can I do it?

[justkitty]

My first birth wasn't horrendous but after having PROM at 40+3 I ended up on the hormone drip and it was awful. I couldn't relax into contractions and all hopes of a home hypno birth gone so I was well and truely fed up. I wasn't dilating and eventually had the epidural and it was what I needed to relax and dilate I think. I didn't regret the epidural at all. I hated thay pushing took 3 hours but that was due to a short cord as well so baby couldn't descend. I also lost blood and had 2 transfusions due to episiotomy.

Anyway this time round I have hired two doulas (as one can't cover whole month). I want a hospital birth pool birth but I also like the idea of a homebirth. I also sometimes worry I won't cope with the pain and may as well plan for an epi. I feel so confused. I have booked a homebirth so I have the option.

 

[irish_cob]

Every labour is different. Every baby is different. Maybe this time round you'll have a straightforward labour and birth with no issues. Try not to get caught up in what happened last time, there's no reason why the same things will happen this time. And remember, second births are generally more straightforward than first ones, your body knows what its doing this time round.

 

[berniegroves]

Try not to stress too much.your body will work differently this time as it has already been through this once, so it knows what to do.
How long were you contracting before having the epidural?

X

 

[justkitty]

About 36 hours. 8 of those on the hormone drip. I spent 4 of those 8 hours debating whether to try gas & air lol

 

[justkitty]

Plus I was only dilating 1/2 cm every 4 hours on the drip so I got epi at 4cm as I couldn't imagine 16 plus hours on the drip. If I'd been dilatong faster and knew it would only be a few more hours I think I could've done without. I was just so exhausted.

 

[berniegroves]

Sounds like you are more than capable of coping with the pain honey.
Most second labours are much faster than the first, so I'm sure you will be okay.
Xx

 

[irish_cob]

Plus you don't necessarily dilate at a standard rate. You can take hours to go from say 1cm to 5cm, then your water breaks and you go from 5cm to fully dilated in an hour. It definitely does happen.