Was your second labour easier?

[Trillian]

Definitely!! I felt in more control, I had an idea of what to expect, but it was certainly easier physically as well. I went from a 1.5hr pushing stage with bub #1 to around 15 minutes with #2 and yes it was shorter, but it was a lot more intense than the first time. It was my favorite birth out of all of them.

[M22]

yep #1 17 hours 2 stage 2.5 hrs ventouse and forceps 3rd degree tear, epidural which wore off, infection, restiching. #2 total 2.5 hrs 2nd stage 2mins. gas only.

having said that- i loved both- not at the time but wouldn't change anything!!

[OceanPrincess]

My second was much easier but much faster... I didn't really have time to freak out, apart from freaking out that it was going so fast!

I reckon the contractions hit me faster and harder... They were more painful, as I got to second stage in about 5hrs as opposed to my first labour, which first stage lasted like 24hrs or so. So my body did the same amount of work (dilating) in about one sixth of the time, ITMS?

The pushing was heaps easier second time round - even though DS was close to 11lbs/5kg, he slipped on out in three pushes, I reckon in part because my body knew what it was doing!

So yeah, I do agree with the "been there, done that" mentality!

My recovery was also heaps quicker second time round... Episiotomy first time, natural tear second.

[MrsFabuloso]

As in - did you think it was easier with the baby moving down towards the exit because the path has already been paved (so to speak) by an earlier bub?
I'm not sure about this one...with ds I had pre labour for weeeeeks! With DD, I was induced and it all happened at once, within 23hours. DD's labour was horrible and I was in alot of pain which I suspect was from being induced. With DS though I had a few weeks of pre labour, it all seemed easier which I think was because it was all natural, my body was prepared and DS was ready to be born.

Was the pushing stage shorter because your body knew what it was to do?
I don't think my pushing stage was shorter cause my body had 'experience'. I think it was just because it was ready, baby was ready and it just all flowed so much more easily. With DD I don't think either of us was ready and it was just a miricle that we ended up having a vaginal birth and not a c/s (oh maybe it was my mortal fear of having a c/s too...??)

Did you deal with the contraction pain better because you knew there was an end in sight whereas with the first one, you didn't know what was going to happen, if it was going to get more painful etc?
Nope I think I dealt with it better because it was nowhere near as painful as DD's labour was, I think it was just that I wan't induced with him. I had convinced myself that it wasn't real labour and I still had days to go before bub would come. With DD being induced made me contract practically straight away, they were really painful from the begining and then contrx were on top of each other after about 2 hours, for about 19hours before she was born. With DS I went to hospital to get pain relief or sleeping tabs so I could sleep for more than 5mins at a time and I was 8cm dialated. They prepped me and the labour room, ruptured my waters and he was born 3 pushes later.

Did you remember positions from the first labour that didn't help, or did you go blank whilst dealing with contractions?
I didn't move when in labour with DD. Besides being strapped to the CTG machine and having a full drip in, I just couldn't move because of the pain. I was like a statue on the bed and refused to move for anyone! With DS i had baths at home (which I now realise was probably while I was in active labour) just to help me cope with the pain, and then when I got to the hospital I walked a bit. But I then had my waters broken which was meconium stained, and they put the CTG on me again. While I knew I could refuse it, I felt...safer? on the bed anyway so I didn't complain. It was raised so I was practically sitting anyway, but I think that's just how I prefer to give birth.


I guess my labours aren't good to compare because they were so different, but if I can give birth to this bubby in a similar way that I did with DS (totally naturally with only arom, on the CTG for about 1hr, 3 pushes and he was born) rather than have any intervention like I did with DD (fully induced, 2 pethadine shots, as much gas as I could handle, on the CTG for my whole labour, AROM, epesiotomy, forceps assisted delivery, 3 1/2 hrs pushing....) I will be one happy mumma.

[Pandora]

Yes, significanty so. Pg was harder but labour and birth were easier.
Osteo throughout pg for pelvic alignment and pain mgmt, antenatal aqua classes with physio, accucpunture from 34 weeks
Calmbirth.
All of these helped in some way.

[QueenMab]

Excellent thread Mel, I am reading with interest; I am NOT looking forward to my second labour AT ALL.

The lead up to my first labour was very chilled out, I did the calmbirth course & fully believed it wouldn't be "...that bad" because labour & birth is natural & we are meant to do it, but wow - was I in for a shock! There were times during labour that I did freak out - that same contraction thing, as soon as one was over instead of relaxing I would thing "God there will be another one... sooner... and longer...!" & got into a tiz. I was almost begging the MW for something, anything, but she was strong for me (glad somebody was lol) & encouraged me even though I probably thought I was dying...

Afterwards I told DP "NEVER AGAIN!". I said no way would I be doing THAT again, drug free, it was torture. Problem is, I still believe that drug free is best for me & the baby & can't willingly decide to be given any pain meds, no matter how much I wish that I thought an epi or other drugs would be okay, I don't, & that's that. I have pretty much been dreading labour since finding out I was PG, I am hoping that once it starts I remember not the pain, but the result, & that I am still alive, funnily enough.

[*TripleJ*]

can i let u know soon? lol sorry just thought i'd throw that in

[Arimeh]

QM - yup I think my labour was like that too!! LOL

[boomba]

Yes my 2nd labour and birth were much easier than my first.
I knew I could handle the pain second time around, I trusted myself more and was far more educated than the first time...even though I thought I was pretty well read the first time.
Ds2 was super quick maybe 4 hours in total, but 2 active and 2omins pushing. I actually really loved my labour with DS2 it was awesome and I cant wait to go again

[ShootingStar]

In parts yes, others no.

DD's labour was 5 1/2 hours longer than DS's. So at the 11 hour mark (DS's labour length) for DD that was it. I freaked that i hadnt had her yet as "2nd labours are suppose to be shorter than the first". So up until that point i found DD's labour alot harder. But at that point i also had had enough and asked for an epidural. BEST thing ever. Once i had that, it was so much easier. Made pushing easier for me. Recovery was easier with DD also as with DS i needed an episiotomy.

[loulabelle]

Haven't read replies but for me it was definitely easier!
I knew more of what was going on so was more in control.I pushed for about a quarter of the time, although it wasn't even really pushing.
I also didn't need stitches second time around so,I guess you could say my first caved the way!

[Nikki87]

Definately easier second time around, definately more intense and painful (Sorry!!!) This could just be my situation though becuase I had such a bigger baby this time. With DD I pushed for 2 hours (7lbs, 9oz), with DS I pushed for 10 mins (9lbs, 3oz)

[Shanti]

Great thread!

Im thinking as long as this bub is not posterior, unlike DD was, then it should be easier for me! My labour was only 9.5 hr all up but 2hrs of that was pushing!! : o
Hoping for a shorter pushing stage this time around : pray:

[Snacks]

Yes... and no.
Pain of contractions was no less intense, but easier to handle because I knew how great it would feel when they ended (and I knew it was the last time I was going to do it, LOL!).
2nd stage much quicker and yes, easier (Natty - 1hr 17mins, Phoebe - 12mins) BUT I still felt like I was going to pass out with P, it just didn't scare me as much so I kept going. AND the crowning burn was more painful with P, even though her head was smaller.

Essentially, it was still bloody hard. But it was still so DAMN worth it.

You're going to be GREAT!!!

ETA: cx were actually shorter in duration so that was certainly easier.

[Beautitude]

My second labour was definately harder than my first. In saying that however i coped with the pain of the contractions alot better than the first time. I only started using gas at about 7 centimeters whilst with DS1 i had already had the epidural by that stage. I was labouring in the bath with DS2 which helped immensely. I had alot of scary complications with DS2 which made the end of the labour really scary and difficult so that made me feel really out of control and increased my fear. If everything had gone as smoothly as the beginning of my labour i would definately have said that my labour with DS2 was easier.

[Snowy Love]

For me pushing with DS2 was worse than with DS1, BUT I was in the bath with DS2 and trying to keep under water to keep warm and not in a good positon for pushing. I think if the MW had said earlier try changing position (or if I'd had a doula) my pushing stage would have been shorter and less painful.

[tellytubby]

Yes my 2nd labour and birth were much easier than my first.
I knew I could handle the pain second time around, I trusted myself more and was far more educated than the first time...even though I thought I was pretty well read the first time.
Ds2 was super quick maybe 4 hours in total, but 2 active and 2omins pushing. I actually really loved my labour with DS2 it was awesome and I cant wait to go again

Boomba I remember reading your birth story about 5 or more times, when I was preg with my DS. I loved that your DS1 wasn't ideal, and your DS2 was an awesome birth. It gave me a lot of hope that I could have experienced something similar - which i did

[Visitor7]

My second labour was harder, faster and hurt a lot more, but it was easier in a way as well. Which doesn't make much sense now, does it??!!!! lol
Both DD1 & DD2 were posterior, DD1 I had drugs, DD2 I had no drugs. But for some reason, DD2's labour was so much better and so was recovery. Maybe because I knew what to expect?? DD3's was so much more intense, and it was shorter again, and she wasn't posterior. DD2's was my favourite labour