bad first labour = bad future labours?

[aliss]

You might have had teh epidural by then (I did with the 1st) and basically you just "give up" in general. I mean who wouldn't.... such long labours are just too exhausting. I 'gave up' in my 1st labour and didn't do anything active to help it along (I also get the epi and slept). With my 2nd, it was unmedicated, but I burned out at 10cm and it just dragged on and on and then I just refused to continue at transition (the point between 10cm and pushing -> I didn't know about it the 1st time as I had the epi but the 2nd time, it's basically like a watermelon stuck and you aren't ready to relieve it).

I definitely had the epidural by then I got it around 4 cm so from that point on I was basically in the bed on my back. I tried a few different methods of pushing (but you a somewhat limited when you can't feel your legs). So what kind of things are you supposed to do between 10 cm and pushing? I'm sure sleeping (like I was trying to do) is NOT suggested

Hehe I got mine at 4cm too! You're supposed to waddle/walk/sway/move the hips around.

I love reading all your replies and seeing that 'normal' births are possible. Although I honestly don't think I'd even consider it all again for quite a long time, its nice to know what may happen to me if I did decide to have more. I don't know if any of you can relate but I find it very hard to come to terms with what happened, I'm constantly thinking about it in the back of my mind, and although I spent the whole time with my eyes closed (to block out the pain) the parts I do remember/saw really upset me. I can't look at pregnant people/ people with babies/ both in real life or on tv without crying.

A few minutes after ds was born, I told the doctor that I don't think I'll be doing this again anytime soon lol. My Mom always told me that you quickly forget any pain associated with giving birth once you get to hold your baby....uh, no Mom, you were WRONG!!! It's been over 2 1/2 years and I still remember fairly vividly what was associated with my birth. Sure the feelings have faded a bit, but not enough lol.

Also, I find myself wanting to smack people who tell me they barely made it to the hospital, pushed 3 times and had a baby

You will forget the pain soon enough if it's a nice 'normal' birth. I would shake and cry driving by a hospital 2 years after my 1st child. With my 2nd, I could say it was fab experience (hurt like a bitch but you feel normal within 5 minutes after). I went for a home birth with my 2nd because I knew I would cave and scream for an epidural. I transferred in the hospital (another long labour) at the pushing stage so it was too late. Worked....!