My first labour wasn't really traumatic and after a couple of hours I was like I could do this again.
My little man was posterior and all my labour pains were in my back. Labour was 18.5 hours long and even that didn't seem to bother me. I had a 1cm cervical lip that noone knew about until the midwives had told me I could push and nothing happened for an hour. The ob stretched it out during a contraction and was going to get the vacuum when out he popped with his arm up next to his head. I only used gas through the labour and ended up with a 2nd degree tear.
But with this one I keep thinking what if it goes worse than that and I need a ceaser. It really worries me.
Mine was much easier - 40+hrs vs 6hrs. Episiotomy and vacuum and gas vs no pain relief and a minor tear. Tear healed much quicker and better than the epi.
Hang in there. The anxiety will melt as soon as you start contracting, I bet
Yes and no. I've had two drug free spontaneous vaginal births, a graze with DD1 but no stitches required with either. With DD1, the labour was difficult and long but the pushing was very short and easy. With DD2 I was approaching transition before I even got to hospital, it felt much easier and was shorter but then the pushing stage was much longer and seemed to hurt more. I put that down to DD2 being a whole kilo heavier with a much rounded head! Both were what I consider positive experiences though
I was so nervous with DD2 because everyone tells you that each labour is different, each baby is different so was terrified of having a bad experience with DD2 since I had a good one with DD1... I didn't think lightning could strike twice so to speak and was concerned my luck might have run out or something but it was all alright in the end; they were different but neither better or worse than the other!
My 2nd was definitely easier than my first. My first, after 12 hours all up, ended up in theatre with the episiotomy from hell under a general so I didn't even get to see DD for hours after she was born.
2nd was about 4 hours all up and nearly a water birth. I couldn't believe it was so quick in comparison. Only gas to push his head out and that was it.
3rd I was induced but still had a vaginal birth. It was harder as the contractions were so close together and much faster.
4th was an induction as well. Natural birth in the end but again contraction were harder and faster.
5th was a c/s due to pre eclampsia. I was scared witless as I didn't know what was going to happen. Harder recovery.
6th was a vbac and I was only in labour for under an hour before she was born. Luckily I have decided to not have any more as I would end up having it at home lol
Also, M+W=Peanut ... since you've now had your gorgeous little girl a month ago and you originally posted this thread question up, was your birth different to your first?
My second labour had a much shorter first stage, so that made it less tiring and easier.
Because it was faster I found some of the contractions, and transition a bit more intense than my first labour though and the second stage was still long. I was hoping for a "one push and they're out" experience but no such luck!
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