because I wanted physiological 3rd stage but taking too long (10 mins ) so MW gave 2 shots of syntometrine. I stupidly refused cord traction so cervix clamped down before placenta was out, making cord traction more 'messy'.

Heamorrage caused no side effects. DH took me in car to local playgroup to show off DD2 2 days after she was born. 4 days after we all walked (3 mile round trip).

DC3 - Who knows . I'll find out in Oct but I'm hoping for homebirth no.2 but with syntometrine and cord traction.

I have had 2 vaginal births.
First was 12 hours and he was 7lbs 9oz, second was exactly 4 hours shorter but he was whole lb heavier 8cm longers and generally huge everywhere.
Both labours were good and i survived with gas and air but second was very diferent(painful) at the end just because he was so big.

I hope any future labours will be 4 hours shorter again but am prepared for the pain of shelling a larger pea!

my second (9.3) was quicker but not better (shoulder dystocia) than my first (6.7)

my third (9.1) was awful - tore for the first time (2nd degree)

if I ever had another baby I would go private if necessary for section

DD - 28hrs no tears just some grazes
DS - 2.5hrs some minor tearing but he was nearly 10lbs

oh, and all my labours have been v active, no drugs

DD1: length of labour: 3hours 30. 5 stitches.
DD2: 38 minutes. No stitches.

Second time round much better, although a bit scarier beforehand as you know what's coming.

Currently pregnant with Number 3, MW said I'll just have to sneeze. . No sure that;s a good thing.

My second birth was a lot easier and quicker than my first.
First: 28 hours of labour, bad third degree tear which meant being taken away from my new baby for an hour of surgery to mend the tear. Lots of pain and associated discomfort for several months.

Second:7 hours of labour, small episiotomy with thanks to a fantastic midwife who was all too aware of my anxiety.Was able to stay on delivery ward for a couple of hours to nurse our new baby and recovered really well.

I was soo worried about a repeat performance I had asked about a section but in the end was reassured enough to have a vaginal delivery and have not regretted it.

Whatever you decide I'm sure it will work out okay for you.

Good luck

I would almost agree with the shelling peas theory. My 2nd was a totally different ball game to my 1st labour. 1st time was vile, really long labour and 2 hours pushing, screaming until told off by mw, tearing etc.
2nd time I was ready to push when we arrived at the hospital and dd arrived within 45 mins of relatively pain free pushing. No tearing, and was really to broody for baby no3 by the next day!!!!
I really believe that anxiety of the birth really contributes to the pain levels and how hard the birth is. I read several positive birthing books when pg 2nd time round.
Good luck!

Both induced so slightly artificial but...first was 36 hours in total, born 18 hours after waters broken, syntocin drip, 2 hours pushing, ventouse, episiotomy..in hospital for five days and took weeks to feel normal again.
Second also induced but..3 hours of mild period pain (no painkillers needed) then waters were broken and had about an hour and half of the tough stuff, 20 mins of pushing and there she was. Home within 8 hours and next day had a little bit of backache and that was it. Even went to tesco to do the food shopping within 4 days (hubbie spends too much if i let him go!!) Hope that helps..good luck!

1st labour REALLY long (6hrs of pushing) needed ventouse and episiotomy. Stitches were messy and needed redoing few days later resulting in scarring (nice!)

2nd Labour v.quick (30 mins pushing) Not so much less painful but due to speed felt much easier, had tearing but MW felt it didn't need stitching which I was very grateful for!

DD1 - labour 8 hours - no pain relief as hospital wouldn't let me in until as it turned out I was fully dilated and they said it was too late to give me anything! No stitches etc just a bit of "grazing".

Twins born last Friday - labour 2 hours 15 minutes and again no pain relief - wouldn't quite say it was like shelling peas but painful bit really didn't last that long. Again no tearing or anything.

Good luck.

DD - ages in pre-labour. Once established, 7 and a half hours. Was shattered by then though, so had pethidine and an epidural. Pushed for 40 mins. Born. 2nd degree tear which was badly stitched.

DS - 2 and a half hours from onset of regular contractions. Just gas and air. Pushed for about 30mins, in upright position rather than stirrups. 2nd degree tear but better stitching and recovery.

first labour induced, took forever to get going. had epidural and morphine so had no concept of time and space let alone pain. needed stiches. Baby 81b 9oz

second birth took only a few hours, did all on gas and air and had some tearing but not severe. baby 91b 4oz

The gas and air for baby no 2 was not because of my superior pain management abilities but of the sheer speed of delivery but in hindsight pain was manageable (even though i did request epidural whilst crowning!!)

magnummum - well done you!! congratulations on twins

1st labour - 12 hours after I got to hospital. Had an episiotomy (which healed without any problems). Had pethidine as the pain was too much for me - serious pain between contractions too.

2nd labour - 3 hours or less. No episiotomy, no tearing at all. Had pethidine again, as again was still in plenty of pain between contractions.

[3rd labour induced. 75 minutes, no pain between contractions (which was amazing!) Gas and air because I thought I had a long way to go - if I'd realised I was about to start pushing I wouldn't have asked for it. First twin born without episiotomy or tear. Second turned out to be ECS so I was sliced open in the bikini area but at least I had an intact perineum!]

magnum - congratulations ! Some very inspiring and encouraging stories here so now I am confused ! With DS1 it was an ECS at 6cms dilated. Labour was fast and furious - went to 6cms within a couple of hours ( of agony). DS2 was also fast and furious until the epidural kicked in when I dilated at a 1cm an hour instead of 5cms an hour !
I think the speed of my labours is what worries me - especially since the next one is bound to be large.