How was your second (or subsequent) pregnancy and birth different to the first?

[Heatherbaby]

Hi everyone

I am currently 6 weeks pregnant with baby number 2. DD is 6 months old so pregnancy and birth is a very recent memory for me.

So far I haven't had sickness but a bit of nausea in the mornings and when I'm hungry. With the first I was very sick all day and every day for most of the pregnancy so this is a welcome change.

I'm feeling a little anxious about how it may progress and the birth. Can anyone share the differences in their pregnancies (especially if the 2nd was "easier" but would like to hear it all!).

My first and second pregnancies were very different, the second being much easier. My third was exactly the same as my second.

Hope it all goes well

All 3 pregnancies have pretty much been the same. Put on nearly double with the 3rd though 🤔

First birth horrendous, forceps, cut & tore.
Second birth much faster, tiny tear.
Third slightly longer than previous one but no tears.

Oh, though I was sick in all three from around 8 weeks though it was worse in the first pregnancy.

I had dd1 in 2014 and this pregnancy is totally different, weird feelings in belly, lots more nausea (had none in first) and the boobs - sweet jeez!!

Maybe cause I'm 50kg lighter this time round and I'm feeling more?
Consultant led again with squeakual so happy days for me as I loved the team last time.

With DC1 I had a pretty easy ride, apart from the fact that I gained shit loads of weight (water retention plus eating too much!) I had a pretty ‘textbook’ water birth and delivered a chunky 10lb 3oz boy. My physical recovery was quick and easy.

Two years later and I’m expecting DC2. I had horrendous nausea until 16 weeks. I’m now 23 weeks and struggling with back pain and exhaustion. I also feel a lot more emotional this time around. I’ve only gained 3kg so far this time.
Am desperately hoping for another good delivery although realise I might not get lucky twice in a row!

I am 12wks +2 with baby number 3.
My first 2 were so different. No sickness with no:1 just nausea but felt crap aLloyd the way through. No blooming stage for me. Blood pressure kept going up and down and suffered really bad migraine.
No:2. Felt wonderful but was sick alot within the first 12 wks. Felt really well all the way through but developed high blood pressure at 30 wks.

This one so far have suffered heart burn and indigestion from very early on which I didn't with 1and 2. Sickness and nausea worse this time round and now on tablets. I have dormant asthma that never really troubled me in pregnancy but I easily get out of breath now. The boobs grew bigger much earlier with this one.
That's my differences so far.

First pregnancy was a breeze as I could sit down and relax. Birth was pretty straightforward. Long early stage but only 6 hours once contractions kicked off.

Second pregnancy was harder, complicated by a burst appendix. Having a toddler to run after didn’t help. Birth was fast! Waters went, 3 hours later my mum delivered DD in the bathroom! 1 hour of contractions.

3rd pregnancy was hardest! Painful back and hips from 15 weeks.
Labour even faster but first sign and I was st the hospital. 45 mins of ‘proper’ contractions. Went from 3cm to pushing in 15 mins...nearly delivered in triage as they didn’t believe I needed to push. 😱

Thanks for the responses ladies. Just caught up as I have had a mother of a cold the past week.

Did you guys find the differences in pregnancies resulted in a different gender child. As i said I was pretty sick and nauseous all the way for the first and she was a girl. Still no sickness and mild nausea at 7 weeks so I have everything crossed I avoid that hell this time and wondering if it may be a boy...

Also, I had a third degree tear that needed stitches. Besides being pretty sore down there for a few weeks afterwards I have no lasting problem with the tear and wondering how I'd handle a second natural birth 14 months on... anyone have experience of natural birth after a tear the first time around?

No mine was not connected to gender at all. I have at least one of each but my most different were two boys and my most similar were a boy and a girl.

I was hairier with the boys though. MOre testosterone I guess.

Almost identical, easy pregnancies.
1st birth awful. Back-to-back, 24 hour labour, lots of intervention.
2nd birth 4.5hours and very straightforward, though got to hospital 10cm dilated so no time for pain relief.

Second pregnancy much easier. Was sick for 40 weeks with both but think maybe I just coped better second time.

Second birth cured my trauma/PTSD suffered in the first one - so a win in my eyes!

I had different sex children and had no difference in level of sickness/cravings etc. Was much spottier with my girl though.

I had a relatively "easy" birth experience, once I was at 4cm I got in the pool and had her in 3 hours with gas and air and I don't remember that part being too bad. For some reason I am just fearful of doing it all again and so soon. I thought the somewhat positive experience would make future pregnancies easier but I remember too vividly

Love reading your experiences and hope I follow the trend that seems to be labour no2 being quicker!