Are second births "easier" than the first?

[YouDoTheMath]

I'm expecting my second in November, and just wondered about the experiences of those of you who have two or more children. How were the subsequent births compared to the first?

Dare I hope that the next one will be easier?

I'm due in November too with DC2 so loving the faster, easier stories! Only DD was born 10 hours from waters breaking to delivering, if this one comes faster I worry about making it to the hospital in time!!

Yes definiely. 2nd quicker and easier, third super quick. Good luck.

second was quicker but the baby was 1lb bigger and I did notice. But it was better because we knew what to expect in terms of being in the hospital and my husband was more assertive tpwards hospital staff. Also you know what you want more than the first time.
Also I asked for a private room and that was lovely. Good Luck

Ok I am only reading the stories that say 3rd babies with a big gap of about 10 years are easy :) Ha. DS 36 hours, forceps, stitches, ow. DD1 about 12 hours, no stitches/tears. DD2 - I'll tell you about in around 14-16 weeks!

Ooh, mine was!

DD1 - 2 days of painful contractions before I got into established labour, back to back baby, wanted an epidural at 3cm! Ended up with epidural and extensive episiotomy, lost quite a bit of blood so had to be put on a drip! From being in "established labour" to birth was 35 hours!

When I was pregnant with DD2 I went to the consultant to beg ask for a ELCS but they refused saying that I had managed before (biggish baby for my size) so I could do it again! At the time I was really cross with them for not letting me but now I'm so glad that they didn't

DD2 - 12 hours from first twinges until birth, just gas and air with 40 minutes pushing! I had a 2nd degree tear just along previous episiotomy scar but it was absolutely fine, healed really quickly!

I felt marvelous after the birth

Good luck!

Oh, and DD2 was a smaller baby too - 8lbs 3 and a half ozs whereas DD1 was 8lbs 7 and a half

Sorry - but dd1's labour was around 12 hours and dd2's was 30!!
Neither were bad births- no interventions, pain relief but by gosh was dd2's loooong!

Mine wasn't

DD1. labour pains started at 8pm got to hospital 8.45pm waters broke 9.30pm. DD born 9.58pm

DD2 Labour started at 10am, had my waters broke at 2pm. DD2 born at 3.44pm

Mine was. But I really don't think it's purely a case of physiology. With DC2 I was much better able to control my breathing and to find a comfortable posture to manage the contractions. And that did more than any pain relief could have...

My 2 were totaly different in different ways. Ds1 induced 12 days over but labour was only 4.5hrs, pushing stage 5 mins, 2 pushes and he was out but then had a huge pph he was 6ib 11oz. Ds2, labour started on due date 17th April 11' was in labour 5 days absoloutly terrible pain 3x worse than ds1, eventually got to pushing stage I was thinking well at least this is gonna b easy oh no I was rong, he was back to back,2hrs later and still no show off head doctor used ventouse method finally he was born at 9ib but I was glad I didn't have pph like 1st time. So I guess u can't predict how its gonna b all depends really evri births different some easy some not. Good luck in I'm sure ul b fine no matter how bad they are its all worth it : )

My first and second births were pretty much the same, second was a little quicker, in that first took 10 hours in total and second took 9. Both pretty straightforward, starting with breaking of waters, then nothing much for perhaps three hours or so, then some contractions building in intensity, etc, etc. and voila, a baby! Descent of DC1 took longer than DC2, I suppose DC1 paved the way.