I think it does get easier the more babies you have, just because you know what to expect. Well, the mental part of it gets a little easier, but the physical part I think depends on bubs. My 4th labour was actually my hardest and most painful just because Jack was posterior and I had never had a posterior labour before so didn't know what to expect.
in my experience no! ds1, i was in labour all up about 18 hours, because it was my first, they were asking me if my water had broken and if id had a show, i had no idea what it was ment to be like, so constantly replyed i dont know, because we lived an hour drive from the hospital, i was told to wait untill i was ready to come in. the contractions built up slowly and gradualy, i was going threw the young womens in clayton, they were very relaxed and calmly explained everything to me made sure i had enough gas and was comfortable. i was in the hospital for 6 hours befor he arrived (also my first ever hospital trip since i was 5!
ds2, i didnt find easyer at all!! my waters broke at 6:30 am, rang the hospital, this time we were 20 mins away from them(diffrent hospital) they realy wanted me to go in, as i didnt have contractions, i felt i was prety much ok, so they advised me the minute they start to go in and be checked out, didnt have contractions all day, witch was good as i HAD a roast i NEEDED to cook and eat that night!! by the time i got the first contraction, it was 7 pm, as it was 3 weeks befor my due date, i packed my hospital bags while dinner was on. at the hospital they were very ****ed off with me, going on about this and that, making me feel like a bad mother, my contractions still wernt strong, so they whacked me on a drip, a old lady was trying to force me to go to the toilet every 5 minutes, told me once my contractions started i was not to yell or push untill SHE instructed me to, to witch i told her to go to hell. once they did start, they uped the drip so much that there was no room to recoup after each one, the gas was on the lowes possible setting, the last 2 hours were a blurr, but he was rushed out so fast, he was breathing realy fast from the stress and they immediatly put him in icu as he most likely has breathing problems, 5 hours later he was brought to mke in the ward, with big appologies, all that was wrong was he needed to catch his breath, he was fine by the time he arrived in icu (or whatever it is they call the babies one) andwas twice the size of the other babies up there.
dd was only 3 hours, but much worse!! waters broke, by the time mum rocked up with the car, she had to call the ambulance, the contractions started and were nit even 3 mins apart, within half hour she was born just making it from the couch to the ambulance, only pain relife was a hot water bottle and the green stick from the ambo. after pains with her were realy bad. had shocking back pain with all 3.
for some silly reason im going back a 4th time......
not sure if that's because there was the 'been there, done that' factor though...
i put in alot of preparation, trying to visualise, having a HB (taking out as many 'wildcards' as possible), doing a calmbirth course etc etc.
But i guess the experience of first time helped pave the way in that you kinda knew what to expect in terms of contractions. BUT that being said, i didnt realise this time that i was in labour until, well, the baby started coming down lol. (thought is was pre or early labour up until that point).
second stage was fast this time 9 minutes. last time was about 45 minutes. second stage this time was also really fun and exciting as you know that baby is just about to arrive and is cause for celebration. i helped 'guide' her out and that made it heaps more exciting as i could feel the progress...
Found this thread while doing a google search..... so good to read it again as I'm about to go into my 2nd labour and birth gives me lots of strength!!
I found the whole labour experience to be quicker and I knew what to expect......first time round I had the burning crowning experience which was painful, second time there was none of that!! Overall it was painful but very quick so it felt no where near as bad as the first labour (first labour 6.5 hours, second labour 1.5 hours) Both my labours were drug free so I certainly can vouch for the pain ;-)
#1 was the most hardest and painful. That said, i think it was due to me having a mw that didnt help or guide me with what to do properly. I remember being very nervous going in to have #2 because i had felt myself tear with #1 and it was awful. My mw listened to me and told me she could help me not to tear but i had to listen to her and stop pushing if she said to etc. I did and didnt tear. #2 labour was longer, but alot more controlled due to my mw being supportive i beleive.
Every one since then has been easier and controlled due to supportive mw's and me knowing what to do more each time. Even my posterior baby was better than #1 birth.
Mine was easier and harder at the same time
Second time round was much longer and more painful due to malpresentation. But we were so much better supported and our midwives were wonderful, so that made it a lot easier that it might have been otherwise. Once things got going, I also found it a lot easier to surrender to the process.
I just gave birth to #2 and it was a longer labour! 14.5hrs (first one 9.5hrs) so in terms of time, I felt a bit disappointed it wasn't faster labour, however with a 10lb 6oz bub and shoulder dystocia and doing it natural, drug free, I feel pretty chuffed with myself so can't complain each experience is unique in itself.
Definitely dealing with contractions wasn't as hard and I knew how to breathe through them etc and pushing stage only 35mins this time around instead of nearly 2hrs first time!!
For me, this 2nd labour was the most 'mentally challenging' as I had some obstacles to overcome before I could give birth (ie being told bub was very big, becoming high risk due to that and warned of possible shoulder dystocia - which ended up happening!).... birth story to come if anyone is interested. Stay tuned
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gives me lots of strength!!
so excited for you !!!!
each experience is unique in itself.
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