Were your second and following births easier than the first??

[DANNIIM]

I've had three natural drug free labours. With my first it was a good slow but steady build up with second stage being 1.5 hours and all up labour of 8 hrs, my second wAs very quick no time to think of pain relief 5 mins of second stage all up 2.5 - 3 hrs, my third was hardest in terms of a really full on contractions for the whole 6.5 - 7 hrs the second stage was pretty short maybe 5 or 10 mins but she emerged posterior with her hand up near her face.

[delphmoon]

As it states in the topic I am wondering if your second and following births were easier than your first.

I am experiencing a lot more anxiety about labour with this one than I remember having with my first.

Tia

LOL...I asked this exact question when I was pg for the 2nd time

I think the 2nd time around you know what your in for and thats what creates the anxiety cause we all know- labour isn't pretty and it certainly aint easy LOL But.....

I felt more in control the 2nd time. I felt more prepared. and even thought I was more anxious about labour throughout the pregnancy, when labour came I was stronger and eager for birth LOL

I laboured 1hr 4mins the second time compared to 4hr the first and I moved around alot more the 2nd time than the first. I worked with my body alot better.

So my advice to you is- you are going to feel anxious etc throughout the pregnancy but once your in labour you may surprise yourself and power on through it. Just try not to think about it til then

xx

[m+w=peanut]

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.

[MummaBee]

I was in labour for the same amount of time with both pregnancys, personally I found my second much harder but she was 3 pounds heavier and i had no drugs second time around where as with the first i had an epidural, also emotionally second time around was tougher as i knew what i was in for.

[beansbeans!]

For me, the answer is yes. But what really made the difference in the end was that I knew what I was in for. I spent the last trimester of my second one preparing myself for everything to make sure I had everything set in my mind before anything happened and when the time came I felt more empowered than I did first time round.
First time round, I think that I was more relaxed, and put my faith and trust in the medical profession. The second time round I put my faith and trust in myself and DH first before the medical profession. Second time round I was able to stand up for myself and have the confidence to say I can do this and this is how I want to achieve it. For me that was the most amazing thing to happen, for when the time came I handled labour and delivery so much better than the first time round.
On the pain front, it hurt both times, and Im going to assume its going to hurt this time round too but I know that I will be able to handle what is thrown at me.

[m+w=peanut]

Thanks everyone for your stories. Baby still isn't here yet and I'm still anxious but trying to tell myself I'm not so I don't slow down the process.

[OceanPrincess]

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

[Heaven]

Mine was much much easier.

DD1- 45+ hr labour, ended in c/s
DD2- 10 hrs from start to finish, VBAC, no pain relief.

[Jellyfish]

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!

[m+w=peanut]

Thanks for your stories.

[Kazzo]

Good luck, hope your not waiting to much longer

[KimB]

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

Good luck with you birth.

[m+w=peanut]

Wow Kim that's incredible! This is lucky last for me so I am hoping she will be nice to me.

[BlackRose]

Hello!

Am reviving this thread because I want to hear some more stories of Birth Comparisons...

so... HIT ME mamas! How was your 2nd labour/birth compared to your first???

Thanks in advance!

[BlackRose]

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?

Would love to hear your experience!!

[meow]

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!