Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

Original poster

2nd time around???

24 replies

TheUnsinkableMB · 27/04/2010 14:46

Was just wondering about everyones experiences of labour second time around.

I guess there's a good chance of a second birth being quicker, but what about other stuff i.e. pain?

Is the first time better because ignorance is bliss?
Is it worse second time cos you know whats coming?
Or would that make you better prepared?

I'm only 12 weeks with my second, so plenty of time to stress/ignore the whole idea.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BlameItOnTheBogey · 27/04/2010 14:49

IME the births were so different (and I was so busy during labour no. 2 trying to deal with it as if it were labour no 1) that you don't know what is coming at all.

Original poster

TheUnsinkableMB · 27/04/2010 14:56

You're probably right BlameItOnTheBogey, every labour is different.

I guess I'm just hoping that if I know what the pain is like then I might be able to cope with it better...its just on the other hand I'm worried that if it is a quicker birth, then there's not much build up to the pain, so could be more intense.

OP posts:

BlameItOnTheBogey · 27/04/2010 14:59

That was my experience; first labour two days long and painful but made worse by lack of sleep. Second labour 1hr 20 mins. Brutal and distressing because I thought it was going to be like that for days. Looking back, if I had known I only had to deal with that level of pain for a short time, I would have coped much better. So it isn't always helpful to assume you know what is coming.

Original poster

TheUnsinkableMB · 27/04/2010 15:11

Thanks BlameItOnTheBogey, hopefully I'll do better than I think, I mean, I can't remember it being that bad the first time, although that might have something to do with the lovely pain-relief!

OP posts:

hairymelons · 27/04/2010 15:14

I had a really long, posterior labour last time so I am hooping and praying that it will be easier this time.
There are no guarantees but everyone keeps saying it will be easier. I'm choosing to believe them!

Original poster

TheUnsinkableMB · 27/04/2010 15:19

I'm hoping for no injections this time, had two injections for first labour and I can't really remember much about it (was well out of it).

Thought maybe this time I could manage with just gas and air, if its quick maybe I won't have much choice!

Me too Hairymelons!

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 27/04/2010 15:22

my second labour was so much faster than my first - 7 hours from start to finish

i had a 2.5 day labour with DS (back to back) and an hour of pushing

I am a bit freaky because i was really looking forward to giving birth again so i was fine about doing it again - in fact it was even better second time around IME

OmicronPersei8 · 27/04/2010 15:24

1st labour was 6 hours established, I think it was about 21 hours overall, I used a tens machine and cranked it up to about 7 before I got in the birthing pool.

2nd labour was 1.5 hours established (3 hours total), I had the same tens machine, only ever got it up to 3 or 4, so I'd say it was half as painful!

I found knowing what to expect helped, but partly because I knew I'd probably be quite quick. The experience in the end was very different second time round, I got all ready to be in my'zone' and give in to it all, but actually felt much more in control and aware of what my body was doing. So a contraction wasn't just pain, it was all my muscles moving to help my cervix open. It made more sense to me.

I still was scared in the weeks leading up to it all - but it turned out better than I expected. I hope it turns out well for you!

MunchMummy · 27/04/2010 15:26

My first labour was 8 hours start to finish. Pretty painful, but had no pain relief as I left it too late to get to the hospital in time.

2nd labour - less painful and only 3 hours. Didn't make it to the hospital at all as she came very quick in the end in our downstairs toilet room, caught by Daddy. No pain relief again.

2nd is NORMALLY quicker and less painful because everything has been streched once already, but others disagree.

Good luck, I remember being scared 2nd time around, but it wasn't that bad in the end. An hour before no 2 arrived I was still looking after no 1 as hubby was writing a report.

Original poster

TheUnsinkableMB · 27/04/2010 15:33

Sounds good to me Rubyslippers.

I thought if I was a bit more 'lucid' I would be in better control and less like a lazy git, I just hopped onto the hospital bed and didn't move much for hours.

OP posts:

Original poster

TheUnsinkableMB · 27/04/2010 15:49

Thanks for the re-assuring stories Omicron and MunchMummy.

I'm obviously over-thinking the whole thing.

OP posts:

Xavielli · 27/04/2010 15:59

1st labour - Panicked! From start to finish (which admittedly wasn't that long, 4 and 1/2 hours)

2nd Labour - Knew that contractions come and go and that the more they hurt the more effective they are, so was able to fully relax inbetween contractions. (3hrs 25mins)

Original poster

TheUnsinkableMB · 27/04/2010 16:08

Ignorance is not always bliss then Xavielli.

OP posts:

thesecondcoming · 27/04/2010 16:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LilyBolero · 27/04/2010 16:38

Ds1 - labour was about 10 hours, had an epidural (student mw kept telling me I wasn't in labour till she found I was actually 7-8cm, was on ward, not delivery suite, so didn't have any pain relief to that point and was VERY scared by the pain!), epidural meant was pain free, but they faffed around taking blood samples etc from ds1 to check his blood gases. He was 9lb12, 2nd degree tear, stitches etc.

Dd - home birth, labour was 3 hours from first twinge to being born. Mw arrived 30 mins before she was born, was fast but not impossible, no pain relief or stitches, 10lb.

Ds2 - home birth again - labour was 11 hours, no pain relief or stitches again, but was harder than dd's labour because it was much longer so I was much more tired. He was 10lb 2.

DC4 - tba....

OmicronPersei8 · 27/04/2010 18:06

Oooh, LilyBolero, 10lb babies! Sounds like you had good home birth experiences. Good luck with DC4!

Firawla · 27/04/2010 20:51

2nd one so much easier quicker and simpler birth for me, dc1 quite difficult & long, dc2 didnt realise i was in labour even til quite late on because expecting it to be much worse like dc1. but i think there were other factors to mine like 1st was induced and back to back, 2nd wasnt any of that. but still i would think 2nd one likely to be slightly easier than 1st, normally?

violethill · 27/04/2010 22:14

It still hurts a lot, but I found nothing is quite as bad as the first time. At least second time around you know you've done it and survived!

I think also the fact that your body has physically been through it before, those muscles have contracted that hard, and for that long, and you've squeezed a baby out, must make a difference.

hairymelons · 27/04/2010 23:12

This is all quite reassuring. So glad you started this thread, TheUnsinkable.
Mind you, who would post that the 2nd time was much worse? Time to dig out the hypnobirthing CD I think before the panic really sets in!

notimetoshop · 27/04/2010 23:16

The other thing is that if you have a shorter birth, the recovery is much quicker. that was the real difference for me. the first one I was flat out afterwards. the second I was breastfed about 4 times the first night as soon as he peeped to try and was still up and about for breakfast. (mind 12 weeks' later it was a different story)

thesecondcoming · 27/04/2010 23:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Xavielli · 28/04/2010 08:10

I'd like to know about 3rd too

BedtimeBear · 28/04/2010 09:22

Completely different experiences for me. First birth- induced at 11 days over, only lasted 2 hours without an epidural (shame), DS heart rate dropped, prepped for CS, eventually made an appearance after episiotomy and forceps. 14 hrs start to finish. Pph after, severely anemic and developed pnd (which I never told anyone about ). Second birth-two weeks ago-utterly petrified!! Labour started naturally, determined to stay mobile this time. Brilliant midwife, calm experience despite the pain (mainly due to brilliant midwife), NO pain relief, pushed baby out myself, 8 hours start to finish. I can't compare the pain, as the first time had an epidural, but the second time for me was brilliant compared to the first. Good luck! X

dinkystinky · 28/04/2010 09:29

Only read OP - totally different for me. First labour - induction at 42 weeks, epidural, nightmare with meconium in waters and spell in special care for DS1. In early labour for 2 days, 8 hours from drip being started to DS1 emerging.

Read childbirth without fear and did hypnobirthing course when pregnant with DS2 to let go of memories of first birth.

DS2 - a week early, waters broke at 5.30, contractions kicked in at 6.30, born in pool (no pain relief) at 9.30. Just how I wanted it.

Flip