Second Birth Experiences Please

[proudparent88]

I'm 25 weeks with our second baby and lately I've been thinking a lot about what this birthing process will be like. My first went really smoothly and quickly for a first time. I was induced with Pitocin because my water broke but only trickled out and I didn't go into active labor in the required amount of time (was planning a home birth). My contractions picked up fast and I didn't need very much Pit. I had outrageous back pain (baby was sort of turned) and once I reached active labor nothing helped much. Then had to pee, liked being on the toilet, and then found out I was 9cm and I started wanting to push. Went onto the bed and used the pushing bar and pushed out our baby girl in 1 hour. So very painful yes, but quick. I had a third degree tear which I think is mostly due to the fact that the midwife in charge didn't coach me on my pushing at all. The recovery was pretty brutal. I had trouble breastfeeding and my body was almost in shock. I couldn't stop thinking about the birth for such a long time after it happened. We are planning a home birth again, and Lord willing it will go that way this time. I would love to hear some experiences on second births. Good/bad/whatever! Thanks ladies!

My first was fast and not very painful. My second for me was a lot worse. I was induced because of complications at 37 weeks. The pain was awful! It was all in my pubic bone and hurt so bad and I have severe back problems so can't have an epidural. They put me in a doggie style position and he seemed to move down a lot quicker and it did help to rock back and forth and have my SO rub my back at the same time. He seemed to come quickly in that position and they made me roll over on my back to deliver. He was born in three pushes. He was healthy thankfully since the cord was around his neck two times and they had to make him cry and things and luckily the complication hadn't affected him in a way I feel had they not induced he wouldn't be here but he is and I am thankful. I figure that both my labors were about the same time 7 hours each! Which is fairly fast. Hope you have all the best!

 

[madasa]

My first birth was horrible. Scared, in hospital, stranded beetle, very little preparation or support ending in episiotomy and forceps - blechh.

Second birth was wonderful and I would do it a hundred times over if I could. I was relaxed, calm and focused, upright in water at home and out she slid like a big bar of soap with no tearing at all. Link to full story in my siggy

 

[Pearls18]

My first birth was a quick 4 hour birth waters breaking at the last second, 26 mins pushing, couple of small tears. My second birth was only about an hour long from waters breaking to him being born, he was out in 2 or 3 pushes, no tears, no pain relief and no MW just hubby and I (was planning a home birth but the MW didn't get there on time lol) so second labour went much quicker, and was much less intense pain-wise for the contractions despite not having access to any pain relief this time (had water and gas and air with DS1) I recommend RLT, and the home birth was amazing, really helped with recovery and dealing with painful BF etc. the only thing that was much harder were the after pains, they were awful, I used a tens machine which helped wonders.