how different was your labour second time around?

[mamacherry]

Well I am confused. Am 4 days overdue with second child (according to scan date, 1 day over according to period date) and have had period style cramping and backache on and off for 24 hours plus, along with vague flu symptoms (aches, shivers) but not a sign of a contraction. With DD1 I had none of this, just regular contractions starting off gently and building up to active labour and birth 18 or so hours later. All of this is just making me tired and anxious and stopping me getting a good nights sleep. Midwife team don't want to know until I get into active labour (planning a home birth). Is this normal that labours are so different? Should I worry? Am I in for a nighmare 4 day assisted delivery? Any advice on how I can help myself through it - especially the worry that something might be wrong - or get labour started (would rather poke out own eyes than have sex before anyone suggests it).

I have three children and three completely different labours.
1 nightmare induction 15 days overdue. 27hrs
2 beautiful homebirth 14 days overdue. 8hrs, no painrelief other than tens.
3 2 days overdue, 4 hour rapid delivery.

Thanks for replying so swiftly - its good to share this as my other half is like a cat on a hot tin roof. I suppose though that at least your labours got progressively faster which is what I had been led to expect second time around (in fact I see it as my due which is probably really stupid of me!). Disparaged that this one may be shaping up to be a marathon before I have even started...

My 2 couldn't have been any different.

DS1 - partial rumpture of membranes 3 days before due date. 3 days later no sign if labour starting so was induced with synto drip. Excruciating pain led to me accepting an epidual about 10 hours later. 8 hours after that I had been stuck at 8cm for some time and had em cs.

DD2 - started to get a show at 38+4. Started to get mild contractions at 38+5 at about 3pm. Went to hospital about 10.30pm and was advised at nearly midnight that was only 2cm - not in active labour. Waters broke properly half an hour later and DD arrived at preciselt 3.38pm. Pain relief was a bit of gas and air and swearing a lot.

I walked a lot to get things going but don't know if that had any effect. I also took evening primrose from about 38 weeks orally and, erm, more directly. Think it may have had an effect as apparently my cervix was very soft even when I was at 2cm.

Best of luck!

Sorry that was 3.38am. I went from 2-10cm in about 2 and a half hours.

mine were different

1. 10 days induced 2 day labour no real pain as such just period like cramps up until the last 3 hours had pethedine (which just made me sick really) and gas and air (never again)

2. waters broke 7 days before due date with a loud pop went to hospital with slight cramps got sent home as "you'll be ages yet" got home had a cup of tea and went straight back and nearly delivered in the corridor, no pain releif at all as there was no time, much easier delivery though

3. home birth waters broke at ten in morning and had no pain till 7pm delivered at 8 after pushing for 5 mins no pain releif brilliant easy birth

HTH

Thanks wasabi. Might try the primrose oil. DD1 was four days late so have also been lead to believe that this means second one will not be more overdue - but its confusing as in reality it seems so random and everyone (including midwives, irritatingly) tells you something different. Planning a walk in the sunshine this afternoon, accompanied by huge ice cream, so hopefully that will help. Anyone recognise the period and/or flu like stuff as a pre labour thing? If so, lasting how long?

mamacherry I had ice cream for lunch the day it started with DD2. I had been so off food for most of the pregnancy as stomach sooooo squashed but that day managed to demolish a pizza, ice cream and small glass of rose for lunch! I think my body was trying to tell me something.

Thanks Alices. Looks like there is a general pattern of easier/quicker progressive deliveries despite this period like stuff I am having. So nice to share this tuff with all you lovely ladies.

Had about 7 hours of really painful contractions last time (gas and air just made me feel sick and out of control so my other half had it all) so held on with no pain relief and gave birth in water pool. Sounds good but hurt like hell. I think perhaps the anticiptation and fear of the pain last time is not really helping me 'let go' and go into labour or is that a load of old freudian BS?

Super double loaded ice cream cornet later for me then....am already mainlining gaviscon every night..might stick a gin it if I have to do too many more evenings like this...also very very grumpy and struggling to be patient with poor little 3 year old DD1 who is already clearly anxious about being knocked off her only child perch by impending baby.

BTW regarding your point about "letting go" you may have a point. I was in complete denial even when my contractions were 3 minutes apart. I sort of knew in my heart it was happenning soon but I was f**king petrified of going to hospital. When they said I was only 2cm I said "great I'll go home." Luckily I didn't (or would have made a right mess of DH's motor) but I do understand why you might feel you aren't ready yet!

Eventually your body will make the decision for you I think.

Ds1 - waters broke at 3 am, labour gradually built up over the day, ds1 born after midnight (had had hind water leaks for a few days) - 2 days before dd.

Ds2 - had braxton hicks every day for a month from 36 weeks - kept thinking this was it and it wasn't. Everyone on standby for early labour as baby engaged from about 30 weeks. When labour actually started, from when we twigged it was for real this time and baby being born was about 3 hours - midwife had only been there for 1.5 hs. Was born day after dd.

I was 3 days early with my first DC, long labour and DS was eventually born on the operating table just as they were getting me ready for a CS.

The second time round though and 12 days late, contractions were manageable, DC2 was born in a birthing pool at home, delivered by me. Still makes me so so happy thinking about it. It was a fantastic experience, especially after the first debacle.

oooh great to hear these stories of ever quicker labours - hurrah! Dont think I have had any braxton hicks and waters didnt break last time and so far not this time. Yes, I too was in denial first time around until it started to hurt like hell. Think the 'holding back' thing is a possibility - especially as my mum is town on standby to look after dd1 when it all happens and she is a bit of a cold fish who I struggle to talk with on an intimate level... now we are getting really freudian! Think I need to head out for that ice cream pretty soon!

BTW - anyone recognise the slight flu like symptoms? Dawns on me that maybe I actually have flu!?!

Mine were so different

DS1 - Waters broke + show with first contraction, contractions 5 mins apart after two hours so went to hospital, after 4 hours stuck at 3.5 cm had epidural and eventually forceps delivery in theatre because he got stuck - 17 hours in total

Second time I didn't believe I was in labour until it was well underway as I was expecting waters to break first!

DS2 - period type cramps/need to sit on loo, plus strong 'braxton hicks' which I realised after 2 hours were real contractions because they were making me want to cry. Got to hospital as soon as DH drove back from work and was 6 cm dilated! pushed baby out naturally within 3-4 hours.

I listened to my body more the second time and it said 'just lie on the bed and grip something hard and don't try to get in uncomfortable positions in the name of active birthing!'

Hi Mama I don't have any experiences to offer you as I have only had one child but you should probably get your symptoms checked out just in case you have a kidney infection or something. Could also be early signs of labour though too so good luck!

1st labour - 3 days before EDD. Very fast 4.5 hours in total. No pain relief at all.

2nd labour - went a few days over EDD. Super fast labour. First twinge to delivery in less than 2 hours. No pain relief at all.

I was very nervous the second time despite handling it all very well the first time. Sort of went into the denial and barely made it to the hospital in time for delivery.

Best of luck.

Sorry. Meant to add that mine were similar in being quick and my waters didn't go either time.

Different in that I had a retained placenta first time but no problems the second time.

Thanks again for all these birth stories. Blimey a kidney infection? now that possibility had never occured to me and has really freaked me out...

DS1 was 2 days early and DS2 was 5 days late, which I was totally unprepared for - I too assumed that second baby wouldn't come later than the first.

Apart from that it was very similar - contractions, epidural, ventuse (sp?) due to failure to progress in stage 2. DS2 was 10lb 14oz though so I don't think I could have done anything differently to get him out myself.

Do you have a temperature? What do the midwives think of your flu-like symptoms? Maybe you should get checked for a possible infection?

DS - taken into hospital at 32 weeks for high bp, induced 38.2. Took 2 days inducing , 24 hour labour ending up in theatre ready for emergency cs, but forceps worked
was a bit worried second time around
DD - went into labour 37.2 weeks
4 hour labour with no pain relief at all

They were exactly the same weight and were born with 5 minutes of each other 2 years 5 days apart.

Sorry got interrupted and posted too soon.
Pesky children

I found the best thing to help me get started was walking alot and up hills.
Sex was def not on my list of things to do.

Try not to worry too much. Which even as I type it I am laughing at myself.
I know exactly what you are going through.

Good luck to you and give your DH something constructive to do. Like decorating or gardening

Keep us posted.

Sorry again. Read properly this time.
Flu like could be a UTI. No problem and easily treated with anti-biotics. However it will need to be treated so dont ignore it. Phone GP prob give prescription over the phone.

I just remembered when I went into labour with DD I had a temperature/flu/cold.

Thanks everyone. Rang midwife to check out flu symptoms. She said probably pregnancy unrelated, and if worried should check with GP as some of you wise ladies suggested. Thing is have just finished course of anti biotics for horrid sinus infection last week so the fluey thing is probably the tail end of that. Dont think it's a UTI as peeing is fine. Trouble is getting blooming GP appointment on a friday evening is like finding gold round here (SE London)so tempted to wait and ring doc tomorrow when they have to come to me (is that wrong?). Interesting that some mates have said that pre labour can = flu like symptoms, like you said Bruffin.

Oh, the joys of childbirth, it's all so unspecific and random isn't it.

Will let you all know how I get on, any more advice welcome.

I actually had a cold/flu but the symptoms were only coming out in labour. DD was 3 weeks early and someone mentioned to me once that it may have sent me into labour.