Second time birth stories! Kind words of encouragement please!

[Secondtimemama31]

My due date was a week ago and I'm soon to give birth to my second baby. I'm really, REALLY nervous.

I've done all the hypnobirthing, reading, positive affirmations but I'm absolutely panicking now.

Can anyone please share some positive second birth stories?

My first was a total mess.

Help 🙏🏼

First birth horrible, very long and traumatic and baby dragged out of me. Second birth was a planned home birth and was easy. Three hours in total from first contraction to birth and all well with baby and I. Wonderful experience.

First at nearly 30, two weeks overdue, two inductions, 37 hours, forceps (broke), episiotomy, jaundiced baby in special care for 5 days.
Second, nearly 40, into labour on due date, no pain relief (no time) whole process over in under 2 hours. Baby born 30 minutes “late”. So quiet I was sure something was wrong. Midwife tapped his bum, he briefly cried, she said “happy now”. Then nodded off almost immediately and slept right through his first night.

6ft 4 now and enjoying university!

First was induced, back to back, agony, epidural, baby very nearly didn’t make it.
Second was induced, tens machine, birthing ball, active birth with a flying delivery just as it was starting to hurt enough to think maybe I might ask for an epidural in a bit.
Good luck!

Second baby was pressing on my aorta and I was to be induced that day, but had some contractions and went in to hospital. Contractions stopped and they wanted to send me home, but I said that was pretty pointless as I'd be coming straight back in to be induced.

It was decided to examine me. I was 5 cms! The waters were broken and I had some contractions. Labour started in earnest about 11am. By 11.30 baby was born after two pushes. I felt so well that I wanted to go shopping.

Second popped out in 5 hours start to finish. By the time I got to the hospital I was 9 cms, had no idea I was that far along. Easiest birth so far, and we were home the same day.

My first wasn't bad, but to be honest I got through it with no urge to push whatsoever. I don't know what got DC out?!

The second, when the time was right I felt all the movement, knew DC was moving and coming, felt so much more in touch with what was going on. Almost look back on it fondly! 😂

Definitely needed to hear these. Thank you 🙏🏼

Things to remember us if you think it's getting started, time for drinks and food! You won't get much chance if you go in...

My 2nd, I woke up about 3 am thinking something was up... had a bath, large mug of tea and bowl (or 2) of cornflakes.... dropped eldest at childminder at about 6am (early start but that was our plan) then headed to hospital ... car park ticket says 6:45 am and dc2 born at 7:08 am.

By 10 am we were showered, dressed and ready to leave. Home by 10:20 am. Midwife came to the house later for checks.

All really chilled - dc2 was nearly 2lb heavier than dc1 due to being 39+6 whilst dc1 was 37+3.

Hope everything goes well for you!

Come back and let us know how you get on OP!

@Heruka

Come back and let us know how you get on OP!

Will do 🙏🏼

My first was so bad. I won’t go into details but basically the only good thing about it was that baby and I survived (I very nearly didn’t) it was full of interventions, complications and I was very unwell afterwards both physically and mentally.

My second was very straightforward. Obviously still painful. It was intense but very quick. I was in early labour for a few days with what I thought were braxton hicks but when I went in for a sweep (very overdue about to be induced) I was already 4cm so they broke my waters. Contractions came immediately very close together. Having little break between the contractions was hard but baby was born 1hr40 mins later. Came out in a couple of pushes. No complications, very, very different to my first, very quick recovery for me physically too. Hope yours goes well.

My first was nearly 40 hours start to finish and the last 15 min left me traumatised.

No2 was a planned home water birth as I was petrified of going back into hospital. Although he actually arrived 2 mins before the midwives due to us massively underestimating how far along I was it was a much better experience and much more manageable at 14 hours start to finish - I would have liked a bit of gas and air but being entirely unmediated was definitely do-able.

I used the Freya app for timing contractions and breathing which turned out to be way more useful than I was expecting - definitely worth the £ on the App Store and gave me something to focus on which took my mind off the pain. I didn’t really do any Hypnobirthing either but I think it really helped me feel in control of the whole thing.

So much easier and quicker, about 6 hours start to finish. No drugs, endorphins kicked in, had her in water at home. Such a different experience to the 1st. Good luck op!

Brilliant! I actually quite enjoyed it. I was induced both times and second time they gave me an epidural before breaking my waters. Honestly it was so, so chilled.

My first birth was very traumatic. Horrendous really. I did what you have done, hypnobirthing etc and my second birth was wonderful.

This is very encouraging - thank you.

Still no baby, but feeling much more positive! Loving these stories

My first birth was ok but I was in transition for about 4 hours and it was pretty gruelling. Pushed for two hours, also gruelling. Had gas and air and felt awful. Second birth, mildish contractions for about an hour, then transition for maybe two or three minutes, three pushes, baby out. The painful bit lasted less than 10 minutes. Didn’t have time even to take a paracetamol. I’m a big fan of second birth.

@Roseandgeranium

My first birth was ok but I was in transition for about 4 hours and it was pretty gruelling. Pushed for two hours, also gruelling. Had gas and air and felt awful. Second birth, mildish contractions for about an hour, then transition for maybe two or three minutes, three pushes, baby out. The painful bit lasted less than 10 minutes. Didn’t have time even to take a paracetamol. I’m a big fan of second birth.

Yay! What a second time birth!

Wow - transition for 4 hours? Didn't even know that was a thing. Sorry pp

It was hideous, @Secondtimemama31 but I assumed it was normal which helped 😂 I also think it was partly the stress of getting to the hospital and partly that I started pushing too soon as this can apparently slow things down at that stage. Not sure why the midwife didn’t tell me to stop?! Anyway, point is that second time around my body knew exactly what it was about and got the job done almost before I knew what was happening (and about twenty minutes before husband got to the hospital, I suspect to husband’s relief!). Hopefully it’ll be similar for you. One thing I’d say is definitely don’t leave it as long to go to hospital/call the midwife). If I’d waited till I was at the same point with no.2 as with no.1 the official place of birth would probably have been the kitchen floor. Messy.

Still pregnant! 🙈

My first was an induction several days after waters broke. Ended in a forceps delivery.

Second was a home water birth.

I hope things go well for you

Try to remember when it starts that you've done it before and you can do it again. It won't last forever. I tried really saying that to myself when contractions started to stop me panicking and, along with hypnobirthing techniques it helped keep me calm.

Best of luck!

First - induced, heart rate issues, episo and suction cup. Rough recovery and birth in general.

Second - didn’t realise I was in labour (very different to being induced). Was checked and 7cm, got in water, had a water birth, stitches but nothing compared to first birth. Walked out 7 hours later. So much better!

My second was 23 years after my first.
Waters broke in the car park of my mums care home🙈
Dd arrived 40 mins later. We only made it to the hospital. Back home 6 hrs later.
Good luck with your new arrival🧸🧸🍼🍼