Long Pushing Stage For No. 1 - What Happened For Number 2?
I'm interested in hearing from women who had a long pushing stage for their first child and what happened with their subsequent birth(s). Not specifically on how long the labour was in total but whether the pushing stage was drastically reduced with later babies.
The reason I'm asking is that I have been advised that if go for a VB the second time around, I should stipulate a 20 minute pushing stage max to minimise further damage to my pelvis. (This is a long story which I won't go into now)
With my first baby, after a long labour, I pushed for three hours during which time she didn't budge which resulted in a high forceps delivery.
I guess my pushing stage for #1 can't be considered long, it was only 45 minutes, but it sure felt long... ( for your 3 hours!!!) But for DS (#2) it was only about 4 minutes... I really didn't have to actively push at all, just breathe him down. SO, yep, for me it was waaaay shorter. Both babies were in the optimal position and I was on all fours for both too..
HTH
DD7 was an obstructed labour resulting in an episiotomy, failed ventouse and forceps delivery. I believe she was wedged into the left side of my pelvis. I pushed for about 2 hours, until she became distressed and it became apparent that I would require 'assistance' as the mw so gently put it!
With DS4 I initially pretended to push - I was terrified I was going to end up with the same interventions as last time! The MW cottoned on pretty quickly and when I started to push properly it was probably... hmmm... maybe 20 mins to delivery?? The MW's were telling me NOT to push because my OB was not there yet... bugger that!! Anyway, the OB arrived just in time to catch my beautiful boy.
I think I have read around the place that you have SPD?? (please correct me if I'm wrong!) I have also suffered SPD in both of my pregnancies. I was induced with my DD as I could no longer care for myself - I couldn't even roll out of bed! I had an epidural with both of my deliveries as I couldn't even part my knees due to the pain. My carers' were aware of my condition and were very gentle and thoughtful in their physical management of me in the delivery suite. I found my recovery far easier after my sons' birth than I did with my DD's, I believe this was because I was more aware and educated regarding my SPD.
I pushed for over 2 hours with DD1 before I had a ventouse to get her out - I was too exhausted to push any more
With DD2, I pushed her out under my own steam in about 5 mins. I made sure that I remained standing as much as possible during labour 2nd time around (was lying down first time) and I'm sure that helped heaps.
Mine reduced heaps. 1.5 hours for #1 compared with about 20mins or so (we weren't watching the clock so this is DH's guesstimation).
While I've been told subsequent labours are usually quicker I believe in my case it was positional. For #1 I was flat on my back and #2 (and the rest) I refused to be on my back and was up on my knees. It was much easier!
S was a bit "stuck" (hand up next to face) so needed quite a bit to get him out, T much more straightforward - but because it was fast, I did tear a little.
All in all, second labour MUCH quicker than the first, so here's to that!
ds1 around 2-2.5hrs pushing, on my back on the bed, induced
ds2 I never once tried to push my tummy started doing these little pushes and I let the mw know and said I thought I wasready to push, she said go for it, I didnt have the urge to push though like with ds1 so asked her to do an internal (I was on all fours so a little tricky) but I was only 8cm so she said hold off, I stood up and she had left the room which I didnt realise, all of a sudden a felt that drop and said he's coming, I couldnt feel the presence of the mw so asked Phil where she was he said she left so I told him to get ready to catch lol I ended up getting back on my hands and knees, mw asked me too as the thought it looked like he might get a little stuck and wanted the extra room in my pelvis, it was hard to get down but was so glad when i did, it felt so much better! and out he came, my body just pushing him out, couldnt stpo it if I wanted to. So from the time I was 8cm to when he was born was about 5mins
With DS1 I pushed "officially" for under an hour, but in reality it was more like 3 as my midwife let me push for ages before declaring me fully, hence buying me more time before the docs would want involved. I was really happy she did this because I did not want an instrumental delivery but it was really tiring and left me with bad SPD pain for months.
Fast forward 15 months later and a lovely waterbirth with my 2nd son, 15 mins 2nd stage and my SPD (which had been terrible in the pregnancy) disappeared altogether.
I would be wary of stipulating a short time such as 20 mins for 2nd stage though. Obviously I do not know your medical history, but if it is pelvis instability you are worried about then looking at alternative positions for 2nd stage such as all fours might be a better way of ensuring success with a VB.
fiona i had a epidural for first labour plus i was doped out on pethidene pushing was 2 hours second labour was drug free and i pushed for 30 mins! a huge difference.
remember your body 'knows' what to do second time
Huge difference for me too. 1hr20mins for my first and under 20 minutes for my second. I nearly had her on the loo she was coming that quick. Once I got on the bed she would have been out in under 10 if I had of pushed her out, but we let her and the contractions do all the work to slow it down and I didn't push at all for the second stage.
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Long Pushing Stage For No. 1 - What Happened For Number 2?
for your 3 hours!!!) But for DS (#2) it was only about 4 minutes... I really didn't have to actively push at all, just breathe him down. SO, yep, for me it was waaaay shorter. Both babies were in the optimal position and I was on all fours for both too..
- I was terrified I was going to end up with the same interventions as last time! The MW cottoned on pretty quickly and when I started to push properly it was probably... hmmm... maybe 20 mins to delivery?? The MW's were telling me NOT to push because my OB was not there yet... bugger that!! Anyway, the OB arrived just in time to catch my beautiful boy.
pushing was 2 hours second labour was drug free and i pushed for 30 mins! a huge difference.
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