in general, are second births faster/easier than first?

Beee

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I had a pretty crappy birth experience with dd1, induced on due date due to reduced movements and increased heart rate. Ended up with epidural, hormone drip, stuck on a bed, not dilating and eventually delivered by forceps (after the epidural had worn off my bump).

I really want a more 'natural' labour this time, if I can handle it. With the induction the contractions started about 10 mins after they inserted the first pessary, it took be 6.5 hours to get from 0 to 7 cm. As soon as the epi went in I stopped dilating. I found the pain excruciating.

My friend who is a mw seems to think that if I go into labour naturally this time and it is more gradual, I might be able to handle it better.

I'm hoping my body may remember what to do and enable me to have an active labour.

ladies with two or more, was your second labour easier than the first?
Xxx
 
Stalking this thread, I also had a terrible experience with my first and a forceps delivery so I'm really hoping for a much better experience this time around x
 
My second birth I loved! Sounds mad but I knew what was going on I was in control, I had no pain relief, but I loved every second of it!

I think second births can be easier because you know what to expect so fingers crossed baby decides to pop out easier this time!
 
i was induced first time but natural second time, i actually had an unplanned homebirth because the contractions were so mild and gradually compared to the strong induced ones that i didnt realise how imminent the baby was!

you'll be fine second time! faster and easier! hope its the same for me third time around too.
 
I hope your second is much easier for you! Unfortunately it doesn't always happen that way. My best friend had a very easy first delivery and her second was a long drawn out struggle ending in a severe tear and many stitches.
Every pregnancy is different and while I can't speak from experience yet, I have read many stories on B&B alone where its a 50/50 chance the second will be easier.
Good luck!
 
It really depends on the person and baby. With #1 I was in active natural labor for 24 hours with vacuum extraction, he was born 37 weeks 8lb 20.25in. #2 was 22 hours induced labor with epi but epi slowed down my contractions and was stopped so no pain med, born at 38 weeks 9lbs 21.25 in.
I really hope #3 is easier, going all natural (as possible, may have to be induced again if baby follows his brothers weight trends :/
 
My second birth I loved! Sounds mad but I knew what was going on I was in control, I had no pain relief, but I loved every second of it!

I think second births can be easier because you know what to expect so fingers crossed baby decides to pop out easier this time!

Totally agree I was induced at 37 weeks due to intrauterine growth restriction. I loved being induced I felt so in control and had a quick labour :)
 
My labor with both previous children was not bad at all. Contractions with dd started right after waking up and were already 3 mins apart exact. I was previously dilated 3cm and 90% effaced. Got to Hosp at 4cm 100% effaced and delivered dd about 13 hrs after my contractions started. Only took about 5 pushes. With my ds, I was already 5cm dilated 75% effaced. Had tons of false labor. Drove to Hosp not knowing if it was true labor or not because my contractions were very irregular. Got to Hosp was 6-7cm dilated 100% effaced and delivered him about 11 hrs after I started contracting. Neither labor contractions were unbearable. Felt like period cramps. What I lacked from labor pain I made up for with postnatal pain. Holy cow. Episiotomies suck. Just sayin'.
 
My second was longer and more difficult. My water broke with both my sons and I was a good 5 cm dilated and 100% effaced when I went to The L&D. I was admitted at 1030 with my first, napped until 1300, started feeling like the world was ending (strong urge to puuuuuuuuush) at 1330, and had baby by 1340. I tore and so had to politely ask if I could have some lidocaine when they started feverishly sewing since I hadn't had any form of pain relief during labor. He was born at 36 weeks.

I was admitted at 2000 for my second. I'd walked around for nearly a month 4cm dilated and fully effaced. Baby was 38 weeks and 5 days. I had to have antibiotics since I was GBS positive, then we developed chorioamnionitis and they discovered meconium in my amniotic fluid. Needless to say, I was hooked up to more antibiotics, fetal monitors, a bp cuff, an oxygen mask and who knows what else. I could not nap like I did with my first. My contractions felt more intense. My plan was to get an epi but both anesthesiologists on duty were busy with crash c sections. One of them actually had to run out of my room while I was in the middle of signing the required paperwork. Sooooo... I did eventually get one and I was finally able to sleep. Nurse came it around 0515 the next morning, checked me and told me baby was crowning. She wanted to do some practice pushes and quickly realized that my body is really good at getting baby out. Once the delivery and neonatal team were crowded in my room, I pushed three times and baby was out. I'm not sure if the epi slowed anything down. I just know I was unable to deal with the labor pains tethered to the bed as I was due to the complications.

I hope the third will be more like my first.
 
My second labour came on naturally, which is what I wanted after a horrific induction with dd1, and it was all going great until the little bugger turned back to back and then it ended up being more painful than my first :haha: it was quicker though, and I only pushed for 5 mins :thumbup:
 
I know I can't expect it to not hurt so I'd settle for quicker and painful!
 
My first was very long and tens until 5cm, then water. After a it had gas and air but i got through 3 canisters so they took it away. A couple of hours later, so by then no pain relief i had episiotomy, ventouse and stitches (still no pain relief!)

I'm hoping my second is more managed, will take strongr pain relief so I am not so exhausted (3 days of no sleep is not good for tiredness levels when trying to push for hours)
 
From what I've read and heard, 2nd labours generally are quicker and easier but it's never a guarantee. I hope my second labour is easier as I was induced with ds1, had a failed epidural and ended in episiotomy and forceps. Not much fun! xxx
 
My first was 12 hours with 3 hours of pushing and an episiotomy to finally get her out. By the end I had developed a fever and I was completely exhausted.

My second was 6 hours, 10 minutes of pushing and totally awesome! :flower:
 
Second was loads easier and faster.

Hope you get the birth you want this time
 
1 st baby home birth 17 hours no pain relief
2 nd baby hospital 24 hours epidural

Hoping this one follows the first lol

Emma
 
I was induced with both mine due to high risk pregnancies

My first was from start to finish 7 hours 49 minutes epidural pain free Birth

My second was from start to finish 18 minutes :shock: even though it was quick it was not a nice experience the contractions were full blown immediately so no time to build up to the big ones labour was completely out of control and my body had not even realised I had given birth til baby was completely out so I suffered with panic attacks etc ... For 2 weeks after birth

I hate to think how quick our third will be lol
 
I was induced with both mine due to high risk pregnancies

My first was from start to finish 7 hours 49 minutes epidural pain free Birth

My second was from start to finish 18 minutes :shock: even though it was quick it was not a nice experience the contractions were full blown immediately so no time to build up to the big ones labour was completely out of control and my body had not even realised I had given birth til baby was completely out so I suffered with panic attacks etc ... For 2 weeks after birth

I hate to think how quick our third will be lol

18 minutes!!!!! Wow was there any signs before like loosing plug etc? What a shock!

My 1st was 24 hours from waters breaking but only had extra painful contractions for about 6 hours before delivery hoping it is similar this time.
 

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