If you had ventouse/forceps with DC1...

[Isabella24]

...what happened in your second labour?

I had a long first labour - 26 hours - with no real build up; my contractions were painful and regular from the start. I had an epidural after 14 hours. I ended up with a ventouse, episiotomy and 2nd degree tear.

So just wondering what happened second time round to those who had a similar experience?

Thanks in advance x

ventouse again for DC2, much quicker but just as stuck. More so in fact.
DC3 shot out like a canonball though!

First was forceps in theatre as a last attempt before EMCS.
2nd & 3rd were both bigger babies and came out without intervention and just G&A. 3rd was the worst birth though, probably because I was induced (but then recovery was an absolute doddle). I tore along the original episiotomy line both times but healed very well.

My first birth was forceps and really quite bad. I was offered a c-sec second time around. In the end, I decided to try vaginally again. Dc2 came out easily in 3 pushes. It was brilliant and totally cathartic after the first birth.

Forceps, 3rd degree tear, episiotomy, pph, rouche balloon, serious blood loss. ( almost half body)

Birth two... C section. Best decision ever. The consultant from birth one told me to never attempt a natural birth again.

Ds contractions stopped when I was fully dilated so put on drip. Ventouse was used to turn him then delivered with forceps in theatre.
Dd much quicker and born naturally with no intervention and no tear.

This thread is very reassuring. Had rather a traumatic first birth and am currently 32 weeks and reading this has been lovely.

I am now semi looking forward to the labour!

I had a very fast labour with no build up, no time for pain relief and ventouse leading to internal injury which necessitated stitches. The med staff wanted to get me into theatre but I refused, it was incredibly traumatic and I was petrified.

That was why my GP suggested an elective section the second time round. It was calm and controlled, recovery was fast and straightforward and I have no regrets.

That may be an option you'd like to consider.

30 hours, epidural and ventouse with ds1.
12 hours, pethidine and gas/air with ds2. Tore but not badly.
6 hours, just gas and air with ds3. 20 minutes from 5cm to birth (gulp). Tore, but not enough to stitch up.

Dc1. 10 Days overdue, induced, so epidural,failed ventouse, birth by low forceps followed by 3rd degree tear and PPH of 1200ml

Dc2. 5 Days overdue, induced, epidural birth by ventouse to turn as wasn't in optimal position. This time 2nd degree tear and PPH of 1800ml.

DC1. 10 days early. 36 hours. Shoulder dystocia resulting in ventouse and 3rd degree tear. 7lbs 12. Very scary all round

DC2 ELCS because of shoulder dystocia. Absolutely marvellous

2 days plus of labour with dc1, classic cascade of intervention, epidural, syntocin, episiotomy, ventouse.

Very quick labour with dc2. Arrived at hospital 9cm dilated thinking I was only at the beginning of it all. Dc2 born half an hour later, again by ventouse because there was meconium in the waters and the ECG trace was worrying. Turned out the cord was round his neck. No pain relief. 2nd degree tear that healed well. No regrets; after the epidural had switched off more or less everything with dc1 it was amazing despite the pain to feel dc2's head come.

Ventouse with no 1, accidental unattended home birth with no 2.

I had a horrible traumatic long labour, epidural, episiotomy & ventouse with ds. Dd was born within 2 1/2 hours with no intervention, just one examination as I wanted to push and just gas & air for the last hour. No stitches. It was brilliant. The only horrible weird was that I was faint and wobbly for ages after, possibly shock as it was quick.

Ventouse delivery with DC1 (just on gas and air, such is my hatred of needles) - that stung a bit! DC2 and 3 also gas and air, and quick, straightforward deliveries with no tears or stitches.

DC1 was a long induced, forceps delivery with much stitching. DC2 was a fairly speedy water birth with a bit of a tear. Hope all goes well for you!

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied. I'm really surprised (and heartened!) to know that it really can be a lot better second time round. Still nervous but a bit more optimistic maybe...
x

It isn't really that surprising. First time round, your body hasn't done it before. Second time you have what is known as a 'proven cervix' (i.e. it has dilated all the way previously). Your body has the muscle memory. You are also more likely to labour within a time frame you can cope with without being utterly exhausted.

Good luck!

DC1 stuck 7lber, long second stage, spinal, failed ventouse, forceps, big episiotomy but felt totally fine although DC ended up in SCBU.

DC2 eighteen months later, 8lb 8oz, slid out like a greased piglet. Did not know I was ready to push until he crowned in one big breath, came out in the second. Was a brilliant labour but did open up the episiotomy scar again. Healed fine, but was a bit more ouchy than the first lot (I suspect the midwife slightly bodged the stitching).

Expecting DC3 now. Hoping that the scar tissue (having had 3.5 years to heal up) will be a bit mor resilient.

When I had my consultant appt during 2nd pregnancy she told me it was common not to need instrumental delivery second time round as your body knows what its doing this time.

In my case baby no 1 was back to back with the head in a funny position, so was totally stuck, Id never have managed to push him out. Second baby practically fell out

So nice to hear these dc2 birth stories!

I had spinal, episiotomy & forceps with dc1 after waters breaking Monday morning and him not being born until Wednesday night.

But this was fine though as my lasting memories are that the spinal block felt like a magic wand being waved over me...although that could be because of all the gas and air I'd had! I'm pretty sure I nearly told the anaesthetist that I loved him...a dreamy thank you came out instead thankfully!

It is nice to hope that this subsequent birth will be easier though!

With ds1 I had an epidural, forceps delivery with episiotomy and then lost a lot of blood requiring a transfusion on day 3 after birth.
With ds2 I managed with gas and air and just had a small tear. Midwives were slightly taken aback as he was 9lb 13oz and back to back....I think if I'd known beforehand I would have decided I couldn't do it!

It must be so common to want to snog your anaesthetist. I remember thinking mine was totally dreamy (although he also told me I had lovely distinct vertebrae which was the nicest thing anyone had said to me in months about my body) and my colleague was telling me the other day that she had tried to chat hers up while they were doing the EMCS as she was so happy not to be in any pain anymore.

My husband thought the anaesthetist was a cocky git mind you.

OP sounds like your first was similar to mine.

My second was a five hour water birth.

Its entirely anecdotal but all my friends who had lots of intervention first time seemed to have managed a natural labour second time.