What was your SECOND birth like?

[Amygdala]

Was it better or worse than your first? Longer or shorter? Earlier or later (weeks of pregnancy)? Did you have more drugs or less, and why?
I'd be really interested in any and all experiences you'd like to share!

 

[chuck]

WWWAAAAYYyyyyy better

Both started naturally but 1st went slow with back to back labour, laboured in a MLU was sent to hospital after a shot of pethadine, and it was all shit from there on in.

Ignored for hours, waters broken, ignored, then synto and epidural and pushed to dilate flat on my back broken epi - agony - spinal and EMCS, needed morphine over night and the next day.

Over 24 hours active labour, 2 nights in hospital, 2 nights in the birth centre and still 2 and a half years later still hate everything about that experience.

2nd started naturally, planned homebirth. I enjoyed the labour, I made a meal, sent hubby to the pub, bathed and put my toddler to bed did a tesco online shop, ate a meal with my mum and had a bath myself.

Lovely, when ctx were a least a min long and every 3 mins we called the MW and hubby and they arrived I had my fave film on and was relaxed and coping with no pain relief.

My waters went on their own, i had a little gas and air and got to 10cm with no fuss. I did go to hospital in the end as I was bleeding more than the MW was comfortable with so I had a 40 min ambulance journey at 10cm and the urge to push started on the way LOL

It took me a lil while to get going again once I got into the delivery suite but I did everything under my own steam, maybe 9 hours of labour and just over an hour pushing.

Went home less than 12 hours later.

So yep the 2nd labour was shorter, I needed fewer drugs, coped better and had a much better experience so much so I'd do it again in an instant.

 

[Blah11]

An amazing drug free home birth. Everything I wanted and more ;D Shorter than my first by half, less painful (but that im sure was state of mind) and pushing stage went from 27minutes to less than 5 (3 pushes).

 

[Vegan mum]

It was amazing! I will be lucky to have another one like this! 4 days sooner than first, only gas & air because there was no time to get the epidural in and I'm so glad there wasn't, quicker 1/3 of my first. It was magical experiencing it all so natural and listening to my body. Much less painful too but I'm not sure if that is because I was in control.
My first was quite traumatic so I'm so so lucky to have had such a wonderful experience! Hope the third will follow suit! Good luck hun x

 

[mother of two]

my second birth which occurred in december was so much easier than the first. i was 4cm when i got to the hospital at 5 pm. by 630 pm i was six centermeters and getting an epidural which is the miracle drug. by 1245am i gave three pushes and he was out. with my first i was in labor for thirteen and a half hours. I hope this pregnancy goes even faster.

 

[Camlet]

Well with my first I was in labour for 3 hours & my second only 30 mins so definitely faster, my first came at 39+3 weeks & my second came at 39+6 so she was 3 days later, with my first I had gas & air & an epidural & my second just gas & air so less drugs just because I hated having the epidural, I wasn't panicking about the pain as much & knew what to expect also because I didn't have time for an epidural even if I wanted one! Lol! Over all I'd say my second was tons easier than my first xx

 

[JASMAK]

1 week earlier (37 weeks)....different labour and events completely.

 

[GypsyDancer]

Was it better or worse than your first? Longer or shorter? Earlier or later (weeks of pregnancy)? Did you have more drugs or less, and why?
I'd be really interested in any and all experiences you'd like to share!

My second birth was amazing..exactly how i wanted to be able to deal with labour..
My 1st labour i was induced at 2 weeks overdue..i really struggled being left alone on a ward all night..made to lay on a bed through contractions..i had gas and air,pethidine and then an epidural i also then had a forceps delivery nearly csection and alot of blood loss ans blood transfusion due to tearing my cervix..and i was induced around 10pm and had my lo 8pm the next evening..

My second howeverr..was also 2 weeks overdue..i went into labour naturally the night before i was booked for induction..my contractions started at around 3/3.30am..were very regular and strong..i stayed at home until 6.30am..was checked at around 7 am at hospital and was 9 1/2 cm dilated..put i a room at 7.10am..my waters broke..was given some gas and air but it made me loose the urge to push so i only had a few puffs..my lo was born at 7.30am with me standing to give birth and itwas just amazing..

 

[Amygdala]

Thank you all for sharing. Sounds like the second one really does tend to be easier so far. Good to know.

 

[XJessicaX]

I love you ladies all sounds wonderful. I can only wish that I too will be able to post something so positive about my 2nd impending labour!!

 

[shinona]

First labour was pretty traumatic and resulted in a foreceps delivery in theatre with an epidural and spinal block. Waters had to be broken. I'd been in labour for 45 hours and pushed for well over 3 hours. Ds arrived at 11 days late on the day before I was booked in to be induced.

My dd arrived 12 days late. I went into labour on the way to the hospital to be induced. First contractions about 1pm, dd born at 11.40pm that evening. It was amazing. I used my tens machine and had an hour of gas and air only. My waters went themselves and she popped out about 2 minutes later after 3 pushes. I loved it all and would have done it again straightaway.

xx

 

[elohcin]

First birth, induced (sweep ad AROM at home), epidural 10 hours in, 2 hours of pushing, 12 hours of labor total.

Second birth, castor oil "induction", unassisted homebirth, less than 3 minutes of pushing, 4.5 hours of labor.

 

[Mrs M]

Reading all these posts has definately put a smile on my face. I had quite a quick birth (7hours) from waters breaking to my dd been born. Hope this birth goes as quick and as smoothly. Its great to hear all of your experiences. x

 

[candeur]

1st birth was an induction, 17hrs in labour, lots of pain relief, ended up in emergency theatre as Seren was in distress having a forceps delivery and episiotomy. 3 day hospital stay.

2nd went into labour naturally at 7am, stayed at home in the bath for as long as I could. Got to the birth centre at 9:15, was 6cm, Jack was born at 9:51 with just gas and air after 8mins of pushing. Was home by 12:30! Loved everything about my 2nd labour.

 

[lizardbreath]

Horrible. To this day I still have nightmares about it and she's 18 months old.
My first was a breeze only in labour 14 hours had time to get to the hospital. And tell everyone important I was in labour. Had time to get drugs meet my nurses had time in general to prepare for pushing and anything it threw at me. My first was born healthy and I had no complications
My second daughters birth came so quickly I was only in labour 3 hours 26 minutes and every minute was hell.my contractions came on so strong and fast. I almost didn't make it to the hospital. I was bleeding heavy at home I thought I could grab a quick shower it went terrible I got to the hospital and my nurses didn't believe I was that far gone as my mom had said I was 10 minutes apart at the time she called I was.so nurses figured I was just a new mom til they checked me and then they went into panic mode they hadn't told the doctor someone was in labour as it had been a busy night and he was laying down. So one nurse held my legs shut for 26 minutes. As soon as he walked in he literally caught my daughter she was blue because she had been born in one push. They rushed her away to the icu I didn't get to see her til she was a half hour old and they had determined I was fine to walk around she was in the icu for 5 days she's 18 months old and still has health issues I never did get to find out what was wrong......

Now this isn't to scare anyone I just had a terrible second birth oh and my first was 1 day early and my second 3 days late and born in destress

 

[lhancock90]

Barely painful till my waters broke.
Then just as painful as Evelyns agonising labour but more copeable because i knew what to do/expect.
She came out within 10 minutes of pushing, whereas Evelyn took an hour.
Far faster overall. Evelyn took from 10pm till 7am. Ivy took 5pm till 11.48pm.

 

[moo_fie]

I was 40+1 with both of mine, first labour was 13 hours (5 hours of those pushing due to crap midwife) ended with being cut and having ventouse delivery 8Ib 4oz son gas and air and pethadine nothing all the time i was pushing.
Second labour 3 hours 50 minutes gas and air only brilliant midwife 10Ib 3oz daughter born in the sac (it was lovely) I was home 5 hours later.
hoping this time round is as nice....

 

[lucy_lu10]

My second birth:

a) shorter (3 hours compared to 7 hours)
b) earlier (2 days before due date compared to 4 days over)
c) no drugs (had gas & air with my first)
d) less pushing time (1.5 hours compared to 2 hours)
e) bigger baby (9lbs 8ozs vs. 9lbs 3ozs)
f) no tearing (small tear with 2 stitches during first birth)
g) posterior baby (same as first baby)


Over all, it was amazing and everything was just that much easier from my first birth. Looking forward to the 3rd one day!! hehe

 

[LockandKey]

thank you all you're positive stories have helped to restore hope to someone who has had a horrid and traumatic birth with my first

 

[zombiedaisy]

I had a wonderful labor with my daughter compared to my son. After having my son I swore I was going natural.

With my first (son) I had an epidural at 4 cm, couldnt feel anything from the waist down, couldnt move my legs, ended up with a horrible UTI from them cathing me, I had a 2nd or 3rd degree tear and bled for about 2 months afterwards.

With my daughter, I had a natural birth. I had started going into labor the night before, ignored it, and then it stopped in the middle of the night. I had an appointment that morning because I was a week late (whereas my son was 3 days early). I was already 7cm dilated, but I wasnt contracting. Went to the hospital that afternoon, they admitted me, had to break my water to get labor back going, and delivered her there shortly afterwards. I only pushed a few times AND she was sunny side up! I was able to get up and walk around immediately, shower, and had stopped bleeding by 2 weeks PP.