2nd labour experiences

[LJFMO2]

So my first labour (short story version) my waters broke Christmas Eve but no contractions, Christmas Day evening they gave a pessary but nothing so Boxing Day morning I had the IV induction and with an emergency episiotomy and forceps I had my baby girl at 19.34 but we both had infections and had to stay in for a week because of the length of time between waters and birth.

Im now 20 weeks pregnant with baby number 2, I know it's impossible to gauge what will happen but I'm interested to hear others 2nd experiences after a similar labour to my first!

The hospital I'm with only has a birthing centre and I'm not sure whether I should change to one with both

First I was induced at 42 weeks. As 3 pessaries which opened my cervix enough for them to break my waters but nothing happened so drip. Again nothing much happened so they turned the drip up as much as they could which caused contractions which were intense and pretty much back to back. Had dis morphine and epidural. Baby cake half way but shoulder dystocia so he got stuck. Had to sign consent forms for assisted delivery and c section as they wernt sure which they'd do. Ended up with ventouse delivery. Baby was born unresponsive due to lack of oxygen. He was resuscitated and taken to special care. We were told he could be brain damaged or have other health conditions due to delivery. He had a seizure at 24 hours old due to the trauma of his birth. He was thankfully fine. Spent a week in hospital and had to go back to see paediatrician for 9 months but was signed off as fine then. I lost half of my blood was offered a blood transfusion but chose to take iron instead. Labour was 36 hours start to finish.

Second birth. Went into labour spontaneously. Was nearly 6cm when I arrived at hospital. No drugs. Feral ejection reflex delivered baby. Labour was 13 hours start to finish. Left hospital after 6 hours. Couldn't have been more different.

My first labour was similar in duration, being wasters first and limited progression followed by IV induction. I pushed him out pretty quickly though when they threatened an episiotomy. Not sure if that was just luck, fear or that I'd been slacking a bit before then! I also needed ERPC as the placenta wouldn't come out.

Second one started with a few episodes of unexplained bleeding after 37 weeks that left me being monitored in hospital twice and the second time they decided to induce me. They tried two pessaries and another vaginal tablet Ann's then the consultant and I agreed it wasn't worth continuing with IV or breaking waters as it seemed likely that would result in a long unsuccessful labour followed by EMCS. Aweek after starting the induction, I was breastfeeding DS1 in the corridor outside the induction bay and just wanted to go back to bed as I felt unwell and asked to be put on the monitor to check if everything was ok. I was in labour and also fairly dilated. The labour was maybe four hours and just three pushes brought him out. It was quite intense though and I got told off for overindulging on gas and air a few times but that and the TENS was enough to see me though during both labours. I needed an ERPC again.

My first was quite traumatic and there were complications afterwards.

I was really worried going into labour the second time. My second labour was uncomplicated. The nursing staff weren't as nice. Perhaps because I already had one healthy baby or perhaps because it wasn't a complicated birth. I'm not sure. But the birth was fine and thats all that mattered.

First labour and birth was in hospital and was twenty four hours and traumatic. All drugs taken and ventous and episiotomy. Four day hospital stay. Horrible experience.
Second labour was a planned home birth. Three hours of active labour, baby born after a couple of pushes, tucked up in my own bed an hour after baby born and eating the best bacon sandwich ever. Best experience ever.

First Labour was 19hrs.

Second labour 23 yrs after my first😂😂 Was fast my water's broke in the carpark when visiting my mum in the care home, dd2 arrived 40mins later having just made it to the hospital.

First labour bad. Second labour easier. Third bad.

You'll be fine OP

Very delayed response but I thought I'd add my experience JUST in case anybody saw the post and was looking for similar reassurances.

My 2nd labour was amazing. If you read original post I really wasn't expecting great things but I wasn't sure if I was in very early labour of just bad braxton hicks. But I called the hospital to see what they thought and because I said the baby wasn't moving they said I had to go into triage to check all was ok ... my husband drove and because of Covid he stayed in the car.... They casually let me wait in the waiting area where I counted down these pains which were in no way in a pattern at all. I was monitored and examined to be told I was 7cm!!! I WAS AMAZED. This was at 21.50 ... they told me it could be now or in a few hours but my DH should come up. As I waited to be showed where the labour ward was my waters broke (22.30) I walked down to labour ward and didn't get there until 22.55 as I was contracting much closer together. I was laughing and chatting in between. I saw my husband where he was standing shocked as he fully expected us to be going home for a day or 2. My DS was born at 23.20 with no pain relief (despite me asking for an epidural just before I pushed him out and had 2 paracetamol at 23.10 I know the timings because it was so unbelievable to me and the midwives) I was pushing for 5 minutes ... yes the final stage wasn't pain free but oh wow what an amazing experience. I felt every bit of nature and my body genuinely done what it needed to do and he was born happy and healthy 7lb 5oz. I did have stitches because of the speed of the labour and I can honestly say that was worse than labour for me.

Amazing how different 1 lady can labour!!

I wish anybody luck in labour, whether it be c section, natural, epidural or anything else!!! It's an amazing thing your bodies doing growing a human being!! Xx

1st 40 hour labour, no sleep, felt completely out of control having had gas and air for hours and hours. BP through the roof they were worried I was going to end up in a complete mess. Wasn’t progressing, not able to break my waters to speed things up at about 38 hours in. Ended up with an emergency assisted delivery ex h said at one point there were about 20 people in the room, didn’t have a clue I was out of it. Baby born in poor condition, didn’t see him for about 6 hours, 3rd deg tear which got infected. Stayed in for a week due to baby having group B strep and low sugars on SCBU, back in 2 days later for the absolute hash my tear was in. All in very traumatic. DS now completely fine and healthy

2nd Birth DD couldn’t have been more text book, had a few pains throughout the day at 40+3, MW came round at 16:30 at home to do a sweep, had my first proper contraction at 17:30. Got to hospital about 19:00 after a few contractions, was about 7cm on arrival, hopped in the pool on birthing unit about 20:00, was only pushing for about 15/20 mins DD born at 20:55. Needed a few stitches and home about 12 hours later.

Now 37 weeks, waiting for DS2 to make an appearance!