second baby - labour experiences

[catftm]

Hi all,

I am approaching 29 weeks with my second baby. YEEEAAAAHH! Had an awful experience with daughter, induced at 42 weeks, 17 hour labour then ventouse. Was wondering if the second birth/labour is easier?
Did you go into labour naturally?
Were you early?
Was it quicker?
Did you need less intervention?
Was it more or less painful?

Would love to hear your experiences. Thanks

Cat x

Also, was your second baby bigger or smaller? My daughter was 9lbs and im only small! eek!

Much easier - first was 15 hours ending in forceps in theatre. Second began with period cramps at 7.30 am and the baby was born naturally at 3.45 pm, using entonox and meptid for pain relief. It was 4 days early too!

I'd say it was as painful, but because it was much shorter & I progressed so quickly I coped way better with the contractions and avoided asking for an epidural this time until I was 10 cm and it was too late by then. The sensation of actually pushing the baby out, which I didn't experience last time, totally shocked me though! But he was a 10 pounder.

My 1st sounds a lot like yours- long labour, assisted delivery etc. But no.2 was fantastic- 5 hours, not half as painful- in fact, he was very nearly born in the car because I kept putting off going into hospital thinking it wasn't painful enough!
Hope it goes the same for you...

Oh interesting reading!

My first was too induced at 42 weeks. 27 hour labour with hormone drip. DD ended up being turned from back to back with vontouse then pulled out with forceps. Not something id like to repeat.

Im now 38 weeks with DC2 and wondering what lies ahead this time too.
Have a horrible feeling im going to be overdue again

DD1 was induced at 42 weeks. She went into distress and I had an emcs.

I refused induction for DD2 and had extra scans to check the placenta, etc. and 3 sweeps in 4 days at 41 weeks. After a week-long show I began getting contractions during the nights only (?!). Irregular and copeable with. This went on for 2 nights, melting away to braxtons during the day when I was upright. We had sex on the 3rd night and WHAM they were instantly really sore so had the TENS on all night. The day after was a mixture of mild contractions and BHs. They got a bit hurty towards the evening, so I had a bath and my waters went as I got out. Went into hospital for initial monitoring, hoping to be sent home until the next day. But DD2 was in distress and I was 8cms! By the time I got to theatre for a spinal and emcs I was fully dilated so she was turned with ventouse and pulled out with forceps, 16 nearly 17 days overdue. Sounds horrendous but it was actually a really calm and positive experience compared with the induction. Not to mention the recovery being negligible in comparison too. Loved it.

Thanks for sharing everyone, seems the majority had a more pleaseant experience (if you can call it that) the second time, im hoping for a waterbirth but will make a clear birth plan asking for epidural if not coping or if i need to be induced! Thanks ladies
Catx

1st assisted, not nice.
2nd induced, just lovely
3rd induced, horrid.

1st naturally - 4 days late (7lbs 14oz)
2nd - after a sweep 6 days late (8oz)

With the first just gas & air & pethadine. With the second gas & air, pethadine and an epidural!

Second was much easier - in fact really not that sore at all. It was about the same length of time as first (both about 4 hours from first twinge to baby appearing.) Second stage was only 7 mins as opposed too one and a half hours of pushing for dc1.

Good luck!

1st - induction due to waters breaking then no contractions - 3 days after due date. 17 hour labour, gas and air, pethidine, epidural, finally ventouse after 3 hours of pushing (DS 9lb 5oz)

2nd - induction 9 days overdue, 3/4 hour labour, gas and air only, natural delivery after about 2 mins of pushing (DD 8lb 8oz).

2nd birth experience was brilliant and soo positive after slightly traumatic 1st.

Good luck!